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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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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite
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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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In My Mailbox: Week of June 17
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of June 17

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Monarch Beach

Author: Anita Hughes

Received: From Audrey @ St Martins Press

Synopsis: Anita Hughes’ Monarch Beach is an absorbing debut novel about one woman’s journey back to happiness after an affair splinters her perfect marriage and life—what it means to be loved, betrayed and to love again.

When Amanda Blick, a young mother and kindhearted San Francisco heiress, finds her gorgeous French chef husband wrapped around his sous-chef, she knows she must flee her life in order to rebuild it. The opportunity falls into her lap when her (very lovable) mother suggests Amanda and her young son, Max, spend the summer with her at the St. Regis Resort in Laguna Beach. With the waves right outside her windows and nothing more to worry about than finding the next relaxing thing to do, Amanda should be having the time of her life—and escaping the drama. But instead, she finds herself faced with a kind, older divorcee who showers her with attention… and she discovers that the road to healing is never simple. This is the sometimes funny, sometimes bitter, but always moving story about the mistakes and discoveries a woman makes when her perfect world is turned upside down.

Title: Construct a Couple

Author: Talli Roland

Received: From Talli Roland

Synopsis: Is any relationship strong enough to survive a string of secrets?

With a great job at a reputable magazine and a man who’s the perfect match, Serenity Holland thinks she’s laid the foundation for an ideal London life. When a routine assignment uncovers a shocking secret threatening her boyfriend’s company, Serenity decides to leave nothing to chance, taking matters into her own hands. Soon, though, she realises keeping secrets isn’t as easy as she thought . . . and the consequences are far worse than she ever imagined.

Read how Serenity met her match in the first book of the series, Build A Man.

Title: Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons

Author: Denise Grover Swank

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: When Rose reports for Fenton County jury duty she figures she’s lucky to get out of a morning working at the DMV. Instead, despite a disastrous encounter with the new assistant district attorney, Martin Deveraux, she’s picked as a juror on a murder case. As the case progresses, she realizes an ominous vision she had in the men’s restroom proves the defendant is innocent. And there’s not a cotton picking thing she can do about it.

Or is there?

As if things weren’t bad enough, Rose’s older sister Violet is going through a mid-life crisis. Violet insists that Rose stop seeing her sexy new boyfriend, Arkansas state detective Joe Simmons, and date other men. Rose is done letting people boss her around, but she can’t commit to Joe either. Still, Rose isn’t about to let the best thing in her life slip away.

Title: I Should Be So Lucky

Author: Judy Astley

Received: Unsolicited, TransWorld Publishers

Synopsis: Viola hasn’t had much luck with men. Her first husband, Marco, companion of her youth and father of her only child, left her when he realised he was gay. Her second, Rhys, ended his high-octane, fame-filled life by driving his Porsche into a wall. No wonder her family always believes she needs Looking After, and her friends think she really shouldn’t be allowed out on her own … Which is why, at the age of 39, she finds herself shamefully back at home, living with Mum. Viola knows she has to take charge; she needs to get a life, and fast. With a stroppy teenage daughter, a demanding mother, and siblings who want to control her life for her, where is she going to turn?

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: The Gaggle: How the Guys You Know Will Help You Find the Love You Want

Author: Jessica Massa

Received: Nina @ Simon & Schuster

Synopsis: Who cares if he’s just not that into you? You’ve got a gaggle.

It’s easy to feel like your love life is nonexistent. You know you’re great, so why haven’t you been on a classic dinner-and-a-movie date since . . . well, forever? Because as it turns out, you are now living in a post-dating world, where the old rules for sex and relationships no longer apply. Suddenly, everything and nothing is a date. But this means that you have much more going on in your love life than you realize.

Think about all the ambiguous interactions you have with guys: from a brainstorming session with a coworker, to a drink with an old friend, to a late night Skype session with an ex who’s still in your life. Once you open your eyes, you’ll see that you’re already exploring all sorts of connections with the men in your life via these non-dates. And who are all these guys you’re non-dating?

Say hello to your gaggle.

