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Down At The Golden Coin by Kim Strickland
Chick Lit Review

Down At The Golden Coin by Kim Strickland

Down at the Golden Coin by Kim Strickland follows former pilot Annie Mullard, as she sinks to a new low in life and must go to run-down Laundromat, conveniently named The Golden Coin, to do her laundry. As if her luck couldn’t get any worse, the washing machine breaks down. But, it is fate stepping in and it is here that she meets Violet, a Messiah of sorts.

Down at The Golden Coin by Kim Strickland was not at all what I expected when I first started reading it. In my opinion, the name gives it quite the spin and I can’t help but to think of it being about an adventure of some type. Well, don’t be fooled like me … this book is more along the lines of a self-help book and about improving your overall outlook on life. Now, don’t run away just yet. It isn’t your typical self help book- this book is filled with wit and humor and it makes you really ponder the life that you are living. Kim does a fabulous job of making you think and making you see things in a different light. Overall, a great read and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a little pick me up.

[Rating: 4/5]

July 2, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of July 1
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of July 1

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Rum Punch Regrets

Author: Anne Kemp

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: In just a few short weeks, thirty something Abby George has endured the death of her mother, was dumped by her fiancé, and got laid off from her job.

Stunned and seeking a shoulder to cry on, she turns to her perfect older sister, Leigh. But instead of comfort, Abby receives a surprise: Leigh needs her in the Caribbean to help with some mysterious personal business.

While assisting in the sale and repair of a bed-and-breakfast, Abby uncovers a few huge family secrets as she juggles an unexpected roommate, quirky locals, and nasty centipedes.

Abby’s world is further complicated when two potential suitors enter her life. Can Abby get beyond her own psycho drama long enough to open her heart to someone new? Or will she neurotically make her romantic life worse?

Packing nothing but her suitcases and a sense of humor, Abby George travels down an unfamiliar road, but it’s all she can do to hang on for the ride…

Or will she wake up with “Rum Punch Regrets?”

“Humor, mystery, romance and a beautiful island paradise. Throw in a lovable and spirited protagonist and you have Rum Punch Regrets, the perfect summer read.” – Kyra Davis, Women’s Fiction Author

Title: Haole Wood

Author: Dee DeTarsio

Received: From Dee DeTarsio

Synopsis: When San Diego weathercaster, Jaswinder Park, is mysteriously summoned to the island of Maui in Hawaii to help her grandmother, she ends up losing her job. This fair-haired, light-skinned foreigner, called haole by the natives, decides to stay in Maui for a couple of days until she can figure out what to do with her life. She realizes that her quick trip to Maui may not be all she’s hoping for when:

-She has to bail her Hawaiian/Korean grandmother out of jail for possession of pakalolo.

-The only thing she can understand her grandmother say is: “Not that.”

-She can’t decide which hurts worse, her sunburn, hangover, or memories of the night before.

-She’s labeled the “Liquor Licker” on the front page of the Maui News in a photo that shows
her doing a shot of tequila with a hunky Hawaiian who’s been found dead.

-It seems she’s had orgasms that have lasted longer than her career.

-She scrapes the bottom of the barrel to find her guardian angel.

Beautiful fabric found in her grandmother’s closet unfolds a future for Jaswinder as she designs sensuous silky wraps called sunshminas that provide sun protection. She tries for a Hollywood connection, but her company, Haole Wood, has some growing pains. From trying to find a killer, to selling her sunshminas, to lusting after Dr. Jac, the island dermatologist, to trying to ignore her so-called guardian angel, can Jaswinder learn to embrace the island way of life? Aloha!

Title: Don’t Let Me Go

Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis:
Former Broadway dancer and current agoraphobic Billy Shine has not set foot outside his apartment in almost a decade. He has glimpsed his neighbors—beautiful manicurist Rayleen, lonely old Ms. Hinman, bigoted and angry Mr. Lafferty, kind-hearted Felipe, and 9-year-old Grace and her former addict mother Eileen.

But most of them have never seen Billy. Not until Grace begins to sit outside on the building’s front stoop for hours every day, inches from Billy’s patio. Troubled by this change in the natural order, Billy makes it far enough out onto his porch to ask Grace why she doesn’t sit inside where it’s safe. Her answer: “If I sit inside, then nobody will know I’m in trouble. And then nobody will help me.”

Her answer changes everything.

By the bestselling author of WHEN I FOUND YOU, SECOND HAND HEART, and PAY IT FORWARD, DON’T LET ME GO is the heart-breaking, funny, and life-affirming story of a building full of loners and misfits who come together to help a little girl survive—and thrive—against all odds.

