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In My Mailbox: Week of August 26
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of August 26

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: The Good Woman
Author: Jane Porter
Received: Erin @ Penguin Group
Synopsis: Is it possible to leave it all behind?

The firstborn of a large Irish-American family, Meg Brennan Roberts is a successful publicist, faithful wife, and doting mother who prides herself on always making the right decisions. But years of being “the good woman” have taken a toll and though her winery career thrives, Meg feels burned out and empty, and more disconnected than ever from her increasingly distant husband. Lonely and disheartened, she attends the London Wine Fair with her boss, ruggedly handsome vintner, Chad Hallahan. It’s here, alone together in an exotic city, far from “real” life, that Chad confesses his long-standing desire for Meg.

Overwhelmed, flattered, and desperately confused, Meg returns home, only to suddenly question every choice she’s ever made, especially that of her marriage. For Meg, something’s got to give, and for once in her life she flees her responsibilities—but with consequences as reckless and irreversible as they are liberating. Now she must decide whether being the person everyone needs is worth losing the woman she was meant to be.

Title: Mary Indiana
Author: Anneke Campbell
Received: via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: She’s eighteen and pregnant, but with a twist–the new kid in town’s barely been kissed! Could she really be a virgin? The town doc swears it’s true. There’s just GOTTA be an explanation.

But it’s not coming from Mary, as she’s quickly dubbed. She seems to have taken a vow of silence. So it’s up to the citizens of Bellingham to make their own miracles—or at least their own myths. The new celeb is instantly surrounded by hangers-on, miracle-seekers, paparazzi, preachers, and promoters—to hilarious effect.

But are they dealing with an angel here, or someone playing an angle? Con, in a word, or icon? And by the way, what’s up with that strange light in the sky? Could be she came off a spaceship.

Neither sacred nor profane, nor even paranormal, Campbell’s beautifully written book is at once funny and wise, a savvy story of how myths are made, how minds twist and turn around the extraordinary, how the human organism just can’t help grabbing for the supernatural, whether out of the spiritual need for a miracle or a mundane desire for cash.

Think Barbara Kingsolver, Margaret Atwood, Anne Tyler, only really really funny.

August 26, 2012
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Breaking The Rules by Cat Lavoie
Chick Lit Review

Breaking The Rules by Cat Lavoie

Breaking The Rules by Cat Lavoie follows twenty-seven year old Roxy Rule. When her best friend and roommate, Ollie, accepts an exciting new job overseas designing green architecture, she expects their relationship to continue as it’s always been, but that all changes when they share a heart-stopping kiss moments before his departure. Overcome with mixed emotions, she fights the urge to over analyze the situation and resumes back to her normal life in New York City, working a dead end job, and creeping further and further away from her own dreams of becoming a professional chef. Whilst things are definitely more complicated between her and Ollie (and her fiancé) since their shared kiss, Roxy is determined to forget all about it … although it is ALL she can think about. But, that isn’t the only drama that Roxy is in for as she hosts an unexpected family reunion at her tiny two-bedroom apartment and is surprised when her baby sister turns up pregnant. An unexpected twist and a surprising revelation lead to Roxy finally recognizing that she is in love with her best friend and that their kiss was more than just a kiss. Does he feel the same way? Or is she too late? Only time will tell.

Truly one of a kind…Lavoie masters the classic tale of love between the oldest of friends. Endearingly heartfelt and charming, Breaking the Rules is an absolute delight. I haven’t had this much fun reading a book in quite sometime and was completely blown away by the complexity of the tale of Roxy Rule. The cast of characters are charming and surprisingly honest and I loved the dynamic between Roxy and Ollie and found myself rooting for them to be together since the kiss. This book kept me on my toes and I wondered the whole time what was going to end up happening … and Cat ties up all the ends nicely in a way that truly defines happily ever after. Overall, a fantastic book that I recommend to anyone looking for a great time, a fun adventure, and a hilarious cast of characters that are truly heartwarming. I guarantee that this one will not disappoint. A beautiful tale of love and friendship from a debut author. I can’t wait to see what Cat Lavoie comes out with next.