The gaggle is the group of guys in your life who play different roles, fulfill different needs, and help you figure out who you are, what you want, and what kind of relationship you ultimately desire. Though no two gaggles are alike, there are ten types of men a gaggle might include, such as the Ego Booster, the Hot Sex Prospect, and the Boyfriend Prospect. Romance, excitement, self-discovery, love . . . all this will be yours, once you stop stressing about dates, labels, and expectations and start thinking of each man you know and meet as a potential guy in your gaggle.

In this clever and groundbreaking debut, based on interviews with women and men across the country, Jessica Massa reveals the ways in which the potential for love is all around you. The Gaggle is the ultimate guide to figuring out what you want—and finding your match—in a world that has left traditional dating behind.

Title: The Ninety Days of Genevieve

Author: Lucinda Carrington

Received: Unsolicited

Synopsis: A 90-day sex contract wasn’t exactly what Genevieve Loften had in mind when she began business negotiations with the arrogant and attractive James Sinclair. As a career move she wanted to go along with it; the pay-off was potentially huge. However, she didn’t imagine that he would make her the star performer in a series of increasingly kinky and exotic fantasies. Thrown into a world of sexual misadventure, Genevieve learns how to balance her high-pressure career with the twilight world of decadence.

June 17, 2012
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Coming To A Bookshelf Near You: June 2012
Chick Lit Plus

Coming To A Bookshelf Near You: June 2012

Every year around this time, everyone is looking for a HOT summer read to take to the beach, lounge by the pool, or to curl up inside with in the air conditioner to avoid the scorching heat outdoors. Either way, summer is a popular time for publisher’s to release their heavy hitters, and this year is no exception. Below is a list of reads that Samantha and I have compiled for the month of June… many of which we currently have in our “To Be Read” piles.

Between You and Me by: Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

What happens when you are followed by millions . . . and loved by none?

Twenty-seven-year-old Logan Wade is trying to build a life for herself far from her unhappy childhood in Oklahoma. Until she gets the call that her famous cousin needs a new assistant— an offer she can’t refuse.

Logan hasn’t seen Kelsey in person since their parents separated them as kids; in the meantime, Kelsey Wade has grown into Fortune Magazine’s most powerful celebrity. But their reunion is quickly overshadowed by the toxic dynamic between Kelsey and her parents as Logan discovers that, beneath the glossy façade, the wounds that caused them to be wrenched apart so many years ago have insidiously warped into a show-stopping family business.

As Kelsey tries desperately to break away and grasp at a “real” life, beyond the influence of her parents and managers, she makes one catastrophic misstep after another, and Logan must question if their childhood has left them both too broken to succeed. Logan risks everything to hold on, but when Kelsey unravels in the most horribly public way, Logan finds that she will ultimately have to choose between rescuing the girl she has always protected . . . and saving herself.

Spring Fever by: Mary Kay Andrews

The New York Times bestselling author of Summer Rental delivers her delicious new escapist novel about small towns, old flames, and deep secrets

Annajane Hudgens truly believes she is over her ex-husband, Mason Bayless. They’ve been divorced for four years, she’s engaged to a new, terrific guy, and she’s ready to leave the small town where she and Mason had so much history. She is so over Mason that she has absolutely no problem attending his wedding to the beautiful, intelligent, delightful Celia. But when fate intervenes and the wedding is called to a halt as the bride is literally walking down the aisle, Annajane begins to realize that maybe she’s been given a second chance. Maybe everything happens for a reason. And maybe, just maybe, she wants Mason back. But there are secrets afoot in this small southern town. On the peaceful surface of Hideaway Lake, Annajane discovers that the past is never really gone. Even if there are people determined to keep Annajane from getting what she wants, happiness might be hers for the taking, and the life she once had with Mason in this sleepy lake town might be in her future.

The Meryl Streep Movie Club by: Mia March

Two sisters and the cousin they grew up with after a tragedy are summoned home to their family matriarch’s inn on the coast of Maine for a shocking announcement. Suddenly, Isabel, June, and Kat are sharing the attic bedroom–and barely speaking. But when innkeeper Lolly asks them to join her and the guests in the parlor for weekly Movie Night–it’s Meryl Streep month–they find themselves sharing secrets, talking long into the night–and questioning everything they thought they knew about life, love, and one another.