Title: India’s Summer

Author: Thérèse

Received: From BookSparks PR

Synopsis: India Butler, single and about to turn forty, travels to LA in an attempt to reinvent her life.

In a world rarely illuminated by the flashbulbs of the paparazzi, she discovers the true meaning of “having it all.”

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: Before I Met You

Author: Lisa Jewell

Received: Najma @Cornerstone Publicity

Synopsis: Having grown up on the quiet island of Guernsey, Elizabeth Dean can’t wait to start her new life in London. On a mission to find Clara Pickle – the mysterious beneficiary in her grandmother’s will – she arrives in bustling and grungy 1990s Soho, filled with hope, excitement and dreams. She has the world at her feet and is ready for whatever life has to throw at her. Or so she thinks…In 1920s bohemian London, Arlette – Elizabeth’s grandmother – is starting her new life in a time of post-war change. Beautiful and charismatic, Arlette is soon drawn into the hedonistic world of the Bright Young People. But less than two years later, tragedy strikes and she flees back to Guernsey for the rest of her life. As Elizabeth searches for Clara, she is taken on a journey through Arlette’s extraordinary time in London, uncovering a tale of love, loss and heartbreak. Will the secrets of Arlette’s past help Elizabeth on her path to happiness?

Title: Free Gift With Purchase

Author: Jackie Pilossoph

Received: CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Emma and Laura are about as different as two sisters can be. Emma’s always been the party girl, Laura, the hardworking doctor. But now, the two have something in common. Both are newly single and trying out the dating scene after marriage.

Emma’s a widow and a single mother with a guilty secret she can’t let go. Laura’s husband just dumped her for one of four women he’s been sleeping with. A dispute over the house forces Laura to move in with her sister and that’s when the fun begins.

Go on some dates with these 42 and 44 year-old adorable sisters who are both looking for love and your jaw will surely drop! Laura’s mixed bag includes Dan, a selfish womanizer, Ari, a stalker, and Tim, a compulsive liar. For Emma there’s gorgeous, sexy Preston, a self-proclaiming “fun guy,” beautiful Alice, who’s a lesbian, and a string of Matts who go from bad to worse. Then there’s separated, charismatic, wealthy Luke Sullivan. Luke’s carrying some baggage, but he makes Emma’s heart stop every time he appears. Free Gift With Purchase is a book about two sisters who have always seen things from an entirely different perspective, but who as women in need of each other learn to consider that instead of judging, looking through each other’s eyes might make their lives a lot richer. In other words, when you buy into opening your heart and believing in yourself, you might just end up with a Free Gift With Purchase.

July 1, 2012
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Clean Break by David Klein
Chick Lit Review

Clean Break by David Klein

The intense and sharply written novel, Clean Break by David Klein, follows Celeste Vanek as she asks her gambling husband for a divorce. She hopes to make a clean break (hence the title of the book) but that becomes a very unlikely scenario when her husband demands his family back … and does so in a very violent way. Jake Atwood witnesses the shockingly violent scene between the husband and wife, which ties in the second portion of the story. As if Jake hasn’t seen enough, we quickly learn that he has his own issues and is taking part in an affair with Sara, a married police detective. All of the characters and their story lines are interwoven together and they soon learn how that one crime will change their lives forever.

Psychological, suspenseful, engrossing, powerful, gripping …. there just aren’t enough words to describe Clean Break by David Klein. I was pulled in instantly from the opening paragraphs and read it in one day. David Klein creates very believable characters and very REAL emotions when describing a broken marriage and a family that has seen better days. There are several key moments throughout the book that make you question whether or not you would make the same choices and this book makes you think. Definitely not a happyily-ever-after kind of book, but overall, very thought provoking and a great, suspenseful read. I definitely finished the book grateful for my husband and our happy marriage.

[Rating: 4.5/5]

June 29, 2012
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Falling Uphill by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga
Chick Lit Review

Falling Uphill by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga

Falling Uphill by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga follows main character Candace Grey, an anthropology teacher at a small college in Michigan, as she receives an alarming message on her phone from San Francisco stating that “Ruth Fenton is dead.” Ironically, she is set to leave for California (Los Angeles) to conduct research on 1960’s TV star Pamela Parrish for her thesis at the same time. Instead she heads off to San Francisco after she discovers that Ruth Fenton is a long lost relative … only to meet a woman at the memorial service who claims that the subject of her thesis (Pamela Parrish) didn’t die quite like everyone claims, and that she was murdered instead of supposedly commiting suicide. This news invokes the inner mystery solver in Candace, and she knows that she must get to the bottom of it, plus, it would be a break through for her paper. While attempting to get to the bottom of the mystery, Candance begins to suspect her boyfriend back home of cheating, and also begins a small romance with a painter. What will happen with Candace? Will she be able to solve the mystery? Or will her life go up in flames?

