On Tour: Mounting the Whale by Colleen McCarty
Colleen will be on tour January 20-31 with her novel Mounting the Whale “Cartel got me, tell mom” The siblings, drowning in their own problems, are…
Fitness Review: Abdominal Sweatbands
Contributor: Samantha I’m a big fitness fanatic, and I’m always on board for trying something new when it comes to working out. From workout DVDs…
On Tour: Life in Plan B by Jennifer Vessells
Jennifer will be on tour January 20-31 with her novel Life in Plan B When twenty-eight year old Haley Simpson, a sales associate for her best…
Blog Tour Sign Up: Tea and Primroses by Tess Thompson
Tess will be on tour starting February 24 with her women’s fiction/contemporary romance novel Tea and Primroses. I am looking for book bloggers to post reviews, guest…
Cover Reveal: The Right Design by Isabella Louise Anderson
I’m so happy to share the cover today of The Right Design, the debut novel from Isabella Louise Anderson. Isabella runs the popular website Chick Lit Goddess,…
Guest Blog: Cindy Arora
Be You
By Cindy Arora
People ask me all the time how I finished a book. I was a new mom, had a full-time job and plenty of personal shenanigans going on in my life to keep me busy. But there I was every night, elbow deep in character profiles, dialogue, and researching petit fours.
While writing Heartbreak Cake, I had one simple mantra that kept me going, even when I wanted to go lay down on my couch and eat cake while watching Sex and the City reruns.
“Get her done.” Simple, succinct and exactly what I needed to hear on a daily basis.
You see, you can’t write a book unless you finish it. So before you can even start judging yourself on how terrible the dialogue is, how silly the characters are, or how much better (insert author’s name here) book is, you really just have to finish it.
So, in the meantime, while writing your rough draft, just be you. Have fun, stretch your writing legs, get out of your own way, and just do what you love. Write.
My Favorite Writing Quotes
1. “Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.” Anne Lamott
2. “If I waited for perfection, I’d never write a word.” Margaret Atwood
3. “A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” Richard Bach
4. “If I waited until I felt like writing, I’d never write at all.” Anne Tyler
Heartbreak Cake by Cindy Arora
Business is sweet for pastry chef Indira Aguilar. Her indie bakery, Cake Pan, is fast becoming the talk of the wedding circuit for its unique take on cakes and homespun creations for the modern bride, garnering national recognition and drawing in celebrity clients. But while her professional life is blossoming, her personal life is crumbling. Indira may have a talent for blending buttercream into bliss, but when it comes to relationships, she’s got a lot to learn. Considering that the love of her life, Josh Oliver, is not only married, but also runs the award-winning pastry department of her fiercest competition, Crystal Cove Resort, Indira puts much more at stake than just her heart when she ends her affair with him. Rumors begin to fly as the small seaside community of Long Beach learns of her secret relationship, and Indira must defend not only her actions, but her wedding business and her reputation while trying to maneuver the choppy heartbreak waters of starting over, finding new love, and facing her past. With the support of friends and family, a fondness for butter, and a determined spirit, Indira may just bake her way back to happiness and possibly into the heart of Crystal Cove’s dishy new chef, Noah. But one thing is certain. Where there’s heartbreak, there must be cake.
Add Heartbreak Cake to your Goodreads shelf! Follow along with the Heartbreak Cake Blog Tour via Fictionella! Visit publisher Simon & Fig for more information about the book, and connect with Cindy at cindyarora.com!
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: The Hole in the Middle …
Kate Hilton is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and The Hole in the Middle
Summary:
Sophie Whelan is the epitome of the modern superwoman. When she operates at peak performance, she can cajole balky employees, soothe her cranky children, troubleshoot career disasters, throw a dinner party for ten and draft an upbeat Christmas letter — all in the same day.
But as Sophie’s fortieth birthday looms, her seamless life reveals disturbing web-like fractures. Conflict with her boss, blossoming jealousy of her husband’s femme fatale business partner and her feelings of hopeless inadequacy as a mother and daughter are cracking the edifice of her life.
