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Perfect Is Overrated by Karen Bergreen
Chick Lit Review

Perfect Is Overrated by Karen Bergreen

Perfect Is Overrated by Karen Bergreen follows Kate Alger. After a few years of suffering with post-partum depression, Kate believes that she finally has found the cure – a few gruesome homicides. When someone starts offing the uppity moms at her daughters preschool, she dusts off her old Assistant DA skills and puts them to the test. Will she be able to find out who is behind all of the recent killings? Only time will tell, but in the mean time, we catch a glimpse into Kate’s hilarious and slightly twisted life and see what her life as a mom is really like. We also catch a glimpse into the wickedly insane and over-the-top parents at the Hawthorne Preschool.

I was a really big fan of Karen’s first book, so when she contacted me to read/review her second, I jumped at the opportunity. She strikes gold again! Karen writes a mystery that should be considered a comedy. I stayed up way past my bed time (which is quite early these days- thank you very much) to finish this one because I couldn’t put it down. The characters are hilarious cleverly crafted. The story is believable, especially since I am new into the world of extreme moms and daycares. If you don’t have experience in that arena, consider yourself lucky. The story has great flow and moves along very quickly. There are quite a few twists and turns throughout, so make sure that you pay attention. Overall, a really fun read! I would highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a fun time!

October 30, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of October 28
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of October 28

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Baby! Baby? Baby?!

Author: Holly Kerr

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Thirty-five-year old kindergarten teacher Casey Samms has always dreamed about having her own baby. With her copy of A Young Woman’s Guide to the Joy of Impending Motherhood on her bedside
table, Casey has been steadily wading through the pool of eligible bachelors for years—with absolutely no luck. Now as she bids farewell to a cheating boyfriend and to dating in general, Casey just needs to figure out how to get pregnant without having a man in her life.

Casey immediately discounts her male friends as potential fathers and decides to pursue having a baby the artificial way, even though her sister and friends do their best to try to talk her out of it. But Casey is determined to see her dream come to fruition and begins looking at every male as a potential donor. Just when she is beginning to give the word desperate an entirely new meaning, an old ex-boyfriend, David Mason, saunters back into her life. All Casey has to do now is try to convince him that he is the one who can help her become a mother.

As Casey prepares to realize her lifelong dream, she is about to get the surprise of her life—a surprise that changes everything.

Title: Market Street

Author: Anita Hughes

Received: From St. Martins

Synopsis: Set in San Francisco this book is about the young wife of a UC Berkeley Ethics professor who must choose between her crumbling marriage and the opportunity to open a fabulous food emporium in her mother’s Union Square department store.

Title: Love, Lust & Faking It

Author: Jenny McCarthy

Received: BookSparks PR, Giveaway

Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Jenny McCarthy gave you the unfiltered ups and downs of pregnancy, motherhood, and marriage in Belly Laughs, Baby Laughs, and Life Laughs. Now the inveterate truth teller gets to the down-and-(sometimes) dirty essence of every man/woman relationship: love and sex.

Meet Tony, Jenny’s first love, the boy of her teenage dreams, and Tubby, her dirty, sexy stuffed teddy bear. Follow Jenny on a whirlwind tour of the world of aphrodisiacs and fetishes, as she explains the importance of playing doctor and other nice and naughty fantasies. Jenny is at her hilarious, no-holds-barred best in Love, Lust & Faking It, sharing stories of her outrageous true exploits—from Playboy centerfold to nightmarish bargain boob job to meeting Brad Pitt—all the while reminding us to always aim higher, be kind to ourselves, believe in true love…and to have lots of fun and sex, without faking it.

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: I Kill Me: Tales of A Jilted Hypochondriac

Author: Tracy Tucker

Received: Tracy Tucker

Synopsis: Christine Bacon has a fatal attraction. To all things fatal. A veteran hypochondriac, her near-death experiences are exacerbated when her husband proposes they have a menage a trois with Eleanor, his busty British massage therapist, to “shake things up.” Christine reluctantly agrees (although she is more wholesome than threesome), never expecting just how much she’d be rattled. As her marriage to Richard, a/k/a “Dick,” falls apart, so, too, does Christine, whose fear of her own demise causes her to research every freckle, blemish, cough, bump, lump, tingle and hiccup. She isn’t a doctor, but she plays one on the internet.

