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The Drought by Steven Scaffardi
Chick Lit Review

The Drought by Steven Scaffardi

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

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

[Rating: 4/5]

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

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite

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

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

Samantha’s All Time Beauty Must Have:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sara’s All Time Beauty Must Have:

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

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

June 19, 2012
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Worth Lying For: Book Excerpt
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Worth Lying For: Book Excerpt

WORTH LYING FOR
by
Lisa Cheney & Lisa Craig

CHAPTER ONE

I was too old to be scrabbling for loose change on the floor of my car. But the twenty-two pennies mined from the bottom of my purse wouldn’t buy me a coffee at George’s Market. An archaeological dig under layers of receipts, magazines, and old shopping lists was bound to unearth fifty-three cents more. I found a quarter by my feet, then, leaning over, hit the mother lode under the passenger seat: four dimes and a nickel.
I was about to haul myself upright, spare change and pride in hand, when some idiot zoomed up and parked right next to me, even though mine was the lone car in the lot. Craning my neck, I saw a mint condition, 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500. I may only be a receptionist/bookkeeper, but I’m a receptionist/bookkeeper for a classic car restoration garage. I know my muscle cars. And for my money, the 1968 Shelby is the best looking automobile ever made.

The early October morning sun glinted off its shiny black paint and bright chrome trim. I was filled with the covetousness I usually reserve for designer shoes and the occasional signature handbag. If I could own a car like that, and the right pair of stilettos to match, everything in my life would be perfect.
As I sighed over my vision, Jimmy Adler, the biggest jackass I had ever known, stepped out of my dream car. The driver—it was painful to think of him as the owner of this classic vehicle—had spent our high school days in a haze of pot smoke, emerging occasionally to sell to others or publicly berate his girlfriend, Tina. I hadn’t seen him much in the past twenty-some years, which was surprising considering we live in such a small town. Then again, in a small town you hear about people whether you want to or not. It was common knowledge that he had continued on his sordid path, and Tina, now his ex-wife, would never bring charges even after all the domestic violence calls. He was an absolute pig and he was driving my car.

In contrast to my own tee shirt and ancient wrinkled slacks, he was decked out. He had on a gorgeous black leather jacket that, even from a distance, I could tell was a soft, supple lambskin that called out to be petted. He hadn’t gotten fat, or lost his still-brown hair. Truly, there is no justice in the universe.
I watched him swagger toward the store. No, make that stagger. He weaved two steps sideways for every one he took forward. He was completely hammered and it was not yet nine in the morning. Stumbling over the front step to the market, he smashed his forehead against the glass door. He obviously felt no pain as he bounced off in surprise and fumbled for the pull handle. He pushed on it for a minute or so while shouting out some garbled swearing, before he realized he had to pull the door open. He hadn’t changed a bit.

The Shelby was parked way too close, but as long as I eased my door open there was enough room to get out. As satisfying as it would have been to bang my car door into his, I had to rise above such pettiness for the sake of the Shelby. A work of art is a work of art, no matter how big of an idiot the owner is. I lightly ran my fingertips over its smooth paint. Torturing myself further, I peeked inside the open passenger window at the red leather interior. Perfect. Damn it.
On the pristine leather of the passenger seat, next to an empty fifth of Jack Daniels and a couple baggies filled with suspicious-looking herbs, I saw a black duffle bag. Inside the unzipped bag I could see money: stacks and stacks of money. Not Monopoly money. Real, U.S. legal tender. Stupid drug dealing bottom-feeder, how do you end up with a Ford Shelby and a bag of cash while I’m looking for change under the floor mats of a Ford Escort?

On its own reconnaissance my hand shot out and grabbed the bag, then dragged it through the open window. Adrenaline tightened my throat as I stared at my offending hand. This was wrong, so very wrong. I was an upstanding citizen who paid her taxes, mortgage and insurance on time. I believed in my heart that world peace was possible. I had never so much as stolen somebody’s thunder.

Put. The money. Back. Slide the bag through the window, drop it back on the seat and this never happened. I dropped the bag through the open window of my car instead. Inexplicably, I found myself behind the wheel, speeding away as fast as my little junker would go.
I drove two tenths of a mile straight downhill then came to a screeching halt at the end of a treacherously narrow driveway to a daycare establishment called Smartypants, where I turned around. I came back up the hill in time to see the Shelby racing away in the other direction. Jimmy ignored a stop sign, hung a left with tires squealing, then disappeared from sight.

