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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite
Chick Lit Plus

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite

Just recently I started really getting into perfume. I was never a big in past years, I just would spray some body spray and call it good. I’m not sure how it changed, but now I have seven perfume bottles lining my vanity! My favorite lately has been Bombshell from Victoria Secret. I love the bottle, and the smell is delicious. I always pick this one for a good night out scent – it’s sexy, feminine, and even a bit glamorous.

A runner up is a new favorite I received in a Birchbox – Harvey Prince Yogini. The description says it is supposed to keep you calm, like you’re in a yoga class, and I’ll be – I really am call immediately after I put this on! I love the scent, and I use this on days when I am relaxing at home. It’s not one for a night out, but for a chill night at home, this is my new go-to.

Sara’s Must-Have:

I used to be a perfume person, but I’ve noticed that I can’t handle the strong smells as easily now as I used to when I was much younger. So now, I usually reach for a body spray of some type because they still get the job done, yet not to where they overpower my senses. My favorite by far is Japanese Cherry Blossom from Bath and Body Works. This scent has it all: it is slightly seductive with its floral scent, yet there are touches of fruit and other types of petals mixed in. This has been my go-to fragrance for a few years now.

May 8, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of May 6
Chick Lit Review

In My Mailbox: Week of May 6

Title: The Cowboy Singer
Author: Paula Tiberius
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: April Connors figured her love life was on hold indefinitely now that she was about to have a baby while temporarily staying at her grandmother’s house (what a turn-on!). Meeting infamous country singer Jimmy Wick may have made her giant belly flip, but she was filing him under a big “as if.” No man in his right mind would fall for a gal this pregnant, and besides, she needed to focus on herself and the baby. James Warwick (a.k.a. Jimmy Wick) was not in his right mind. His ex-wife was petitioning for full custody of the only thing that made him happy besides playing music, his four-year-old princess, Summer, and the thought of losing her had him crazier than an outhouse rat. His saving grace was his new ‘friend’ April who he was falling head over heels for. The only problem was, April had just been knocked up, dumped and stranded by the last guy she was with and was in no mood to go down that road again. She was hellbent on getting her life back on track just as James was watching his fall apart, leaving them both caught off guard by the unstoppable romance that would sweep them off their feet.

Title: Brownie Fix
Author: Ellen Cardona
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: Chocolate. Love. Sex. Really, what else could a woman want in life? For Persey, the heroine of Brownie Fix, her days are fun-filled until what is normally one of life’s most fulfilling experiences, the birth of her son, leads her straight into a dark state of postpartum depression. Wandering in her own postpartum hell, Persey meets people that are absurd, like the swinging neighbors who want a little more than a cup of sugar and a group of mothers who become whipped up in worship to a climactic furor. On top of the madness, she keeps seeing a yellow-toothed old man who acts like he wants to breastfeed from her. Or is it her imagination? Add the voices in her head that become louder and louder, and it’s little wonder that Persey reaches for brownie mix to soothe her insanity. Buckling under the pressure and lack of sleep from motherhood, Persey experiences the five stages of grief that lead her to uncover a buried secret, and gradually she begins to heal with the help of her family, friends, and, of course, brownies.

