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The Bloody Mary Club by Debbie Dyke
Chick Lit Review

The Bloody Mary Club by Debbie Dyke

Debbie Dyke is on tour now with CLP Blog Tours and her financial thriller The Bloody Mary Club.

The Bloody Mary Club by Debbie Dyke takes place during the stock market meltdown and our main character, Gina Van Story is caught right in the middle of it all in her role as a savvy investment adviser. Over the years, she has been rather successful in tracking the market and taking advantage of incoming trends … and she is eager for one last hoorah. Gina and her three best friends form the Bloody Mary Investment Club and run into corruption and a suspenseful mystery while they try to up their stock portfolios. Will it be worth it? Or will things get more dangerous then they already are?

I had a lot of fun reading this book. I thought all of the characters were very believable and I absolutely adored Gina. She and I are so very different but I was definitely able to put myself in her shoes throughout the book. I loved the stock market aspect and actually found it to be quite exciting (which is one thing I never thought I would say). Overall, this book was not at all what I expected but that is a good thing. This book is suspenseful and I had such a fun time as I flipped through the pages to see what would happen next. I loved the mystery and intrigue and would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun time with a little twist added in there. This book is definitely a fun ride.

[Rating: 4/5]

November 22, 2012
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The Art Of My Life by Ann Lee Miller
Chick Lit Review

The Art Of My Life by Ann Lee Miller

I received a copy of The Art Of My Life in exchange for an honest review.

The Art Of My Life by Ann Lee Miller begins as main character Cal is released from jail after being arrested for possession of marijuana. His ultimate goal in life is to become a better man and to have Aly, his life long love, return the feeling. Throughout the course of the book, Cal is faced with many obstacles and he must learn to overcome them if he ever wants to move on and make something of himself. He jumps through hoops to restart his life but nothing compares to what he does for Aly. In an attempt to finally win her over, he uses his grandmother’s old sailing boat to try to lure her in. Will his attempt at starting over be enough to win her over? Or will he never be enough to measure up to the man that she wants?

I really enjoyed reading this story about love, friendship, families, and the path for redemption. I truly believe that everyone deserves a second chance and I was so glad to see Cal trying for his. My heart ached for him throughout most of the story because he definitely paid the price (and then some) for his past mistakes, but it was good to see his determination to succeed and his will to make it all happen. I really enjoyed the characters and I especially appreciated the back story that the author allowed us to visit. Overall, Ann Lee Miller did a great job at creating a solid story about redemption and the power to succeed. It definitely made me think and evaluate my own decisions. A really solid read.

[Rating: 4/5]

November 20, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of November 18
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of November 18

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Mad World: Epidemic

Author: Samaire Provost

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: The Black Plague is ancient history. It killed 100 million people nearly seven centuries ago, halfway around the world from the technologically advanced research center at Stanford University. Scientists there have recently begun examining samples of bone marrow from plague-infected corpses unearthed in Europe. All the necessary safeguards are in place. What could go wrong? Alyssa and Jake are away with their class on a highly anticipated year-end trip to Broadway with their senior acting class when all hell breaks loose at home. Traveling back, and trying to find their families, they encounter deadly results. Riots are breaking out. People are being evacuated. And they have no idea what’s happening to their families. Horrific ordeals, heart-pounding tragedy, and chance encounters harden them for what lies ahead. Faced with tormenting decisions, they’re forced to follow their instinct for survival at any cost – even when the cost is a heart-wrenching decision of life or death. A harrowing adventure of frightening discoveries, horrifying confrontations and narrow escapes in Epidemic, the first installment of the Mad World series. Find out what’s got everyone so terrified.

Title: Holding On

Author: Karen Stivali

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: When you have everything you’ve ever dreamed of, the hard part is Holding On.