August 22, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of August 19
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of August 19

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Arcadia’s Gift

Author: Jesi Lea Ryan

Received: From Jesi Lea Ryan

Synopsis: Most people who experience death don’t live to tell about it.

When sixteen year old Arcadia “Cady” Day wakes in a hospital after experiencing what can only be called a psychic episode, she finds her family in tatters. With her twin sister gone, her dad moved out, her mom’s spiraling depression and her sister’s boyfriend, Cane, barely able to look at her, the only bright spot in her life is Bryan Sullivan, the new guy in school. When Bryan’s around, Cady can almost pretend she’s a regular girl, living a regular life; when he’s not, she’s wracked with wild, inexplicable mood swings. As her home life crumbles and her emotional control slips away, Cady begins to suspect that her first psychic episode was just the beginning…

Title: To Catch a Bad Guy

Author: Marie Astor

Received: From Marie Astor

Synopsis: Janet Maple is convinced that her life could not get any worse: her stellar career at the DA’s office ended with a lay off and her boyfriend of five years told her that he wants to be just friends. When she lands a job at one of New York’s premier boutique investment firms, Janet begins to hope that her luck is finally turning for the better. Not only is she happy with her new paycheck, but things also seem to be looking up on the personal front, as the company’s handsome attorney expresses keen interest in Janet. However, her euphoria is short-lived, as Janet soon discovers alarming facts about her new employer’s business tactics. When her boss dismisses her suspicions as groundless, Janet finds herself confiding to a cute IT engineer, Dean Snider. The closer she gets to Dean, the more Janet is tempted to break her rule of not dating co-workers, but what she doesn’t realize is that everything she knows about Dean, including his occupation and even his name, is a lie.

August 19, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of August 12
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of August 12

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Lost in the Light

Author: Mary Castillo

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: DETECTIVE DORI ORIHUELA is on the verge of losing everything: her badge and now her sanity. Under investigation for a fatal shooting and recuperating from a bullet wound, she concentrates on restoring up her dream home – a 120 year-old Edwardian mansion. Expecting a few creaky stairs and drafty rooms, all of Dori’s beliefs on life and death are challenged when she not only sees a ghost, but he asks her to find a woman named, Anna.

The ghost and former bootlegger, Vicente Sorolla is trapped in the house where he was brutally murdered in the fall of 1932. By discovering what happened to the woman he loved and died to protect, both Vicente and Dori learn the undying power of love.

Dori and Vicente’s unlikely friendship takes us back to the waning days of Prohibition in San Diego and the dusty barrio of National City. Mary Castillo’s new novel, featuring the wild Orihuela family that first delighted readers in Names I Call My Sister, weaves romance, history and mystery into a humorous, touching and unforgettable story.

Title: November Surprise

Author: Laurel Osterkamp

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: • Twenty years
• Six presidential elections
• One consuming love affair

For Lucy Jones, the distinction between love and politics is hazy at best. Both can be all-consuming, and either can lead to a heart-breaking loss or an exhilarating win. Whatever the case, if you’re seen as a loser, you probably are one. Lucy first learns this lesson in 1988, when she’s a shy girl, battling a high school bully and rooting for Dukakis. Through the years Lucy will experience stunning victories and agonizing defeats as she makes the choices that define her. Meanwhile, she also struggles to define her relationship with Monty, who comes in and out of her life like the changes in public opinion. Is Monty simply a one-night stand, a kindred spirit, or the love of her life? And by 2008, can he offer her a change to believe in?

Over the course of twenty years and six presidential elections, Lucy grows and adjusts with the times. Filled with snarky political and pop-culture references, November Surprise is about the journey we take to believe in a candidate, in love, and in ourselves.

November Surprise is a companion piece to Campaign Promises, which is free on Amazon. They can be read in either order. Both have a liberal slant.