Each woman sees her complicated life reflected through the magic of cinema: Isabel’s husband is having an affair, and an old pact may keep her from what she wants most . . . June has promised her seven-year-old son that she’ll somehow find his father, who he’s never known . . . and Kat is ambivalent about accepting her lifelong best friend’s marriage proposal. Through everything, Lolly has always been there for them, and now Isabel, June, Kat–and Meryl–must be there for her. Finding themselves. Finding each other. Finding a happy ending.

Summer Nights by: Allie Spencer

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, but 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.

Wallflower in Bloom by: Claire Cook

From the acclaimed bestselling author of Must Love Dogs comes a winning and witty new novel about a woman who emerges from the shadow of her overbearing family and finds herself “dancing with the stars.”

Deirdre Griffin has a great life; it’s just not her own. She’s the around-the-clock personal assistant to her charismatic, high-maintenance, New Age guru brother, Tag. As the family wallflower, her only worth seems to be as gatekeeper to Tag at his New England seaside compound.

Then Deirdre’s sometime boyfriend informs her that he is marrying another woman, who just happens to be having the baby he told Deirdre he never wanted. While drowning her sorrows in Tag’s expensive vodka, Deirdre decides to use his massive online following to get herself voted on as a last-minute Dancing with the Stars replacement. It’ll get her back in shape, mentally and physically. It might even get her a life of her own. Deirdre’s fifteen minutes of fame have begun.

Irresistible and offbeat, Wallflower in Bloom is an original and deeply satisfying story of having the courage to take a leap into the spotlight, no matter where you land.

So, here is our list of books for June. Which ones are you looking forward to? Comment below and let us know.

June 15, 2012
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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite
Chick Lit Plus

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite

Charming Tuesday Product of the Week: Blush

Samantha’s Must-Have:

I have quite a few Almay products, and my favorite blush comes from the line as well. I did try their Smart Shade blush, but didn’t like it near as much as the powder. It’s long lasting throughout the day, one application is enough from morning to night, which I haven’t found in any other blush product yet. I have the natural color, and I love how it looks on me. Almay is definitely a brand to try if you haven’t, and I recommend the powder blush as well!

Sara’s Must-Have:

During the summer months, I typically wear bronzer, but whenever I am getting dressed up or whenever I don’t want my skin to have a sun-kissed glow, I grab my Maybelline Bouncy Blush in fresh pink. This is a new Maybelline product, and I must say that I absolutely adore it. I love the gel like finish and that it feels lightweight like a powder, but melts into my skin like a cream and really flows with my foundation. Plus, the shade of pink really pops against my skin tone. I highly recommend this product.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BLUSH? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW.

June 12, 2012
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In My Mailbox: Week of June 10
Chick Lit Plus

In My Mailbox: Week of June 10

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Pickin’ Tomatoes

Author: JW Bull

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Maggie Malone wants a new life. Who aspires to be a single, forty-year-old, jobless new mother? Driven by the need for an income, Maggie decides to enter a writing contest. Cooking and Women Magazine is seeking a columnist who can compare finding “Mister Right” to cooking. To qualify, an entrant must be single and an experienced chef. Maggie is neither – she can’t even cook. But desperation turns white lies into tasty morsels that whet her creative appetite and she whips up an article comparing finding “Mister Right” to picking the right tomato for her homemade salsa. She wins the contest, is dubbed The Chef of Hearts, and her new life, although a bit shaky, is launched.

Women across America write to her about loneliness, infidelity, insomnia – even to complain about a boyfriend’s snoring. Maggie dissects their problems with a single stroke of her pen, all the while struggling with her own issues. She dishes out therapy in recipes and funny stories and becomes an instant celebrity. As she balances learning how to cook, being a mother and writing a column, her dual lives begin to spin out of control. On the back burner, subterfuge sizzles in the skillet, threatening Maggie’s new recipe for success and she finds herself in the same stew as many of her readers – lost and alone. It’s only when Maggie comes clean with all her lies that she realizes pickin’ the right tomato might not be simply about finding “Mister Right” – sometimes it’s about making the right choices.