British NYU professor Daniel Gardner thinks life can’t get better than the day his three-year-old stepdaughter, Ella, calls him Daddy for the first time. Then his wife Marienne tells him she’s pregnant. Daniel is thrilled, but worried about Marienne’s health. Not wanting to cause her stress he turns to writing to calm his nerves. He pens a screenplay, thinking it’s nothing more than a mental health exercise, but when a colleague reads it and hands it to a producer, it turns into a production contract. Daniel accepts the offer and transfers to a teaching position at Dartmouth, hoping that small town living and a shorter commute will simplify his life.

As he attempts to juggle his new responsibilities he gets an unexpected letter from Roger, the father he never knew. For the first time since they met, Daniel and Marienne are at odds; she wants him to give Roger a chance but Daniel wants nothing to do with the man he thinks abandoned his mother. As Daniel and Marienne struggle they must contend with interference from Daniel’s sexy ex-wife, who appears to want him back, and a handsome, all-too-helpful single dad who desires Marienne as more than a play-date pal. They must both confront deep-seated issues with trust and acceptance if they’re going to find a way to make their marriage work and hold on to the love they share.

Title: Mistletoe in Manhattan

Author: Talli Roland

Received: Via Talli Roland

Synopsis: As Little Missington’s first Christmas baby in fifty years and the daughter of ‘Christmas When You Like It’ party-planners, Holly West has been surrounded by the holiday spirit since birth. Trouble is, she’s not exactly filled with festive cheer. In fact, Holly can’t wait to ditch the tinsel and Santa suits for champagne and celebs, and become a party-planner to the stars.

When British film star Dean Layton hires her parents’ company to throw his holiday bash in Manhattan, Holly jumps at the chance to help, confident she can handle a little Christmas in exchange for access to Dean’s exclusive world.

But New York and Dean’s over-the-top demands are more than Holly bargained for. Can Holly deck the halls and make it a party to be proud of, or will this Christmas be one she’ll never forget . . . even if she wants to?

Note: Mistletoe in Manhattan is a novella.

Title: The Art Forger

Author: B.A. Shapiro

Received: Via SheReads

Synopsis: On March 18, 1990, thirteen works of art worth today over $500 million were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. It remains the largest unsolved art heist in history, and Claire Roth, a struggling young artist, is about to discover that there’s more to this crime than meets the eye.

Claire makes her living reproducing famous works of art for a popular online retailer. Desperate to improve her situation, she lets herself be lured into a Faustian bargain with Aiden Markel, a powerful gallery owner. She agrees to forge a painting—one of the Degas masterpieces stolen from the Gardner Museum—in exchange for a one-woman show in his renowned gallery. But when the long-missing Degas painting—the one that had been hanging for one hundred years at the Gardner—is delivered to Claire’s studio, she begins to suspect that it may itself be a forgery.

Claire’s search for the truth about the painting’s origins leads her into a labyrinth of deceit where secrets hidden since the late nineteenth century may be the only evidence that can now save her life. B. A. Shapiro’s razor-sharp writing and rich plot twists make The Art Forger an absorbing literary thriller that treats us to three centuries of forgers, art thieves, and obsessive collectors. it’s a dazzling novel about seeing—and not seeing—the secrets that lie beneath the canvas.

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: The Bracelet

Author: Roberta Gately

Received: Roberta Gately

Synopsis: Newly heartbroken and searching for purpose in her life, Abby Monroe is determined to make her mark as a UN worker in one of the world’s most unstable cities: Peshawar, Pakistan. But after witnessing the brutal murder of a woman thrown from a building, she is haunted by the memory of an intricate and sparkling bracelet that adorned the victim’s wrist.

At a local women’s shelter, Abby meets former sex slaves who have miraculously escaped their captors. As she gains the girls’ trust and documents their horrifying accounts of unspeakable pain and betrayal, she joins forces with a dashing New York Times reporter who believes he can incriminate the shadowy leader of the vicious human trafficking ring. Inspired by the women’s remarkable bravery—and the mysterious reappearance of the bracelet— the duo traces evidence that spreads from remote villages of South Asia to the most powerful corners of the West, risking their lives to offer a voice to the countless innocents in bondage.