Title: Then Came You
Author: Jennifer Weiner
Received: Via SheKnows Book Lounge
Synopsis: Jules Strauss is a Princeton senior with a full scholarship, acquaintances instead of friends, and a family she’s ashamed to invite to Parents’ Weekend. With the income she’ll receive from donating her “pedigree” eggs, she believes she can save her father from addiction.
Annie Barrow married her high school sweetheart and became the mother to two boys. After years of staying at home and struggling to support four people on her husband’s salary, she thinks she’s found a way to recover a sense of purpose and bring in some extra cash.
India Bishop, thirty-eight (really forty-three), has changed everything about herself: her name, her face, her past. In New York City, she falls for a wealthy older man, Marcus Croft, and decides a baby will ensure a happy ending. When her attempts at pregnancy fail, she turns to technology, and Annie and Jules, to help make her dreams come true.
But each of their plans is thrown into disarray when Marcus’ daughter Bettina, intent on protecting her father, becomes convinced that his new wife is not what she seems…
With startling tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor, Jennifer Weiner once again takes readers into the heart of women’s lives in an unforgettable, timely tale that interweaves themes of class and entitlement, surrogacy and donorship, the rights of a parent and the measure of motherhood.
Title: In the Bag
Author: Kate Klise
Received: Unsolicited, HarperCollins
Synopsis: A European vacation. A luggage mix-up. A note from a secret admirer.
Meet two single parents who think they’re too busy to date.
And two teenagers who can’t stop writing flirty emails.
This is a tale of connections—missed and made—in a universe that seems to have its heart set on reuniting Ms. 6B and Mr. 13C.
Webb
I can’t believe I picked up the wrong bag at the airport. My dad is never going to let me hear the end of it.
Coco
I don’t understand why Mom told me to pack my worst underwear. And now I’ve lost my bag? Ack!
Andrew
I cannot stop thinking about that woman in seat 6B on the flight to Paris.
Daisy
I don’t have time to worry about the creep sitting in 13C who slipped a note in my purse. I have to find my daughter’s missing bag before this ruins our vacation.
In the Bag is a smart and stylish story that explores the old-fashioned art of romance in a modern world, where falling in love can be as risky as checking a bag on an international flight. Buckle your seat belt—it’s going to be a bumpy vacation!
Title: The Making of Us
Author: Lisa Jewell
Received: Najma @Cornerstone Publicity
Synopsis: Lydia, Robyn and Dean don’t know each other – yet. They live very different lives but each of them, independently, has always felt that something is missing. What they don’t know is that a letter is about to arrive that will turn their lives upside down. It is a letter containing a secret – one that will bind them together, and shows them what love and familyand friendship really mean…
Title: Wishful Thinking
Author: Gabi Stevens
Received:
Synopsis: Free-spirited artist Stormy Jones-Smythe was raised by two talented Wizard fathers but never showed the slightest hint of magical abilities. Which is why she’s totally surprised when three famous fairy godmothers show up at her door to tell her she’s one of them. Surprised, and none too happy. The godmothers are fugitives, framed for treason, and the last thing the magical Council wants is another fairy godmother going rogue. Hence Stormy’s new full-time Guard, Hunter Merrick. Stormy quickly realizes she’s not going to escape Hunter’s watch…and before long, she’s not sure she wants to. But her freedom depends on her ability to expose the plot against the godmothers, and that means getting control of her magic. Despite the growing chemistry between them, Hunter is fiercely loyal to the Council—and duty-bound to keep Stormy from doing either of those things. But he didn’t count on Stormy’s irrepressible exuberance and passion for life. Before long, even Hunter isn’t sure which side he’s on, and he can’t contain Stormy either way.

Title: The Lovers of Pound Hill
Author: Mavis Cheek
Received: Unsolicited
Synopsis: When city girl Molly Bonner arrives in the village of Lufferton Boney, she creates quite a stir. With her non-country-style boots, determined manner and alluring looks, she sets off a wave of intrigue that ripples through the lives of everyone there, from Julie the barmaid at the Holly Bush to antiques dealer Dryden Fellows and Montmorency the cat. Nobody knows exactly what she’s up to, but one thing seems certain: her presence will alter the lives and loves of the village and its people for good.

For Molly is a girl on a mission: to discover the truth behind Lufferton Boney’s sinister and most notorious resident, the giant (and slightly obscene) Gnome, a fertility symbol etched into the face of Pound Hill. As she works her way into the villagers’ hearts and lives, Molly needs to keep one step ahead. She has a few demons of her own to settle, as she pursues the wonderful secret that only the Gnome can reveal.