Title: Falling For You

Author: Heather Thurmeier

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Newly single Cassidy Quinn is thrilled to be a contestant on the new reality dating show The One. But her excitement turns to horror when the gorgeous bachelor turns out to be her ex-boyfriend. Seeing Brad again makes Cassidy realize she might not be as “over him” as she thought—and then she meets hunky cameraman Evan Burke.

After watching his brother lose his wife in a tragic accident, Evan vows never to fall in love. But following Cassidy around as her personal cameraman makes him question his decision, and resisting her gets harder with every sunbathing, bikini-wearing day.

Cassidy and Evan begin a forbidden affair while her ex-boyfriend tries to win her heart back one groping, awkward moment at a time. If Cassidy can manage to stop falling off horses (literally), stop falling onto her ex-boyfriend, the bachelor (yes, literally), and stop falling in love with backstage playboy Evan, she might still make it through the show without becoming a tabloid sensation.

But soon Cassidy must choose between the ex who broke her heart and the cameraman who might never love her back. For Cassidy, this reality show just got real.

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: What Lies Behind

Author: Cynthia Hill

Received: Cynthia Hill

Synopsis: What Lies Behind is quite different from Idol Hands, and is more of a historical fiction-style book. It actually takes place both in the present, and in the early-to-mid 20th century. It is told from the perspective of a grandmother, Lillian, and granddaughter, Lisa, in alternating perspectives. Lillian’s story begins with her childhood in 1920s Toronto, moving through her life as a young society bride during WWII and through the scandal and tragedy of her adult years. Lisa, from the present, struggles with her own romantic life while also trying to understand the grandmother with whom she never felt close, even as Lillian is now in the final stages of Alzheimer’s. After a shakeup in her own life, Lisa makes a discovery that may finally bring Lillian’s secretive past to light.

August 12, 2012
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Permanently Temping by Lauren Milner-Howells
Chick Lit Review

Permanently Temping by Lauren Milner-Howells

Permanently Temping by Lauren Milner-Howells follows Hollie Cooper, a fresh and squeaky clean college graduate. When she walks into her first job after graduation, she realizes that the working world is going to take some getting used to, and she is going to need to make some adjustments. Not only does poor Hollie struggle in the career department, but she also struggles in matters of the heart. She searches high and low for a spark with her artsy new boyfriend while trying to stay away from her cheating ex (which she fails at … miserably). Things start to look up as she has a chance meeting with a friend of her ex, but, will he be the answer to her prayers? Who will she end up with? And will her love life and career ever become more stable?

When I was first contacted about reviewing Permanently Temping, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve read a few novels that deal with career woes, and to be honest, they never intrigue me very much. But, this was so much more than that. Yes, as the title suggests, Hollie does take on her fair share of odd jobs here and there, but her experiences with each are often humorous and witty and I found myself laughing out loud a few times right along with Hollie. I thought Lauren did a terrific job at crafting a character who is naive, yet hopeful … just like I was upon college graduation. I also kind of fell for Gavin and I found myself keeping my fingers crossed for them! Overall, a really light and fun read with an interesting plot twist.

[Rating: 4/5]

August 9, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of August 5
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of August 5

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Bond Girl

Author: Erin Duffy

Received: From William Morrow

Synopsis: When other little girls were dreaming about becoming doctors or lawyers, Alex Garrett set her sights on conquering the high-powered world of Wall Street. And though she’s prepared to fight her way into an elitist boys’ club, or duck the occasional errant football, she quickly realizes she’s in over her head when she’s relegated to a kiddie-size folding chair with her new moniker—Girlie—inscribed in Wite-Out across the back.