Light hearted and moving, Falling Uphill is the perfect mix of romance and mystery. The whole time I felt like I was right there with Candace trying to solve the mystery, as well as live vicariously through her as she struggles in the romance department. Wendy Nelson Tokunaga does a good job at creating honest characters that go through the real ups and downs of love and life, whilst also uncovering a few shadows in the closet. My biggest complaint is that the book starts off a slow in the beginning. I almost gave up, but kept with it, and am glad that I did. Overall, a pretty good read.

[Rating: 3.5/5]

June 28, 2012
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Kissing the Cotton Clouds by Michela O’Brien
Chick Lit Review

Kissing the Cotton Clouds by Michela O’Brien

Kissing the Cotton Clouds by Michaela O’Brien follows three friends: Livy, Seth and Aidan. The book follows the trio through twenty five years of life, starting when they were teenagers all the way deep into adulthood. Having gone through life and its successes, failures, heartaches, and great loves … they realize that life is rarely what you imagined, or what you hoped for at fifteen – and sometimes things don’t turn out quite like you think. As the author takes us through time, we witness how they each take on their own lives.

The novel is separated by year and I found the transition to be fairly easy to follow. Michela created characters that are well developed and you feel for each of them as they journey through life, but I felt that I was often times distracted from the main story by the backdrop of the issues of the times. While it definitely enhances the story and makes it feel more authentic, I felt like I never really got to know the characters because of it. My other major complaint is that I had a hard time relating to the language in the book because Michela uses a lot of British slang in the book, and although it feels very realistic, it is hard for an outsider like myself to understand. Other than that, the book as a whole was well written (besides these two minor points) and I enjoyed the book a fair amount. However, it did take me quite sometime to get through seeing as how I was often distracted by everything else going on instead of the story itself.

[Rating: 3/5]

June 25, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of June 24
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of June 24

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: The Undiscovered Novelist

Author: Sarah Bridgeton

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Twenty-seven-year-old Jordyn Simmons has almost everything she’s ever wanted—a sexy live-in boyfriend, an adorable son, and a finished novel she plans to publish. The only two things missing from her life are a publisher for her book and a relationship with her estranged mother, Debra. As Jordyn pursues her novelist ambitions, her world collides with Debra’s, and both women are forced to make decisions that will change their lives forever.

Title: This Tangled Thing Called Love

Author: Marie Astor

Received: From Marie Astor

Synopsis: Claire Chatfield has everything a girl could possibly wish for: looks, a promising career, and an engagement ring from one of New York’s most eligible heir-bachelors! Life should be a dream and yet, it does not feel like one… When an enigmatic new neighbor, Alec Brunell, moves into an apartment above from Claire’s, Claire is surprised to find herself wondering whether the choices she has made in her life are worth following through.

In order to secure his place as his father’s successor, David Lawson must settle down with a wife befitting the future head of Lawson Enterprises – and who could fit the prerequisite better than lovely Claire Chatfield? There is just one glitch – David Lawson is in love with another woman.

Alec Brunell has never lacked for women’s attention, but he finds himself at a loss when faced with his downstairs neighbor, Claire Chatfield. Still, her iciness only adds fuel to his fire, as Alec is determined to change Claire’s view of him.

This Tangled Thing Called Love follows the story of four people searching for love – will they have the courage to find it?

Title: Dewitched

Author: EL Sarnoff

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: After serving time for Snow White’s attempted murder, the Evil Queen is about to get a makeover. Just not the kind she expected. Thinking she’s being sent to a luxurious spa that will enable her to restore her beauty and recapture her title, Fairest of All, Jane Yvel instead finds herself at Faraway, a rehab center that caters to fairy-talelanders addicted to evil.

Upon confronting her love-hate relationship with her magic mirror, she is sent back to the world of happily-ever-after. Her goal: to discover the true meaning of beauty. Her assignment: to work for Marcella, a demanding Princess-In-Waiting. Jane finds herself irresistibly drawn to Marcella’s dashing fiancé, Prince Gallant, and his exquisite seven-year old daughter, Calla Rose. Will the Evil Queen who had no heart end up with a heart that’s broken?

Wickedly funny, darkly shocking, and deeply moving, DEWITCHED unravels the Snow White story as we know it and will make you see the evil legend in a new light as she rewrites her life.

Title: The Next Best Thing

Author: Jennifer Weiner

Received: From Emily @ Engelman & Co.