May 6, 2012
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The Singles by Meredith Goldstein
Chick Lit Review

The Singles by Meredith Goldstein

Debut novel, The Singles by Meredith Goldstein, follows the single biggest fear of most single people – attending a wedding solo. Despite the bride, Beth “Bee” Evans, generous and thoughtful offer of a plus one for all of the guests at her wedding, five attendees decline and are consequently dubbed “The Singles”. The story follows the adventures of the five “Singles”, Hannah, Vicki, Rob, Joe, and Nancy. Hannah is the single bridesmaid pining over her ex with wishful thinking and hopes that the wedding will bring them closer together; Vicki is in love … with the characters in romance novels; Rob is single yet hopelessly in love with his dog; Phil can’t seem to find anyone that is better than Mom; and Joe is single yet hopeful for a chance (and romantic) encounter at the wedding. Author Meredith Goldstein weaves together each of their stories as they prepare and attend the upcoming wedding.

I found The Singles to be charming and heartfelt. I laughed and cried during a few scenes and felt as though the characters were developed very realistically. Although their lives are often sad, I felt that each of the five “Singles” had a very unique and interesting perspective that added to the overall feel of the novel. Their escapades really shine as they are woven together, each having a significant impact on the story as a whole. I absolutely adored the ending and was quite pleased with the way that everything turned out. Overall, a fun and often humorous tale that I think will be a big hit this summer.

May 3, 2012
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The Way by Kristen Wolf
Chick Lit Review

The Way by Kristen Wolf

The strikingly thought provoking debut novel, The Way by Kristen Wolf, follows young Anna, a fiery tomboy with a curious appearance. Her father uses this and sells Anna disguised as a boy to a band of shepherds when tragedy strikes her family. Once in their company, she is then captured by a mystical and secret group of women hiding in the desert- and it is there that she learns “The Way”, an ancient philosophy that unleashes an unknown power within her. She uses the power to heal, but mainly for other purposes once the sisters cave becomes threatened. Left with no choice, Anna leaves the caves on a mission and shares her new found knowledge and wisdom of “The Way” with everyone she meets along the way.

This book is absolutely unforgettable. Inside, author Kristen Wolf, uses her imaginative and beautifully descriptive story telling to weave a tale so engrossing that it leaves you breathless and wanting more. Anna is faced with many trials throughout the book, some more shocking than others, but through it all, you witness one of literature’s noblest transformations and a shocking revelation that will leave you thinking well after you’ve finished the book. I absolutely loved the suspense, as well as the enchanting mix of history and fantasy that are weaved throughout the tale. Overall, a fantastic read. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good piece of literature. I don’t think I could rave anymore about this book … truly one of a kind.

May 1, 2012
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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & Giveaway
Chick Lit Plus

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & Giveaway

Charming Tuesday Product Of The Week: Lip Product

Samantha’s Must-Have:

I don’t wear a lot of lipsticks, because I actually realized years ago I have very sensitive lips. Many times after wearing a lipstick I will break out around my lips. Lip gloss and chapstick luckily don’t have the same affect on me, but I still minimize what I put on just in case. One product that I have recently fallen for and am happy to report has yet to cause me to break out is the Jouer Lip Enhancer. I received a sample of this in my November Birchbox, and recently purchased a full-size. I had used lip plumper’s before, but couldn’t get over the sting that would come along with use. The burning and tingling sensation was so bad I quit using them all together. But there is no discomfort with Jouer, and it still gives me a lips a noticeable boost. It also moisturizes the lips and makes them silky soft, and I love the light pink color to it. Just enough color but not overpowering. One of my favorite beauty products!

Sara’s Must-Have:

I am a self-obsessed lip gloss junkie and on most days, I have at least eight in my purse. My go-to brand for lip gloss has always been MAC because I love the color selection and the quality of product … but the MAC Clear LipGlass beats them all hands down. With the perfect amount of shine, this product plump’s lips easily and can be worn by itself, over a colored lip gloss or lip stick, or even just a liner. My preferred method is when it is worn by itself. I have never found another product that works as well, offers a glassy-shine, and hydrates all in one. This is my go-to lip product when dressing up.