There is solace for Christine: in raising daughters Lily and Carli, leaning on her friends, and wearing out the shower massager. In order to heal, she struggles to become her own person and to view her symptoms (and ex-husband) as less malignant, while searching for that special someone who will love her–despite her grave condition.

October 28, 2012
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White Jacket Required: A Culinary Coming-of-Age Story by Jenna Weber
Chick Lit Review

White Jacket Required: A Culinary Coming-of-Age Story by Jenna Weber

White Jacket Required follows the uber-popular food blogger Jenna Weber, who writes daily on Eat, Live, Run. We follow Jenna as she graduates from college and wonders what to do next. She decides to pursue one of her passions and enrolls in culinary school – but to become a food writer, not a chef of any type. She conquers the rigorous program, gets her first job waking up in the wee hours of the morning to bake bread, is hit head on with an unexpected family member passing and finds love.

This type of book is definitely a first here on Chick Lit Plus but I have been such a fan of Jenna and her blog that I definitely wanted to write about my experience whilst reading her book. Now, let me be up front first and foremost, I have been reading Jenna’s blog for at least two to three years now and already knew most of these things about her, so the book didn’t have too many secrets for me. But, I absolutely loved her honesty and her story telling. I loved watching her pursue her dreams in culinary school and I loved when she recounts her early mornings at her first job. I was also heart broken when she spoke about her brother and his passing. Like I said, I already knew this about her from her blog, but this was told in such a different light and with such intimate honesty that I felt like I was right there with her. While reading, I often wished that we had been friends so that I could have held her hand during those hard times, or smiled right along with her during many of the positive moments in her life. Overall, this coming-of-age story is a really great read – especially if you are into food, because lucky for you, there are recipes found at the end of every chapter, many of which are delicious! A really fantastic read filled with real charm. I highly recommend it.

[Rating: 4.5/5]

October 26, 2012
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Out of the Blue by Lisa Maliga
Chick Lit Review

Out of the Blue by Lisa Maliga

Out of the Blue by Lisa Maliga follows Sylvia Gardner, a naive cashier who lives with her mother in Illinois. After she is dumped by her first boyfriend, she falls in love with an English actor who stars in a popular TV show. She spends the next two years researching him and then finally makes the leap and heads to Cotswolds village where she hopes to magically run into him. With little money to her name, she finds room and board in exchange for working at the hotel. Harry, the drunken proprietor causes quite a ruckus and definitely makes things a little more complicated for Sylvia.

I really enjoyed Out of the Blue and found the characters cute and quirky. I thought it was really cute to see Sylvia fall in love with the grand Alexander but a little unlikely … I guess we can all hope, huh? I enjoyed watching her spend her time working in Cotswolds village and I thought Harry was an absolute hoot. Overall, a fun story with a few unexpected twists and turns. My only complaint is that the story can get a little slow at times, but it doesn’t take long to pick back up, so it isn’t anything major.

[Rating: 3.5/5]

October 25, 2012
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That Time of the Month by Emily Shaffer
Chick Lit Review

That Time of the Month by Emily Shaffer

That Time of the Month by Emily Shaffer follows the financially unstable and unemployed Ellie. She wants to change her life for the best and decides to give herself thirty days to turn things around and pursue her dreams or end up on the floor in her niece’s toy room. At first, things seem simple but then things slowly become more and more complicated once she introduces a crazy cast of characters. As she makes her way through the thirty days, she withdraws herself from everyone and realizes that she has become a not so nice person. But, is it worth it? Will she allow everything to get in the way of what she really wants? Only time will tell.

That Time of the Month is an absolute hoot. I can’t recall a book dealing with the pursuit of one’s dreams that casts such a hilarious group of characters. Ellie is fabulous as she pursues her dreams and I loved watching her interactions with her best friend and her love interest. I feel like she and I could definitely be friends in real life and I really liked that. Another thing that made me love the book were the endless lists. I am such a die-hard list girl and I found this aspect of the story to be completely relateable. This book is an absolute must read for anyone who has ever fought to pursue their own dreams. But, be ready to smile because this book will definitely make you want to. Overall, a fantastic and fun read!

October 19, 2012
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Twelve Months by Steven Manchester
Chick Lit Review

Twelve Months by Steven Manchester

Twelve Months by Steven Manchester follows Don DiMarco who has a very good life – a loving family and an overall enjoyable life. He thought he had it all until he finds out that he has stage IV colon cancer. Faced with the life changing news, he has two options – he can throw in the towel and give up on life or he can life his last year to the fullest. He decides to go with the latter.With his loving family by his side, he embarks on living his last twelve months to the fullest. He goes on adventures both internally and externally, learns to forgive, makes up for lost time, does things he has always wanted to do, and most importantly grows.