Title: Up Close

Author: Henriette Gyland

Received: Jane @ Choc Lit

Synopsis: When Dr. Lia Thompson’s grandmother dies unexpectedly, Lia is horrified to have to leave her life in America and return to a cold and creaky house in Norfolk. But as events unfold, she can’t help feeling that there is more to her grandmother’s death than meets the eye.

Too close for comfort…

Aidan Morrell is surprised to see Lia, his teenage crush, back in town. But Aidan’s accident when serving in the navy has scarred him in more ways than one, and he has other secrets which must stay hidden at all costs, even from Lia.

As Lia comes closer to uncovering the truth, she is forced to question everything she thought she knew. In a world of increasing danger, is Aidan someone she can trust?

November 18, 2012
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Under Her Spell by Eliza Daly
Chick Lit Review

Under Her Spell by Eliza Daly

Under Her Spell by Eliza Daly begins with Monica Jackson questioning her self worth after a series of failed romantic relationships and business ventures. When everything she touches goes sour, she begins to question her energy and wonders if it’s her fault that things are the way that they are. She turns to spell casting and hopes that things will change. But when her new event planning company welcomes a new neighbor, things begin to get interesting. Will her spells work? Or will she find that she has had what she’s needed inside of her all along?

I had so much fun reading Under Her Spell by Eliza Daly. Monica is such a hoot and I love the steamy interactions between her and sexy divorce attorney Reed! Such a fun read and it is full of laughs. This book is definitely light and I actually enjoyed that for a change. I also really loved the magic twist. I feel like there have been quite a few books in the past attempt to dabble in magic but fail. This book succeeds in my opinion. I couldn’t wait to get to the end to see what would happen between Monica and Reed and whether or not they would be able to see what had been right in front of them. Overall, a great read.

[Rating: 4/5]

November 15, 2012
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Perfect Bait by Michael Fowlkes
Chick Lit Review

Perfect Bait by Michael Fowlkes

Perfect Bait by Michael Fowlkes is a romantic thriller that begins with Corey Phillips in love with his high school sweetheart Karyn. He believes that he has finally found his happily ever after but that all changes when he walks into their house boat one day and sees his wife with his best friend. Devastated and heart broken, he decides to leave that life behind in an attempt to heal his broken heart. He travels along the coasts until he finds new love Jennifer. Ready for a new beginning, he risks it all and dives in head first. He settles in and begins running yacht charters but during one trip out into the open water, something happens that will change his life forever.

When I was first contacted about reviewing this book, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It sounded different than something I would normally pick up but I decided to give it a try and boy, let me tell you, this book is gritty. While I appreciated the romantic/love scenes, I had a hard time making my way through everything else. Now, granted, Michael is a talented writer and he definitely went above in his descriptions but I just had a hard time stomaching a lot of it. Overall, this book is a great read for someone looking for something a little darker and although I hard time with the material, I can still tell that Michael did a great job in creating a suspenseful world and great characters.

[Rating: 4/5]

November 14, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of November 11
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of November 11

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Love At 11

Author: Mari Mancusi

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: When Maddy graduated from Columbia University, she was ready to change the world. She’d get a job at Newsline, meet a nice guy, and live happily ever after with a real designer handbag on her arm. Five years later, she’s stuck producing puff pieces for the local News 9 San Diego–where “if it bleeds, it leads.” She’s still single, her family’s falling apart, and so is her knock-off Kate Spade.

Even a promotion–complete with hot camera guy–can’t seem to turn her luck around. After all, the promotion means working with the most narcissistic anchor on the planet and hot camera guy Jamie? Well, he’d be perfect…except for that pesky model/actress fiancee of his.

But just as Maddy’s ready to give up on her dreams, a secret scoop from her favorite knock-off purse guy has her suddenly chasing a huge lead. And Jamie is right by her side–in all the right ways. Can she bag the bad guy in an exclusive expose, put her family back together again, and win Jamie’s heart? Stay tuned…it’s the story of a lifetime.