Now, when dressing down, I am an avid chapstick user. I have one in my purse at all times and also one on my desk at work. I just love having hydrated lips … some people actually think that I may be addicted, but if it’s wrong, then I don’t want to be right. I used to keep things simple and use Aveeno or a basic Blistex on my lips, but a few months ago, Maybelline introduced their new Baby Lips collection. I am obsessed with the hydration that they offer and the subtle selection of colors. My favorites are the clear and calming Peppermint and the pink-hued Cherry Me!

May 1, 2012
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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite
Chick Lit Plus

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite

Chick Lit Plus is kicking off a fabulous new feature called “Charming Tuesday” on our website. Every Tuesday, we will choose a beauty product and narrow down our absolute favorites, often times featuring a giveaway of one (or two) of our beauty “must-have’s”. So, check back every Tuesday to see which products make the cut.

Charming Tuesday Product Of The Week: Foundation

Samantha’s Must-Have:

My favorite foundation hands down is Almay’s Smart Shade, Smart Balance. I wrote a post on Almay products and highlighted this foundation way back in December of 2009, and it is still a staple in my bag. I remember when I first bought it and squeezed some product into my hand, freaking out because it was white. I didn’t understand that it literally blends into your skin, matching your skin tone perfectly. So not only do not I have to worry about those pesky lines showing, but this foundation also balances your skin so you don’t get oily or dry throughout the day. I absolutely recommend this product!

http://chicklitplus.com/category/chicklitplus/style-fashion-beauty/page/7/

 

Sara’s Must Have:

Living in Texas, it can be difficult to wear foundation most days because of the extreme heat in the summer. In the past, I have usually used a tinted moisturizer pretty much year round, but during pregnancy, I felt like I needed a little more coverage than what a tinted moisturizer could offer. So, naturally, since I am a huge fan of Bobbi Brown makeup in general, I thought I would stop in and give them a try. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed. This foundation did it all- the weightless coverage helped even out my ever changing skin tone, minimized the appearance of pores and blemishes, and helped my super-dry skin stay hydrated. Plus, there is the added benefit of UV protection. I highly recommend this foundation to anyone looking for a smooth applying, never cakey (or dry) foundation for their skin that still provides a natural (almost tinted moisturizer like) feel.

April 24, 2012
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Well-Heeled Writer Platform
For Writers

Well-Heeled Writer Platform

Building a writing platform is an important ingredient in finding success with our craft. I’m talking more about how we validate our work, answering the question … Why are you the one to write this Mystery/Romance/Family Drama/YA book? What expertise can you bring to the work? Take this chair, for instance. It definitely has “platform” going on. At the same time, it brings something fresh to the seat genre. But without that platform, the chair so lacks authority!

Platform is helpful in both fiction and nonfiction, and there are several ways a writer can build one. Some include holding an MFA. Are you a lawyer? Back up the legal thriller you’ve written with that title. Love to cook? Parlay that passion into your own unique cookbook.

Authority in a subject does lend credibility to a piece of writing, and can help influence agents, editors, and especially your reading audience. At the same time it gives you a rich knowledge of wisdom and experience to bring to the page, layering your story with authenticity.

For me, I’ve developed my blog as an extension of my novel Whole Latte Life. The blog looks at the same questions the book does, that of living our passions, whatever they may be. I’ve posed questions to my readers, initiated active dialogues in the Comments, and interviewed experts in the arts of music, writing, greeting card design, cooking, and others, to bring their experiences to my readers, and to build my own base of knowledge on the subject.

So think Platform … Consider your education, employment, hobby, expertise, craft, as a shoe-in to building your writing resume.