No matter. She’s determined to make it in bond sales at Cromwell Pierce, one of the Street’s most esteemed brokerage firms. Keeping her eyes on the prize, the low Girlie on the totem pole will endure whatever comes her way—whether trekking to the Bronx for a $1,000 wheel of Parmesan cheese; discovering a secretary’s secret Friday night slumber/dance party in the conference room; fielding a constant barrage of “friendly” practical jokes; learning the ropes from Chick, her unpredictable, slightly scary, loyalty-demanding boss; babysitting a colleague while he consumes the contents of a vending machine on a $28,000 bet; or eluding the advances of a corporate stalker who’s also one of the firm’s biggest clients.

Ignoring her friends’ pleas to quit, Alex excels (while learning how to roll with the punches and laugh at herself) and soon advances from lowly analyst to slightly-less-lowly associate. Suddenly, she’s addressed by her real name, and the impenetrable boys’ club has transformed into forty older brothers and one possible boyfriend. Then the apocalypse hits, and Alex is forced to choose between sticking with Cromwell Pierce as it teeters on the brink of disaster or kicking off her Jimmy Choos and running for higher ground.

Fast-paced, funny, and thoroughly addictive, Bond Girl will leave you cheering for Alex: a feisty, ambitious woman with the spirit to stand up to the best (and worst) of the boys on the Street—and ultimately rise above them all.

Title: Second Time Around

Author: Erin Kaye

Received: Unsolicited, Avon Books

Synopsis: A heart-warming tale of love in the face of family and friendship, perfect for fans of Cathy Kelly and Maeve Binchy Divorcee Jennifer Irwin has it all – a successful interior design business and two loving children. But as her 45th birthday approaches and her children prepare to start their own lives, Jennifer is left feeling lonely in her empty nest. That’s when she meets Ben Crawford – a man 16 years her junior – as their attraction heightens, Jennifer realises what she’s been missing. But mindful that the small-town Ballyfergus residents would never approve, they conduct their affair in secret. But a secret is never a secret for long…As the affair surfaces, Jennifer encounters opposition from friends and family, especially her daughter Lucy. Enraged by her mother’s relationship, Lucy seeks comfort in the arms of charismatic but troubled, Oren. Jennifer knows that Oren is not the man he seems, but can she convince her daughter of that? And with everything going against them, can Jennifer and Ben’s love survive? Or will she risk losing her daughter to be with the man she loves?

Title: The Wedding Diaries

Author: Sam Binnie

Received: Unsolicited, Avon Books

Synopsis: The first in a brand new series introduces Kiki Carlow, a woman on a mission to create her perfect wedding.

Kiki Carlow is shocked but delighted when boyfriend Thom proposes. Planning a wedding is easy, right? That’s as long as you ignore:

1. The utterly bankrupting price of the only dress you’ll ever truly love.
2. Your suddenly pregnant sister – surprise!
3. The celebrity wedding you’re covering for work which is devouring your every waking thought.
4. The Mother of the Bride. Entirely.

Kiki soon discovers that planning the perfect wedding might just bring total chaos to the rest of her life. Can she stop being a Bridezilla in time to marry the man she loves?

Heart-warming and hilarious, The Wedding Diaries will make you laugh, cry, and want to watch Bridesmaids all over again…

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: Summer Nights

Author: Allie Spencer

Received: Philippa @Random House

Synopsis: Could getting dumped on her birthday and stranded in San Francisco actually be the best thing that could happen to Flora?

Flora Fielding has been dumped on her 30th birthday, and left stranded in San Francisco. With nowhere else to turn, she seeks out her cousin Bella who has been working as a nurse in the city for the past few years. But when she arrives at Bella’s apartment, Flora is shocked to find that her cousin’s in even more trouble than she is—because instead of leading the fast-paced life of an emergency room nurse that Flora has imagined, Bella is eking out a living as the lead singer in an Abba tribute band. But as Flora soon learns, although life in San Francisco with Bella may be uncertain, it’s never ever dull. What with the tense Battle of the Tribute Bands, the threat to the local area by an evil developer, and the attentions of a very persistent computer geek, Flora soon begins to wonder whether she wants to go home at all.