Title: A Good Kind of Knowing

Author: Kathy Lynn Harris

Received: From Kathy Lynn Harris

Synopsis: Imagine if Maeve Binchy grew up in Texas and wrote an old-school Larry McMurtry novel. Think Hope Floats meets High Fidelity.

That’s how critics are describing A Good Kind of Knowing—from the author of the highly acclaimed and number-one Amazon bestseller, Blue Straggler.

A Good Kind of Knowing is a novel about the power of music and friendship, the relationship two-steps that go on in old Texas dancehalls, and the secret to finding just a little bit of common ground in a world full of distrust.

Title: The Best of Us

Author: Sarah Pekkanen

Received: From Atria Books

Synopsis: Paradise isn’t quite what it seems as four college friends meet for an island vacation in this captivating new novel from the acclaimed author of These Girls. Following a once-in-a-lifetime invitation, a group of old college friends leap at the chance to bring their husbands for a week’s vacation at a private villa in Jamaica to celebrate a former classmates’ thirty-fifth birthday. All four women are desperate for a break and this seems like a perfect opportunity. Tina is drowning under the demands of mothering four young children. Allie needs to escape from the shattering news about an illness that runs in her family. Savannah is carrying the secret of her husband’s infidelity. And, finally, there’s Pauline, who spares no expense to throw her husband an unforgettable birthday celebration, hoping it will gloss over the cracks that have already formed in their new marriage. The week begins idyllically, filled with languorous days and late nights of drinking and laughter. But as a hurricane approaches the island, turmoil builds, forcing each woman to re-evaluate everything she’s known about the others—and herself.

Title: 77 Ways to Find New Readers for Your Self-Published Book!

Author: Laura Pepper Wu

Received: From Laura Pepper Wu

Synopsis: The biggest challenge for any writer is to let people know their book exists. In this concise guide co-founder of the 30 Day Books studio Laura Pepper Wu shares actionable tips and secrets that you can use to skyrocket the sales of your book and find new readers in places far outside of your current network.

This short but sweet eBook was inspired by an author desperate for help.

Author Laura Pepper Wu poured onto paper the strategies and ideas she uses to coach self-published authors for over three years, along with actionable tips on how to use them. 77 Ways is designed to inform, inspire and entertain.

Try one new idea each day for 2-3 months, and you have a creative marketing plan that is both manageable and effective. You’ll break beyond your current network and find ways of connecting with new readers that feels comfortable and enjoyable.

Written by Laura Pepper Wu of the award-winning 30 Day Books book studio, self-published author and head of promotions for several Amazon best-sellers. Get your hands on a copy and discover a NEW approach – and several new ways – to promoting your book now!

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: Finding Rachel Davenport

Author: Michael Harling

Received By: Michael Harling

Synopsis: Rachel Davenport—former child prodigy, world-class gymnast and Miss Teen England—has retired from public life and lives anonymously in a small town, working as a clerk for a travel agency.

By night, however, Rachel is a self-styled crime-fighter, seeking to right the wrongs inflicted on people who cannot help themselves.

But when her first mission goes horribly awry she finds herself pursued, not merely by the media, but by the police and an assortment of criminals who want her silenced. To preserve her anonymity, as well as her life,

Rachel must prove to the police that she is one of the good guys and keep one step ahead of the bad guys, all while avoiding nosey neighbours, holding onto her job and juggling two would-be suitors.

Finding Rachel Davenport is a fun read, with a quirky plot and an explosive ending.

November 11, 2012
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The Boots My Mother Gave Me by Brooklyn James
Chick Lit Review

The Boots My Mother Gave Me by Brooklyn James

The Boots My Mother Gave Me by Brooklyn James is a great coming of age fiction novel that anybody can relate to. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk through life in someone else’s shoes? Feisty tomboy, Harley LeBeau puts in the drivers seat as she puts you in the boots that her mother gave her and takes you a long for a wild ride. Although she is faced with a difficult choice, she chooses to save herself and escape an abuse childhood even though it means leaving her mother and younger sister behind. Along the way she finds her independence, spreads her wings and truly finds herself. She also learns to trust in love and in herself.