Rescue may be at hand when Lillian Parker, a wealthy widow who befriended Sophie during her university days, makes Sophie an irresistible offer. Why, then, does Sophie hesitate? The answer is the reappearance of Lillian’s nephew, Will Shannon, the great unresolved love of Sophie’s life. As she remembers the vivid drama of their college romance, Sophie confronts the choices she has made in life and in love and looks for the one answer that has always eluded her: what does she really want?
The Hole in the Middle is a heartbreaking love story, a laugh-out loud portrayal of the twin demands of work and family and a fresh take on the hot debate about having it all.
Review:
The Hole in the Middle is an extremely well-written and thought-provoking novel. From the first pages I was already invested in Sophie’s story, and the stress she felt as a professional, a mother, and as a wife. The story from her past that was weaved in with the present was quite interesting, and I loved reading about the great Lillian that was such a force in Sophie’s life. While I was perfectly content and happy with this novel the first three-fourths through, the ending and the twist that came with it put this over the top for me. Five stars and I highly recommend. I’m so happy I got to meet this author in person as well, and I look forward to more from her!
5 stars
*Anyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of The Hole in the Middle before January 27 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com will get 5 bonus entries!*
Author Bio:
Kate Hilton has worked in law, higher education, public relations, fundraising and publishing. She has an English degree from McGill University and a law degree from the University of Toronto. She holds down a day job, volunteers for community organizations, raises two boys, cooks, collects art, reads voraciously and likes her husband. In her free time, she writes. On good days, she thinks she might have it all. On bad days, she wants a nap.
The Hole in the Middle is Kate’s first book. Kate is represented by Beverley Slopen of the Beverley Slopen Literary Agency in Toronto.
Connect with Kate!
Website: www.katehilton.com
Blog: www.katehilton.com
Facebook page: Kate Hilton Author
Goodreads author page:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4342012.Kate_Hilton
Twitter: @katemhilton
Buy the Book!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.ca/The-Hole-In-Middle/dp/1443429538/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1_ACQW
Future Tour: I Know You’re There by Susan Allison-Dean
Susan will be on tour February 24-March 24 with her women’s fiction novel I Know You’re There In the fall of 1995, 23-year-old Jill Bradley…
Book Review: Driving Me To You by Julie Farrell
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
When Sam meets her sister’s sexy mechanic, Verlaine, she instantly falls for those gorgeous brown eyes and rugged charms, and a secret romance begins. Unfortunately, there’s unfinished business between Sam and her monstrous childhood nemesis. No, not her sister Gemma, but her late-father’s beloved Bentley.
Gemma is struggling to save the family vintage-car business, and it doesn’t help that little sis has just swanned back home, with no intention of helping. Gemma knows the only solution is to involve Sam’s old flame, the charismatic venture capitalist, Marcus Priestley. But Marcus is compelled to win Sam back, and he certainly won’t let the hired help muscle-in.
Verlaine is Gemma’s sexy mechanic, who’s trying to blag it as a chauffeur. But he’s so bad at tying his necktie, he looks like a stripper at a hen night. Working with Gemma’s vintage cars is his dream job, but things get complicated when he falls for the boss’s sister and sets himself up as rival to Marcus. Then the road trip adventure from London to Brighton beach begins!
Who will Sam choose in the love triangle? The penniless new love or the wealthy ex? And how will she tame the Bentley, to become the strong and powerful woman that she’s always known she could be?
This charming comedy covers modern issues for modern women, such as dating, relationships, careers, friendship, and, of course, love.
Review:
The first half of this book I thought was quite interesting. There was a good cast of characters and a fast-moving plot, but the second half I didn’t love quite as much. Fast-paced is always good for me, but the ending especially seemed quite rushed. There was also an odd plot twist that didn’t seem to fit with the overall theme of the story, and things got quite violent and didn’t make much sense to me. I enjoyed the dynamic between the two sisters (being a sister myself) but I didn’t think other relationships needed to be highlighted as much as they were. If the focus stayed on Gemma more I think it could have been a lot more interesting and easier to follow.
2 stars