August 5, 2012
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Sometimes Ya Gotta Laugh by Timothe Davis
Chick Lit Review

Sometimes Ya Gotta Laugh by Timothe Davis

Sometimes Ya Gotta Laugh by Timothe Davis follows thirty six year old Jordan Spencer who hasn’t had a relationship that has lasted for longer than six months. And, that suits him just fine until his two go-to people stop having time for him. Gabby is falling for a guy that Jordan isn’t very fond of, and Chris … is well, having issues of his own. With the two of them slowly drifting further away from Jordan, he has to come up with an alternative plan and decide what to do about the loneliness that he faces without his pals. Should he fight for their friendships? Or should he let them drift further and further to the side. Only time will tell …

Sometimes Ya Gotta Laugh is a dose of chick-lit about friendship, but told through a male perspective. Being a female, I found this take fascinating and really enjoyed reading about the value that certain men place on their friendships. Timothe Davis does a wonderful job at creating very real and believable friendships, and very vivid characters. I actually enjoyed this book much more than I expected. Overall, a great read from an emerging author. Can’t wait to see what Davis comes out with next.

August 2, 2012
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Happily Ever After by Maggie Greene
For Writers

Happily Ever After by Maggie Greene

Happily Ever After

Thanks so much for having me here today!

I hear from a lot of people that they don’t like reading romances because the ending is implied. I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that these books end with a happily-ever-after. That’s actually what I love about it. When I pick up a romance, I know that no matter what the characters go through, they are going to wind up together in the end.

To be fair, romance isn’t the only genre this happens in. When you read a mystery, you expect the detective to solve the crime, right? Otherwise it wouldn’t make it a very good story. We like to see good win out over evil.

We also like to see love conquer the world. I strongly believe in the power of love to heal wounds created by the rest of the world. Of course, I also believe that it is important to make the characters work to get there. So you know what you’re getting with my book. Two characters who each have a host of personal problems, who want to be together but are pulled apart by circumstances, but who find a way to overcome those issues and end up together in the end.

Alright, time for the fun part. I’m having a large giveaway as part of my blog tour. Comments on each of the stops will count as an entry in the contest. Winners will be drawn on August 1st andwill receive a gift basket from me complete with some book swag, bath products,and honey. For more details (and chances to enter), you can visit my blog (http://www.authormaggiegreene.com).Please make sure you leave an email address.

July 31, 2012
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Great-Aunt Sophia’s Lessons for Bombshells by Lisa Cach
Chick Lit Review

Great-Aunt Sophia’s Lessons for Bombshells by Lisa Cach

Great Aunt Sophia’s Lessons for Bombshells by Lisa Cach follows Grace Cavanaugh, who is bound and determined to prove that beauty only leads to misery through research for her thesis. She is knee deep in research when she receives a call that her great aunt Sophia is havnig surgery, and that she would love it if Grace could accompany her during her recovery. Despite her misgivings, Grace caves once she realizes that this would be a perfect opportunity to do some much needed research. She arrives in Pebble Beach completely expecting to find a old, lonely and ragged old woman … but instead finds a well aged diva, still ozzing of va-va-voom. Grace realizes that she is the perfect specimen for her thesis but soon may change her train of thought once her great aunt takes her under her wing and completely transforms her into a bombshell, delivering her to test her new skills on two men who are only inches away from becoming her prey. Newly unleashed power threatens everything that Grace has ever stood for and leaves her wondering if she should trust her heart and look for beauty in unexpected places, instead of what is obvious.

I absolutely loved this book! Great- Aunt Sophia’s Lessons for Bombshells is a fabulous and hilarious read filled with lots of wonderful tips and insight on how to keep (or get back) what you’ve been missing in your life. Full of surprises and laughs, I was highly entertained throughout, and especially loved it when naive Grace is pitted against sexy Declan and the always handsome Dr. Andrew. I had a really hard time putting this one down and it was perfect for lounging by the pool. Overall, a really fun read and definitely something different. Loved every second of it.

[Rating: 5/5]

July 31, 2012
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