I absolutely adored Twelve Months by Steven Manchester. It is very rare that a book can solicit so many emotions in one reading, but I truly felt them all. At some points I was devastated right along with Don, then prideful, then loving, then laughing hysterically. This book is good – real good, which is quite a feat because the market is filled with “bucket list” type books. Like those before it, this book is similar in a sense, yet so incredibly different that it will knock your socks off. As a reader, you get to watch Don grow more in a year than most do in their entire lives. Overall, a fantastic book that will make you think twice about your own life and sweating the small stuff. Definitely a MUST-READ!

[Rating: 5/5]

October 18, 2012
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The Midwife of Hope River: A Novel of an American Midwife by Patricia Harman
Chick Lit Review

The Midwife of Hope River: A Novel of an American …

The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman follows Patience Murphy who has the gift of escorting women through the challenges of bringing children into the world. During the depression, Patience takes on a job that is risky and doesn’t yield much of a financial return … yet is one of the most difficult jobs imaginable. After her mentor dies unexpectedly, she takes the helm and although she feels completely out of her element, she takes things slow and begins to trust herself. In a little over a year, we see Patience grow in many ways and we watch as the story twists and turns, intertwining many lives.

Oh boy! Every once in a while a real gem of a book comes along, and this is THE book! I absolutely adored The Midwife of Hope River. I agreed to read this book at first because I just had a baby, but let me tell you, this book is about so much more than just women having babies! This story encompasses the great depressions better than I’ve seen in a long time. Through the course of a year, not only do we get to see Patience grow and become a strong and confident midwife, but we witness racial tension and economic woes on a whole new level. This book blew me away and I loved the way Patricia weaves the main story through such a vivid and descriptive historical backdrop. Overall, a phenomenal debut that I absolutely loved. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

[Rating: 5/5]

October 16, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of October 14
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of October 14

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Sparkle

Author: Cara Leyba

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: As women, we have become professional self-critics. We’ve become so convinced by society that we need to attain a level of perfection that just isn’t real. Whether it’s trying to get skinnier, look younger, get that promotion, please our parents, get fuller lips or rid ourselves of cellulite — we’re on a never-ending mission to change and it always winds up making us feel like crap. Instead, why not focus on all the fabulous qualities we already possess? There is so much to celebrate when we look at all our accomplishments. In this straight-up girlfriend’s guide, lifestylist and wellness coach Cara Alwill Leyba encourages women to discover what makes them sparkle so that they can design the lives they desire and deserve. So raise your glass and toast yourself. You’re about to start shimmering, shining and dazzling every day! Because isn’t everything better when it sparkles?

Title: Sad Desk Salad

Author: Jessica Grose

Received: From HarperCollins

Synopsis: As a writer for Chick Habit, an increasingly popular women’s website, Alex Lyons gets paid to be a bitch. She’s churning out several posts a day, and she saves her juiciest ones for blog prime time, when working women eat their sad desk salads in their offices. Alex tells herself she’s fulfilling her dream of being a professional writer; so what if it means being glued to her couch and her laptop from six a.m. to six p.m., scouring the web in search of the next big celebrity scandal? Since Chick Habit’s parent company keeps close tabs on page views, Alex knows her job is always at risk.

So when an anonymous tipster sends her the year’s most salacious story—a politico’s squeaky-clean Ivy League daughter caught in a very R-rated activity—it’s a no-brainer. But is Alex really willing to ruin the girl’s life by igniting the next Internet feeding frenzy? And what she doesn’t yet realize is how this big scoop is about to send her own life spiraling out of control.

Title: A Very Accidental Love Story

Author: Claudia Carroll

Received: From Avon Books, Unsolicited

Synopsis: Eloise Elliot is one of the youngest newspaper editors in the country. Respected and revered by her peers, she’s at the top of her game.

But, on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, finding herself surrounded by some pathetic looking balloons and mangy sandwiches in The Daily Post’s conference room, Eloise is hit but a long sharp pang of loneliness.

Suddenly, and with dazzling clarity, she realises what she wants to make her life more complete. A baby.