Synopsis: Actors aren’t the only ones trying to make it in Hollywood.…At twenty-three, Ruth Saunders left her childhood home in Massachusetts and headed west with her seventy-year-old grandma in tow, hoping to make it as a screenwriter. Six years later, she hits the jackpot when she gets The Call: the sitcom she wrote, The Next Best Thing, has gotten the green light, and Ruthie’s going to be the showrunner. But her dreams of Hollywood happiness are threatened by demanding actors, number-crunching executives, an unrequited crush on her boss, and her grandmother’s impending nuptials.

Set against the fascinating backdrop of Los Angeles show business culture, with an insider’s ear for writer’s room showdowns and an eye for bad backstage behavior and set politics, Jennifer Weiner’s new novel is a rollicking ride on the Hollywood roller coaster, a heartfelt story about what it’s like for a young woman to love, and lose, in the land where dreams come true.

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: Clean Break

Author: David Klein

Received: Lisa @ Booksparkspr

Synopsis: A riveting tale of psychological suspense about a woman who finds herself in an impossible situation. Lured by the hope of a better life for herself and her son, Celeste Vanek must deal with the emotional and physical resistance of her compulsive gambler husband when she asks for a divorce. Though she hopes she is on the verge of making a clean break, her husband demands his family back, and things get violent. Jake Atwood, who witnesses the shocking scene between Celeste and her husband, struggles with his own emotional and ethical issues while attempting to help Celeste escape her marriage. At the same time, Jake is involved with Sara, a married and childless police detective who has a private agenda to pursue when a crime is committed that links all of these characters together and changes their lives forever. With heart-pounding suspense and brilliant psychological insight, CLEAN BREAK will leave readers breathless.

Title: Great Aunt Sophia’s Lessons for Bombshells

Author: Lisa Cach

Received:

Synopsis: Grace Cavanaugh is hell-bent on proving her Women’s Studies dissertation thesis that beauty only leads to misery. And what better research subject than her great-aunt Sophia, a former B-movie star? Now eighty-five and facing surgery, Sophia has asked Grace for company. . . .

Grace imagines a helpless, lonely old woman, forced to turn to a great-niece she barely knows. Instead she finds the aging diva holding court in a Pebble Beach mansion, oozing a bombshell-itude—arthritis and wrinkles be damned—that captivates every male in sight. To Grace’s dismay, her greataunt decides a perfect distraction would be transforming the frumpy feminist into a femme fatale who purrs for her suitors . . . or devours them. She ordains classes in everything from carb cutting to lingerie, culminating in a challenging final exam. The newly svelte Grace must test her wiles—on both devilishly handsome and morally corrupt Declan and sensitive but painfully awkward Dr. Andrew.

Newly unleashed desires—and the discovery of a closely held family secret— threaten the bookworm-turned-babe’s entire feminist upbringing. Her thesis gone sadly awry, Grace wonders if her great-aunt is right: Will trusting her heart lead her to find beauty in the most unexpected places?

June 24, 2012
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Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Chick Lit Review

Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus follows Logan Wade and her somewhat normal existence … that is until she gets a call from her famous cousin Kelsey saying that she needs a new assistant. Usually, business between family members if a bad idea, but what happens when your family member happens to be a world renowned pop sensation and Fortune Magazine’s most powerful celebrity? Logan dives in when Kelsey makes her an offer that she can’t refuse, but their relationship is quickly but to the limits when tensions rise on tour and Logan has to be the middle man between Kelsey and her parents. Anxious for some normalcy, Kelsey tries to break away from it all, but she ends up making mistake after mistake. Kelsey continues to unravel in the public eye and it is only a matter of time until Logan must make a choice between saving herself, and saving her cousin.

When I was first contacted about reviewing Between You and Me, I instantly said yes. I’ve been a big fan of both authors for quite sometime now and was anxious to see their latest joint venture in paper back, and I was thoroughly impressed with this book. If you are a fan of Britney Spears (who isn’t right?!?), then you will really enjoy this book because it closesly mirrors her life the last couple of years as she fell from pop princess to absolute train wreck. The authors wrote Kelsey in a perfect comparison to Miss Britney and she plays the role perfectly. She is unpredictable and dying for attention, even though she vows that she wants nothing less. The book is fast paced, entertaining, and a perfect piece of fictional pop culture. I could definitely see Kelsey plastered on the front pages of our gossip magazines with some of the stunts that she pulls in the book. Overall, a perfect summer time read – a true escape and a wild ride.