~Joanne

April 23, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of April 22
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of April 22

Title: Unlocked
Author: Rachael O’Bryan
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: In Unlocked The main character Rebecca takes the reader on a journey through a collection of short stories concerning nine guys she met while being a tutor in college for the football team. She recounts her struggles with love, friendship, self-confidence, trust, acceptance, and heartache. The stories indicate how people and relationships can really shape a person’s life.
The story is told in first person and Rebecca introduces herself to the reader in the beginning by providing some background about herself. Delving into the actual stories, the first story of the book, “The Costly Answer” finds Rebecca wondering if her answer to one question asked by her crush cost her a chance at a relationship after she spots him a few years later in a different city. In the second story, “He Better Not Touch My Doughnuts,” she shares her experiences dealing with trust in a friendship. In the third story, “Big Brother (Sometimes),” Rebecca shares her love for her quasi-big brother, but also admits that she could never truly let go of any doubts surrounding their friendship. In the following story, “The Truth Does Set You Free,” Rebecca discusses her relationship with a guy she had a crush on for quite awhile until she finally gives their friendship an honest review. The next story, “A Necessary Goodbye,” discusses naturally letting a friendship go. That story is followed by “The Perfect Imperfect Person to Love,” where Rebecca shares her deep love and commitment to a friend she fell for and her struggle to let go. “The Best Player on the Team,” is a story about Rebecca’s friendship with one of the football players that she admired on and off the field. Next is the story, “Words Can Hurt,” which discusses the pain of being there for someone and then realizing he may never have appreciated her. And finally, “Good Guys Always Finish Last” is a story where Rebecca realizes that there are decent guys out there, and sometimes they get overlooked.
Title: Dancing Naked in Dixie
Author: Lauren Clark
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired.
With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she’s offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’—Eufaula, Alabama—home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage.
Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia’s story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage?
Title: The Ghost of Lily Painter
Author: Caitlin Davies
Received: Unsolicited, Random House UK
Synopsis: The first time Annie Sweet sees 43 Stanley Road, the Victorian house is so perfect she almost feels as though it has chosen her. She longs to move in, but with her husband increasingly distant, and her daughter wrapped up in her friends, Annie is left alone to mull over the past. Soon she becomes consumed by the house and everyone who has lived there before her, especially a young chorus girl called Lily Painter. As Annie delves further into Lily’s past she discovers a dark episode of two notorious baby farmers. Until Annie solves the mystery at the heart of the scandal, the ghost of Lily Painter will never be able to rest.

Title: I Couldn’t Love You More
Author: Jillian Medoff
Received: Amy @KMSPR
Synopsis: Which child would you save? A decision no parent can even fathom.

Eliot Gordon would do anything for her family. A 38-year-old working mother, she lives an ordinary but fulfilling life in suburban Atlanta with her partner, Grant Delaney, and their three daughters. The two older girls are actually Eliot’s stepdaughters, a distinction she is reluctant to make as she valiantly attempts to maintain a safe, happy household . . .

Then Finn Montgomery, Eliot’s long-lost first love, appears, triggering a shocking chain of events that culminates in a split-second decision that will haunt her beloved family forever. How Eliot survives-and what she loses in the process-is a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever loved a child. With hilarious honesty, wrenching depth, and a knockout twist, I COULDN’T LOVE YOU MORE illuminates the unbreakable bonds of family and reveals the lengths we’ll go to save each other, even as we can’t save ourselves.

April 22, 2012
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The Cinderella Blues by Obren Bokich
Chick Lit Review

The Cinderella Blues by Obren Bokich

The Cinderella Blues by Obren Bokich tells the story of Kat, a charming yet hopeless romantic, who is imaginative in a very endearing way. The story follows her as she juggles both her miserable job and the search for her true “Prince Charming”. She ventures through the dating scene with optimism and stumbles a few times, but ultimately learns to trust herself and her heart and in doing so, she realizes that she may end up with her happy ending (in more ways than one) after all.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Cinderella Blues and found it delightfully heartfelt and witty. I think Bokich did a wonderful job at creating a character that most women can identify with, as well as life situations that many of us experience ourselves. Being single in a city like LA is a task in itself, and I think Kat does so in a very realistic and charming way. I absolutely adored the relationships that Kat has throughout the book, especially the one with Cooper- whom I think is a heart throb in his own right! Overall, this book was a joy to read and I found myself laughing out loud at several parts. A great book to share with your girlfriends!

April 5, 2012
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