One successful trip to the sperm bank and almost three years later and she is the adoring mother of a gorgeous little girl, Lily. Juggling a high-powered job with motherhood is not easy and when she finds herself without childcare she sends an SOS to her sister Helen. Yet it’s when Lily starts asking about her ‘daddy’ that Eloise really starts to panic. What will she tell her?

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: The Girl, the Gold Tooth and Everything

Author: Francine LaSala

Received: Francine LaSala

Synopsis: Mina Clark is losing her mind—or maybe it’s already gone. She isn’t quite sure. Feeling displaced in her over-priced McMansion-dotted suburban world, she is grappling not only with deep debt, a mostly absent husband, and her playground-terrorizer 3-year old Emma, but also with a significant amnesia she can’t shake—a “temporary” condition now going on several years, brought on by a traumatic event she cannot remember, and which everyone around her feels is best forgotten. A routine trip to the dentist changes everything for Mina, and suddenly she’s not sure if what’s happening is real, of if she’s just now fully losing her mind… especially when she realizes the only person she thought she could trust is the one she fears the most.

This latest novel by Francine LaSala (Rita Hayworth’s Shoes) is a fast-paced, richly layered, and darkly humorous satire filled with quirky characters and unforgettable moments of humanity.

October 14, 2012
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Suzy Duffy’s Guest Post
For Writers

Suzy Duffy’s Guest Post

So you want to be an author?

Wanting to write a book is a bit like wanting to be a Mom. It looks much more glamorous than it is, there’s lots of fun ways to make it happen and when you get there it’s not at all what you expected!

It’s easy to start writing a book, but believe me, it’s pretty tough to see through. You need to get your bum on that seat every day. Most writers I know think they’re at their best in the morning. Our minds are sharper and more creative. I do my other chores in the afternoon and then I edit at night when I’m not so productive but still able to work. Writing a book is a gargantuan undertaking. The first write, which is usually about one hundred, twenty thousand words is only the first write! Then you edit it again and again and again. Edit your story about twenty times, at this stage because on every re-read; you’ll find things that you missed the time before. Nothing annoys a reader more than finding an inconsistency in a story. It shatters the whole fictional world.

Now, let’s say you really have the story the way you want it. You’ve gone through it so many times; you almost know it by heart. Give yourself a pat on the back. That’s a big deal, a massive achievement. It also means it’s time to find an agent! Agents are great people, really they are – but they’re not magicians. We have to give them a product they can sell. They want you to be the next big thing just as much as you do. But they can’t force a publisher to bite. First off, check the website of the agents you like. Are they taking on new clients? How do they like to be approached – email or letter? Do as they wish. You don’t want to annoy them already! You have to sell yourself to the agent and (s)he has to believe in you before (s)he can go out and sell you into the market. It’ll probably take several attempts to get an agent you like, but hang in there, you’ll get one.

Next step is to find a publisher. There’s a huge amount of luck in finding the right publishing deal. You need to have the right type of book at the right time. Many writers fall at this hurdle. I’ve had my share of rejection letters. Every professional writer has. In the case of Wellesley Wives and the New England Trilogy, I resorted to making a deal with God! I promised that I’d give 10% of my royalties to a local charity if I got a book deal. Within a few weeks of agreeing to link up with www.fobh.org I signed a book deal with The Writers coffee Shop. Was it God? I think so.

So now, either through grit and determination, luck or God, you have a publisher. The first thing they’ll want you to do, is re-write the book according to their tastes. Remember all the editing you did at home? Well, you’re going to do that again under their in-house editorial team. You can’t be precious about your work. If they want to drop the main character and get the bad guy elevated to high standing, you ask how high. You need your publisher to love you. The manuscript will bounce back and forth between you and them maybe fifteen times. While they have it, it’s time to think about writing book two! It will take a year for your first book to actually be published and by then, both your agent and your publishing house will want to see final drafts of your second offering. This comes at just the same time as your marketing for book one heats up. You need to eat, sleep, and drink your (first) book at this stage. It’s a massive, all consuming project. Give up your social life, sleep, everything. If you don’t do the marketing, your little book will not get out and into the world.

Quite simply there are too many books being written at the moment. It’s a big job to get one up and out – just like a baby. But ask any new Mom would she do it all again, and the answer is almost always YES.

Herewith, I’ve outlined the enormous work load involved but believe me, nothing beats holding your book in your hands or getting an email from a fan. Go for it, write your story. Don’t let anything or anybody say you can’t because you can!

I look forward to reading your book.

Lots of love,

Suzy

XX

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October 11, 2012
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