The book cover for this one threw me and to be honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to reading it based on that alone. But, that all changed once I cracked it open. The Books My Mother Gave Me is surprisingly deep and thoughtful and examines the dynamics of abuse relationships and what it takes to overcome one. I have always been one of those women who has never why a woman would stay in an abused relationship, but this book definitely opened my eyes and now I feel more compassionate. It is a tough choice especially when children are involved and this book digs deep to make you see that. I loved this story from the get go and Harley is a surprising hero as she stands up to her situation and makes some very solid decisions. Overall, a fantastic read that I highly recommend to any and all women.

And as a bonus, the author has compiled a music playlist that is also available for download. It’s very fun and definitely fits the many moods of the book. You should check it out.

[Rating: 4.5/5]

November 6, 2012
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Challenge 2012:Post Reviews:November
Updates

Challenge 2012:Post Reviews:November

November Reviews

See past reviews

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June Reviews

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October Reviews

Please note this is not the sign up page. To sign up, click here

To see what challengers are reading, click here

Only signed up challengers are eligible to win

Prize for October: One (1) winner will receive a print copy of Home for Christmas by Cally Taylor and one (1) winner will receive a print copy of The Queen Gene by Jennifer Coburn. This will be open to US/Canada residents only. In order to qualify, you must post the link to your review in the Mister Linky below. This can be to your blog, GoodReads page, or other sources such as Amazon.

November 4, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of November 4
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of November 4

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Battle-Born Love

Author: Lynda Bailey

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: LOVE BORN FROM BATTLE. . .

Spirited repo owner Rory Dawson agrees to be what she isn’t–the girlfriend of a handsome banker–in order to save her father from a prison sentence. Now Pop is safe, but is her heart?

Kane Williams has made a deal with a most provocative devil in hopes of securing a coveted promotion. All his life Kane has endeavored to be the best, to erase the failure of his father. Will years of work be forfeited for a woman, albeit the sexiest one he’s ever known?

From opposite sides of the tracks, Rory and Kane forge an unlikely friendship. Soon, that friendship becomes a steamy relationship. Through trial and pain, they battle to have the love of a lifetime.

Title: Becoming Mrs. Walsh

Author: Jessica Gordon

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Shoshana Thompson is 26 years old, miles from home, and engaged to be married into one of Washington D.C.’s wealthiest families. Andrew Walsh, her fiancé, is Shoshana’s vision of the perfect man. Throughout their engagement, she becomes enamored with his privileged lifestyle.

Rumor has it: when you marry a Walsh, you’re set for life. Her socialite sisters-in-law show her how to live in a Walsh-style world, but just as she is starting to get acclimated, this world introduces her to someone who may shake up her perfect wedding plans.

While Shoshana navigates the tricky world of in-laws and societal wedding planning, she desperately tries to ignore her growing feelings for another man. She knows that exploring this love will threaten her existence as a Walsh. But, when she discovers the feelings may not be one-sided, she knows things are about to get a lot more complicated, especially because this man is absolutely off-limits.

As Shoshana learns, the view from the top is not always the clearest.

Becoming Mrs. Walsh is a story of relationships and the richly layered complexity of family, in-laws, and love.

Title: You Tell Your Dog First

Author: Alison Pace

Received: From Penguin Group

Synopsis: You Tell Your Dog First…

About the date you just had…about the questionable results of a medical test…about the good and the bad…about everything.

For years, award-winning author Alison Pace was a dog person without a dog. And then, she got Carlie—a feisty and fluffy West Highland white terrier. She could weed out bad boyfriends with a sniff of her button-black nose and win the hearts of lifelong friends with an adoring gaze. Suddenly, Alison had a constant companion and confidante, who went with her on long morning rambles in Central Park, on trips to the country and the beach, and on her search for inner peace, love, and happiness. Through Carlie, Alison found herself connected to the world as never before.