[Rating: 5/5]

June 22, 2012
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The Drought by Steven Scaffardi
Chick Lit Review

The Drought by Steven Scaffardi

The Drought by Steven Scaffardi follows Dan Hilles following his break-up with long term girlfriend, Stacey. Dan is a pretty average guy – he has a normal job, a regular group of friends, and typical male hang-ups. But, it isn’t until after his break up with Stacey that he realizes just how “average” he is. Dan has been out of the dating game for quite sometime, and although he tries to hop right back in, things aren’t quite as simple as he once imagined. The lack of dating leads to Dan experiencing a “drought” … and I’m not referring to a lack of rain. Yes, he has gone quite sometime without having sex. His closest pals rally together and try their best to help out their friend – but it seems like Dan isn’t willing to help himself and can’t really seem to catch a break. Luckily for Dan, he has Kelly to confide in, and after confessing his woes, she begins to teach him just what makes a woman tick. Is Kelly the answer to his prayers? Will the “drought” ever end?

Here at Chick Lit Plus, we occasionally get requests from authors promoting their newest “Lad Lit” novels. Being a female, I sometimes have difficulty relating to the main characters, but not with this one. Steven Scaffardi’s first novel is absolutely hilarious and will leave every reader, male or female, laughing out loud. I found the characters very relatable and know several friends who have found themselves in very similar situations- albeit not as funny as Dan’s particular story. The Drought is well witten and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a book that actually brings the laughs.

[Rating: 4/5]

June 21, 2012
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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite
Chick Lit Plus

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite

Like the saying goes, all good things must come to an end … and today marks our final posting for Charming Tuesday. In a few weeks we will be starting a new segment that will feature some of our favorite beauty products, but for now, this will be the last Charming Tuesday. So, in honor of a fun and fantastic few weeks with this feature, Samantha and I have listed below our absolute ALL TIME BEAUTY MUST HAVES! Enjoy!

Charming Tuesday Product of the Week: ALL TIME BEAUTY MUST HAVE

Samantha’s All Time Beauty Must Have:

With our last Charming Tuesday post, Sara and I decided to pick our all-time must have product. Of course I can’t choose one, so I decided to write about the products that I bring in my small makeup bag when I am going out. These are what I call my essentials, and I have actually made my boyfriend leave a friend’s house once to go back home and get my bag for me. I feel naked without it when I’m out and about. So here’s my essentials:

1. Concealer. I use Almay Clear Complexion Concealer, and it is fabulous at covering up any marks and staying put throughout the night.

2. Eyeliner. I use Maybelline Showstopper in navy. When I opt out of eyeliner, I could pass for the kiddie buffet. Not a good look for me. I have eyeliner on hand wherever I go.

3. Lip Gloss. Sara got my hooked on Maybelline Baby Lips lip gloss. It has turned into an addiction. I now have cherry, peach, and quenched.

4. Eyelash Glue. Yes, I wear fake eyelashes, and often. I always have my adhesive on hand for any just in case moments and have lash stuck my cheek. That has yet to happen, but you never know.

Those are my makeup essentials. I also always pack a mini-deodorant (hello dance floor), an extra hair tie that usually ends up going to a girlfriend, and a pair of flip-flops if I’m wearing heels. I love big purses, and my feet thank me at the end of the night.

Sara’s All Time Beauty Must Have:

I have two. My first beauty favorite is actually fairly new. Recently, I started hearing all the buzz about the new BB creams that were being introduced onto the market. As I have mentioned before, I am usually a pretty low maintenance gal, and most days leave the house without any makeup on. But, I was interested to try out this new product and see what all the buzz was about … so I went to my local Walgreens and picked up the new Garnier BB Cream and was amazed with the results. This product renews, brightens, evens, hydrates, and protects skin – and it really does. My skin had a dewy glow right after application! By far, this is my new favorite and I’m sure I will be using it from here on out.

My other favorite must have beauty product is actually sunscreen. I’ve always been very diligent with my sunscreen usage because my skin is so fair, but two summers ago, I found out that I had a melanoma on my upper right arm. It was a very scary time in my life but I am glad that we were able to find it and remove it all completely. I now go to the dermatologist every three months to have my skin checked and am even more diligent about my sunscreen application. Because of my past, I literally fly through bottles of sunscreen. Some work better than others, but to me, they are all the same … but my face is a different story. I have found that regular sunscreen on my face is too harsh and often times burns my skin. That is, until I started wearing Ocean Face Potion. This stuff is fabulous! It protects my skin without the irritation, plus the container is small and I can carry it around in my purse. By far, my absolute must have product – I literally have a container in my purse, my car, my gym bag, and a few in our medicine cabinet. I highly recommend this product.

June 19, 2012
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