Pickin Tomatoes serves up a three-course meal of mayhem, motherhood and middle age flavored with dashes of irony, wit, and wisdom. Throw in a liberal sprinkling of recipes geared towards those who don’t cook, and Pickin’ Tomatoes becomes a must read for anyone who has searched for “Mister Right” but, most of all, wants to find herself.

Title: Ocean Beach

Author: Wendy Wax

Received: From Erin @ Penguin Group

Synopsis: Unlikely friends Madeline, Avery and Nicole have hit some speed bumps in their lives, but when they arrive in Miami’s South Beach neighborhood, they are all hoping for a do-over. Literally. They’ve been hired to bring a once-grand historic house back to its former glory on a new television show called Do-Over. If they can just get this show off the ground, Nikki would get back on her feet financially, Avery could restart her ruined career, and Maddie would have a shot at keeping her family together.

At least, that’s the plan – until the women realize that having their work broadcast is one thing, having their personal lives play out on TV is another thing entirely. Soon they are struggling to hold themselves, and the project, together. With a decades-old mystery—and the hurricane season—looming, the women are forced to figure out just how they’ll weather life’s storms…

Title: Loving David

Author: Gina Hummer

Received: Mindi Sue @ Smith Publicity

Synopsis: What would you do if someone like Ryan Reynolds or Robert Pattinson jumped into your car at a stoplight? That’s what happens to Charlotte when out of nowhere, gorgeous actor David King becomes her surprise passenger. Not recognizing him at first, the startled Charlotte’s initial impulse is to mace him. But once she realizes who he is and that he’s making an escape from a crowd of zealous fans, she puts away her pepper spray and thinks what a great story she’ll have to tell her girlfriends! From there, the impossible happens: the two take tentative steps toward romance, and a relationship blooms. But Charlotte is a behind-the-scenes romance writer, and David is an in-the-spotlight and in-the-tabloids celebrity. Could it ever work? Charlotte’s defenses drop one by one. Their age difference doesn’t really matter, and though their realities are worlds apart, they begin to become one. Just when everything seems to be leading to a storybook ending, David’s past intrudes, and Charlotte has to wonder if his romance with fellowstar Olivia Hudson really is over.
In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: What The Dog Ate

Author: Jackie Bouchard

Received: Jackie Bouchard

Synopsis: The vet handed Maggie Baxter a plastic specimen bag containing a pair of size-tiny lavender thong panties extracted from her dog; but they were not hers. Or rather, they were hers now since she’d just paid $734 to have Dr. Carter surgically remove them from Kona’s gut.

This is how Maggie Baxter, a practical, rule-following accountant, discovers that her husband of seventeen years is cheating on her. All her meticulous life plans are crushed. When he leaves her for the other woman, Maggie and her the-world-is-my-smorgasbord chocolate Lab, Kona, are left to put their lives back together. As Maggie begins to develop a Plan B for her life, she decides to be more like Kona. No, she’s not going to sniff crotches and eat everything that isn’t nailed down; rather she’ll try to approach life with more ball-chasing abandon. Finding herself in situations where she begins to go through her usual over-analysis of the pros and cons, she stops and instead asks herself: What would Kona do? With Kona as her guru, Maggie begins her quest for tail-wagging joy.

“What the Dog Ate” is a funny, tender story of mending a broken heart and finding love and a new life right under your nose, with woman’s best friend at your side. If you enjoyed Claire Cook’s “Must Love Dogs” or Lolly Winston’s “Good Grief,” you’ll love “What the Dog Ate” and be rooting for Maggie and Kona.

June 10, 2012
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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & A Giveaway
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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & A Giveaway

Charming Tuesday Product of the Week: Eyeliner

Samantha’s Must-Have:

I have been using Maybelline for my eyeliner since I was in college, and I love it. It seems every time I try a new one, I find it to be amazing. I have tried and would recommend the Unstoppable, Define-A-Line, Line Stylist, and Studio Master, and I think you could be happy with any of them! Maybelline is the only eyeliner I currently wear, and I love trying their new products!