With her trademark warmth, wit and humor, Alison shares her stories…the tales of a dog person who found her dog.

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Battle-Born Love

Author: Lynda Bailey

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: LOVE BORN FROM BATTLE. . .

Spirited repo owner Rory Dawson agrees to be what she isn’t–the girlfriend of a handsome banker–in order to save her father from a prison sentence. Now Pop is safe, but is her heart?

Kane Williams has made a deal with a most provocative devil in hopes of securing a coveted promotion. All his life Kane has endeavored to be the best, to erase the failure of his father. Will years of work be forfeited for a woman, albeit the sexiest one he’s ever known?

From opposite sides of the tracks, Rory and Kane forge an unlikely friendship. Soon, that friendship becomes a steamy relationship. Through trial and pain, they battle to have the love of a lifetime.

Title: Becoming Mrs. Walsh

Author: Jessica Gordon

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Shoshana Thompson is 26 years old, miles from home, and engaged to be married into one of Washington D.C.’s wealthiest families. Andrew Walsh, her fiancé, is Shoshana’s vision of the perfect man. Throughout their engagement, she becomes enamored with his privileged lifestyle.

Rumor has it: when you marry a Walsh, you’re set for life. Her socialite sisters-in-law show her how to live in a Walsh-style world, but just as she is starting to get acclimated, this world introduces her to someone who may shake up her perfect wedding plans.

While Shoshana navigates the tricky world of in-laws and societal wedding planning, she desperately tries to ignore her growing feelings for another man. She knows that exploring this love will threaten her existence as a Walsh. But, when she discovers the feelings may not be one-sided, she knows things are about to get a lot more complicated, especially because this man is absolutely off-limits.

As Shoshana learns, the view from the top is not always the clearest.

Becoming Mrs. Walsh is a story of relationships and the richly layered complexity of family, in-laws, and love.

Title: You Tell Your Dog First

Author: Alison Pace

Received: From Penguin Group

Synopsis: You Tell Your Dog First…

About the date you just had…about the questionable results of a medical test…about the good and the bad…about everything.

For years, award-winning author Alison Pace was a dog person without a dog. And then, she got Carlie—a feisty and fluffy West Highland white terrier. She could weed out bad boyfriends with a sniff of her button-black nose and win the hearts of lifelong friends with an adoring gaze. Suddenly, Alison had a constant companion and confidante, who went with her on long morning rambles in Central Park, on trips to the country and the beach, and on her search for inner peace, love, and happiness. Through Carlie, Alison found herself connected to the world as never before.

With her trademark warmth, wit and humor, Alison shares her stories…the tales of a dog person who found her dog.

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: Pursuing the Times

Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Received: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Synopsis: All that popular Chick-Lit author Mercury Lauren wants is to have one of her books reviewed by the New York Times Book Review – just one – and she’ll do almost anything to get it. In this contemporary romantic comedy, with a nod toward Pride and Prejudice she crosses swords and hearts with the Editor-in-Chief of the NYTBR in a madcap adventure that takes her from her home in Westport to a yoga retreat to a golf course in Florida. Will she get what she wants and will she finally be happy if she does? Only one thing’s for certain: nothing will stop her from Pursuing the Times.

Title: Kismetology

Author: Jaimie Admans

Received: Jaimie Admans

Synopsis: Finding the perfect man isn’t easy. Especially when it’s for your mother…

Mothers. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them, can’t live three doors down the road without them interfering in every aspect of your life.

Mackenzie Atkinson’s mother has meddled in her love life once too often and something has to be done. Mackenzie decides to turn the tables and find love for her lonely mother. Her lonely and very fussy mother. Surely finding an older gentleman looking for love won’t be that hard, right? Wrong. If you’ve ever thought that boys grow up, here’s the problem: They don’t. Ever. And Mackenzie is about to learn that the hard way.

Faced with a useless boyfriend, dressed up dogs, men who wear welly boots on dates, men who shouldn’t be seen outside in daylight, and men who make reptiles seem like attractive company – will she ever find the perfect man for her neurotic mother?