I went around the block slowly. I had no idea where Jimmy was headed. Chasing after him—for any reason—seemed like a bad plan.
As I cruised past the storefront it was impossible to see in or out through the layers of beer and liquor advertisements obscuring the windows. The convenience store had no obvious security cameras pointed at the parking lot. I was fairly sure Mr. George had no security measures in place at all, aside from a baseball bat he kept next to him at the checkout. I thought back. I hadn’t heard any cars driving by earlier and there hadn’t been a soul anywhere in the vicinity.

I had pulled off the perfect crime without even trying.

June 19, 2012
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+ One by Brian Baleno
Chick Lit Review

+ One by Brian Baleno

+ One by Brian Baleno follows the all too common problem today about finding balance between love and work. Jake, the main protagonist, finds himself in quite the predicament because he is a workaholic for a job that he loves and in a relationship with a woman that he loves. So, which one will he choose? Love or Money? This novel takes an in depth look at both sides of his predicament and how it effects those involved.

I found + One to be well written and also a very in-depth look into what many individuals face today. The characters are well written and realistic, as are the dilemmas that they face. I found the dynamic between Jake and Kara to be raw and heartfelt. This book is definitely not a happily-ever-after type of book …. seeing as how he is unable to make his relationship with Kara work, but we get to watch Jake as he grows as a person and matures. Seeing as how I am a female, I wanted a little more love and a happy ending, but I know that sometimes things happen and relationships don’t work out. I found the ending to be refreshing and honest. Overall, a great lad-lit novel from a debut novelist. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read from a male perspective.

[Rating: 4/5]

June 19, 2012
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Worth Lying For by Lisa Cheney & Lisa Craig
Chick Lit Review

Worth Lying For by Lisa Cheney & Lisa Craig

Worth Lying For by Lisa Cheney & Lisa Craig stars Mary Minke: semi-happily married, mother, with an overall fairly content life. Sure, there are things here and there that she wishes she had done differently, but overall, things are good and she has no major compliants. That is until she stumbles upon a bag of cash in the fancy car of drug dealer Jimmy Adler and steals it. At first, she isnt sure what to do with it. Seeing as how she has lived in the same house, with less than adequate things, she looks into the simple things in life like a new washer and dryer, or a fancy pair of shoes. But, after a while, she is overcome with guilt and finally confides in her best friend. Mary vows to do some good with the money finally, but must do so in secret away from her husband who is the local sheriff.

As a debut novel, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started Worth Lying For, but it didn’t take me long to feel right at home with this novel. The whole time, I felt like I was re-living a very Thelma & Louise esque adventure. Lisa Cheney & Lisa Craig are absolute riots when it comes to their writing and know how to drop in funny lines here and there and were always spot on. I loved how real the characters felt, especially Mary- I felt like she was very real and I loved that she was far from perfect yet still very likeable and relatable. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an adventure of a read.

[Rating: 4.5/5]

June 18, 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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The Rock Star in Seat 3A by Jill Kargman
Chick Lit Review

The Rock Star in Seat 3A by Jill Kargman

The Rock Star in Seat 3A by Jill Kargman follows Hazel, who has everything that she’s ever wanted: good paying job in the gaming industry, great apartment, awesome friends, and a loving boyfriend who is on the brink of proposing. The morning after her thirtieth birthday, Hazel boards a plane to LA for business, gets bumped up to first class, and is seated next to her life long crush, THE rock star Finn Schiller. During a bout with rough turbulence, the two get to talking and what ensues is an instant infatuation and connection for both. At first Hazel is hesitant, but after taking a break from her perfect boyfriend back home in New York, she dives head first into a life unlike anything she imagined- life on the road with a rock star. What ensues is like a wild dream … but is her wildest dream enough to make her happy?

An absolute riot, The Rock Star in Seat 3A by Jill Kargman is everything one would expect from a book about living out a rock “n” roll fantasy- uncensored and vulgar language, sharp wit, and over the top eccentricity. I absolutely adored the book and found myself actually rooting for Hazel and Finn because it was such an interesting twist on the stereotypical love story that we read so often these days. This book is an absolute blast and will make you rethink your “list” and would you, or wouldn’t you, actually go through with it if you were face-to-face with someone from yours. I for one doubt my own bravery and know that I would hardly say a word if I were put in the same situation. An absolute must-read for summer- deliciously fun!

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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