Sara’s Must-Have:

On most days, I typically don’t wear eyeliner. For some reason, eyeliner to me is more of a “going out” product and I simply save it for nights out with the husband or a girls night. So, my eyeliner tends to be a little more dramatic than most. For years, I stole my mom’s black Estee Lauder eye pencil, but once I moved away from home, I needed to find something else instead of always relying on my mom’s favorite products. So, for quite some time, I experimented with different eyeliners and found that they never went on quite like the one I was used to wearing. Then one day, I stumbled upon the Bobbi Brown makeup counter and tried out their Long Wear Gel Eyeliner and was hooked instantly. The color goes on fluidly, lasts ALL day, offers a dramatic punch of color, and really just works. My favorite by far is the Violet Ink since it really makes my green eyes pop.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE EYELINER? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW.

June 5, 2012
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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite
Chick Lit Plus

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite

Charming Tuesday Product of the Week: Bronzer

Samantha’s Must-Have:

I’m a big fan of bronzer, especially since I gave up tanning beds a few years back. It took me a bit to find a good product and learn how to apply it properly, but for years bronzer has been a staple in my makeup bag. Lately I have been using Too Faced Peach Leopard Brightening & Perfecting Bronzer. Too Faced is one of my favorite lines, so when I was looking for a new bronzer I scoped them out right away. They have many different options, but I have found the Peach Leopard works best for me. I would definitely recommend Too Faced for your bronzer needs!

Sara’s Must-Have:

Living in Texas, one tends to spend a lot of time out in the sun and most gals typically develop a summery tan all by themselves. Well, not this gal. I typically hide in the shade and slather on the sunscreen whenever I get a chance, so usually, I have to fake a tan. I am a huge fan of bronzer, both liquid and powder and about three years ago, I stumbled on to Estee Lauder Sun Goddess Liquid Bronzer. At first, I was a little intimidated by how dark the liquid looked in the bottle, but that passed quickly. I dab on a few drops here and there and spread it evenly on all of the usual “sun kissed spots” and it looks very realistic. The product doesn’t have much of a smell and is fast drying…and bonus, it is very buildable!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BRONZER? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW.

May 29, 2012
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Debut Author of the Month
Chick Lit Authors

Debut Author of the Month

Chick Lit Plus is pleased to announce that our Debut Author of the Month for May is Nancy Scrofano, author of True Love Way.

True Love Way tells the story of Marlo Spencer, who relishes all things retro. Old TV shows, classic movies, and even the collectible lunch boxes to go with them. In fact, she’s quite cozy in her Malibu apartment, surrounded by her treasured knick-knacks and vintage memorabilia. It’s her best friend, Nik, who doesn’t get her fascination with all that “old junk,” as he calls it. He especially doesn’t understand why she’s so keen to get back to their hometown of Napa when her high school sweetheart, Josh, suddenly returns after twelve years in Paris and nary a single phone call, eager to reunite with her. So, when Marlo heads up north to wine country to rekindle her relationship with Josh, Nik tags along, claiming he was already planning to visit his sister, Savannah, Marlo’s gal pal. Once they reach Napa, however, dreams of a blissful reunion are shattered as old secrets and past betrayals are revealed, leaving an unsuspecting Marlo to pick up the pieces. Can she forgive and forget, or will true love find a different path to her heart?

In celebration of being our Debut Author of the Month, we have asked Nancy a few questions about receiving the coveted spot on Chick Lit Plus. Please read her answers below:

What was your reaction when you learned that you had been selected as the Debut Author of the Month for Chick Lit Plus?

When I was notified that I am the Debut Author of the Month for Chick Lit Plus, I was really excited, and I still am! Thank you so much, Samantha and Sara, for choosing me! I love Chick Lit Plus, so it is a huge honor to be featured in this way. I’m very flattered and grateful for such a wonderful accolade.

How does it feel to have your book so well-received by the public?

I’m so happy that I have received positive feedback from readers. It is great to know that my novel resonates with people and they enjoy the characters that I created. I’m really glad readers are entertained by my novel, and I hope that anyone who hasn’t read it yet will give it a chance.

Please be sure to get your hands on True Love Way – a definite must read on Chick Lit Plus. We will be giving away one copy of True Love Way to one of our readers, so please leave a comment below and a winner will be selected at random.

May 24, 2012
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