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Battle-Born Love

Author: Lynda Bailey

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: LOVE BORN FROM BATTLE. . .

Spirited repo owner Rory Dawson agrees to be what she isn’t–the girlfriend of a handsome banker–in order to save her father from a prison sentence. Now Pop is safe, but is her heart?

Kane Williams has made a deal with a most provocative devil in hopes of securing a coveted promotion. All his life Kane has endeavored to be the best, to erase the failure of his father. Will years of work be forfeited for a woman, albeit the sexiest one he’s ever known?

From opposite sides of the tracks, Rory and Kane forge an unlikely friendship. Soon, that friendship becomes a steamy relationship. Through trial and pain, they battle to have the love of a lifetime.

Title: Becoming Mrs. Walsh

Author: Jessica Gordon

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Shoshana Thompson is 26 years old, miles from home, and engaged to be married into one of Washington D.C.’s wealthiest families. Andrew Walsh, her fiancé, is Shoshana’s vision of the perfect man. Throughout their engagement, she becomes enamored with his privileged lifestyle.

Rumor has it: when you marry a Walsh, you’re set for life. Her socialite sisters-in-law show her how to live in a Walsh-style world, but just as she is starting to get acclimated, this world introduces her to someone who may shake up her perfect wedding plans.

While Shoshana navigates the tricky world of in-laws and societal wedding planning, she desperately tries to ignore her growing feelings for another man. She knows that exploring this love will threaten her existence as a Walsh. But, when she discovers the feelings may not be one-sided, she knows things are about to get a lot more complicated, especially because this man is absolutely off-limits.

As Shoshana learns, the view from the top is not always the clearest.

Becoming Mrs. Walsh is a story of relationships and the richly layered complexity of family, in-laws, and love.

Title: You Tell Your Dog First

Author: Alison Pace

Received: From Penguin Group

Synopsis: You Tell Your Dog First…

About the date you just had…about the questionable results of a medical test…about the good and the bad…about everything.

For years, award-winning author Alison Pace was a dog person without a dog. And then, she got Carlie—a feisty and fluffy West Highland white terrier. She could weed out bad boyfriends with a sniff of her button-black nose and win the hearts of lifelong friends with an adoring gaze. Suddenly, Alison had a constant companion and confidante, who went with her on long morning rambles in Central Park, on trips to the country and the beach, and on her search for inner peace, love, and happiness. Through Carlie, Alison found herself connected to the world as never before.

With her trademark warmth, wit and humor, Alison shares her stories…the tales of a dog person who found her dog.

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: Pursuing the Times

Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Received: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Synopsis: All that popular Chick-Lit author Mercury Lauren wants is to have one of her books reviewed by the New York Times Book Review – just one – and she’ll do almost anything to get it. In this contemporary romantic comedy, with a nod toward Pride and Prejudice she crosses swords and hearts with the Editor-in-Chief of the NYTBR in a madcap adventure that takes her from her home in Westport to a yoga retreat to a golf course in Florida. Will she get what she wants and will she finally be happy if she does? Only one thing’s for certain: nothing will stop her from Pursuing the Times.

Title: Kismetology

Author: Jaimie Admans

Received: Jaimie Admans

Synopsis: Finding the perfect man isn’t easy. Especially when it’s for your mother…

Mothers. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them, can’t live three doors down the road without them interfering in every aspect of your life.

Mackenzie Atkinson’s mother has meddled in her love life once too often and something has to be done. Mackenzie decides to turn the tables and find love for her lonely mother. Her lonely and very fussy mother. Surely finding an older gentleman looking for love won’t be that hard, right? Wrong. If you’ve ever thought that boys grow up, here’s the problem: They don’t. Ever. And Mackenzie is about to learn that the hard way.

Faced with a useless boyfriend, dressed up dogs, men who wear welly boots on dates, men who shouldn’t be seen outside in daylight, and men who make reptiles seem like attractive company – will she ever find the perfect man for her neurotic mother?

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Battle-Born Love

Author: Lynda Bailey

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: LOVE BORN FROM BATTLE. . .

Spirited repo owner Rory Dawson agrees to be what she isn’t–the girlfriend of a handsome banker–in order to save her father from a prison sentence. Now Pop is safe, but is her heart?

Kane Williams has made a deal with a most provocative devil in hopes of securing a coveted promotion. All his life Kane has endeavored to be the best, to erase the failure of his father. Will years of work be forfeited for a woman, albeit the sexiest one he’s ever known?

From opposite sides of the tracks, Rory and Kane forge an unlikely friendship. Soon, that friendship becomes a steamy relationship. Through trial and pain, they battle to have the love of a lifetime.

Title: Becoming Mrs. Walsh

Author: Jessica Gordon

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Shoshana Thompson is 26 years old, miles from home, and engaged to be married into one of Washington D.C.’s wealthiest families. Andrew Walsh, her fiancé, is Shoshana’s vision of the perfect man. Throughout their engagement, she becomes enamored with his privileged lifestyle.

Rumor has it: when you marry a Walsh, you’re set for life. Her socialite sisters-in-law show her how to live in a Walsh-style world, but just as she is starting to get acclimated, this world introduces her to someone who may shake up her perfect wedding plans.

While Shoshana navigates the tricky world of in-laws and societal wedding planning, she desperately tries to ignore her growing feelings for another man. She knows that exploring this love will threaten her existence as a Walsh. But, when she discovers the feelings may not be one-sided, she knows things are about to get a lot more complicated, especially because this man is absolutely off-limits.

As Shoshana learns, the view from the top is not always the clearest.

Becoming Mrs. Walsh is a story of relationships and the richly layered complexity of family, in-laws, and love.

Title: You Tell Your Dog First

Author: Alison Pace

Received: From Penguin Group

Synopsis: You Tell Your Dog First…

About the date you just had…about the questionable results of a medical test…about the good and the bad…about everything.

For years, award-winning author Alison Pace was a dog person without a dog. And then, she got Carlie—a feisty and fluffy West Highland white terrier. She could weed out bad boyfriends with a sniff of her button-black nose and win the hearts of lifelong friends with an adoring gaze. Suddenly, Alison had a constant companion and confidante, who went with her on long morning rambles in Central Park, on trips to the country and the beach, and on her search for inner peace, love, and happiness. Through Carlie, Alison found herself connected to the world as never before.

With her trademark warmth, wit and humor, Alison shares her stories…the tales of a dog person who found her dog.

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: Pursuing the Times

Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Received: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Synopsis: All that popular Chick-Lit author Mercury Lauren wants is to have one of her books reviewed by the New York Times Book Review – just one – and she’ll do almost anything to get it. In this contemporary romantic comedy, with a nod toward Pride and Prejudice she crosses swords and hearts with the Editor-in-Chief of the NYTBR in a madcap adventure that takes her from her home in Westport to a yoga retreat to a golf course in Florida. Will she get what she wants and will she finally be happy if she does? Only one thing’s for certain: nothing will stop her from Pursuing the Times.

Title: Kismetology

Author: Jaimie Admans

Received: Jaimie Admans

Synopsis: Finding the perfect man isn’t easy. Especially when it’s for your mother…

Mothers. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them, can’t live three doors down the road without them interfering in every aspect of your life.

Mackenzie Atkinson’s mother has meddled in her love life once too often and something has to be done. Mackenzie decides to turn the tables and find love for her lonely mother. Her lonely and very fussy mother. Surely finding an older gentleman looking for love won’t be that hard, right? Wrong. If you’ve ever thought that boys grow up, here’s the problem: They don’t. Ever. And Mackenzie is about to learn that the hard way.

Faced with a useless boyfriend, dressed up dogs, men who wear welly boots on dates, men who shouldn’t be seen outside in daylight, and men who make reptiles seem like attractive company – will she ever find the perfect man for her neurotic mother?

November 4, 2012
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