A Weekend to ReCOVER - Cocktails for Three by Madeleine Wickham

     A Weekend to ReCOVER! – A weekly meme hosted by Her Book Self, a fantastic blog by a self proclaimed “author addict” and lover of all genres. The premise of this meme is fairly simple: post an image of a book cover or other bookish illustration or artwork and talk about it on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday! (This meme originated at Miss Page-Turner's City of Books as ReCOVERy Friday and has been passed on to Lisa at Her Book Self - Thanks very much to both Literary Ladies!!)

            If you’ve followed my blog since its days over at Where You Wish Upon A Star, you may remember a post I once did comparing various covers created for chick lit books in the United States versus the United Kingdom – the differences are vast! (You can still find the old WYWUAS post here and another one I did while contemplating various covers of chick lit series.)Taking a cue from these previous posts as well as the British-based chick lit web site, Chick Lit Reviews’ feature, Cover Wars**, where the Cover Art of Chick Lit novels from around the globe are compared to one another, I’ve decided to continue A Weekend to ReCOVER in a similar fashion.

One of my current reads is Madeleine Wickham’s dark and humorous tale, Cocktails for Three, which portrays the lives of three young women struggling to balance the demands of work, friendship and romance. Londoners, Roxanne, Candice and Maggie, bond together every month over cocktails, catching each other up on the comings and goings of their lives. As the story takes place, each one, whether they are aware or not, are at a crossroads in life, either getting acquainted to a new beginning, making a bargain with the present or figuring out a proper ending. I’m about half way through the novel and with every turning page, become more and more enamored with the three women characters, who are eclectic, intriguing and yet, so relatable all at once. I can’t wait to get back to it and find out what happens next and ultimately how the story concludes.

Interestingly, as different as each of the women characters are in this book, so, too, are the many covers designed for its release. Probably the two most popular (well-known) covers include the UK and US initial releases:

In August, 2010, another cover was released in a re-branding strategy to re-release several of Madeleine Wickham’s books, coupled with her pseudonym, Sophie Kinsella, emblazoned on the cover:

Finally, (although I only recently came across these in a search for the first covers), there were also two other covers; one, for the Hardcover edition and one for the Mass Market Paperback edition:

I love the 2010 newly released cover as well as the UK edition. The only explanation I can even come close to mustering up is that maybe I’m so used to the US edition, with the green background, sunglasses and cocktails on the front, that I like the others for their variety. Perhaps, also, just as I’m most drawn to the personalities and relationships amongst characters in chick lit books, I’m more drawn to the covers which feature an artist’s depiction of what those characters look like.

Which one(s) do you like best and why?

Either way, whichever of the 5 covers is chosen, I’m really glad I picked up this book again. It’s a great story and I’m eager to reach its end (at the same time that I don’t want it to ever endJ) Look for my review on my blog once I do finish it!

 **If you want to check out Chick Lit Reviews for their previous posts on cover wars, visit  http://chicklitreviews.com/category/cover-wars/ and decide which covers you like best! 

***All covers retrieved at Amazon.com

Star Book Review: Everleigh in NYC by Cathleen Holst

Everleigh in NYC by Cathleen Holst 

Have you ever dreamed that you had supernatural powers or abilities? I’m not talking about flying or being able to teleport or zap somebody (although, don’t get me wrong; if that stuff could happen, it’d be pretty out of this world!). No, I’m talking more about those supernatural talents that might be considered a little closer to the realm of our Earthly reality. How about predicting the future or mind reading? I mean, come on, you see them in the Yellow Pages, TV advertisements, commercials and around town all the time –psychics, fortune tellers, tarot card readers – so why not you? What if you woke up one day and crossed someone’s path and suddenly realized that you were “reading” that person’s mind? Ever think something like that could really happen? Well, that’s exactly what did happen to Everleigh Carlisle, lead heroine of Cathleen Holst’s debut novel, Everleigh in NYC.

On a sweltering night during Mardi Gras, after a few too many drinks, Everleigh and bff, Christina, decided to visit a high voodoo priestess to learn about Everleigh’s destiny. Unbeknownst to Everleigh, an unspoken wish is granted, and soon all kinds of events start happening that she never dreamed possible. Suddenly, Everleigh's whole world is turned upside down - she walks in to find her longtime boyfriend making out with her (old) best friend, gets hired by a prominent New York based Fashion magazine and meets Mr. Right. Trouble is, Mr. Right is also her boss and she can hear his thoughts; and those thoughts all seem to be about her! Always one to rise above the pressures of life, Everleigh doesn’t allow herself to get too flustered by any of this and dives headfirst into what she does best and she works, and works and works and works.

After the move of her life, from Atlanta, Georgia to the Big City of New York, will Everleigh ever figure out her place in the world? Or what (or who) it is exactly that she wants? Is it the high-speed, glossy lifestyle offered by NYC? The comfort, familiarity, and peacefulness of home in Atlanta? Will she ever find "the one"? Read the entire story to find out these answers and more as Everleigh embarks on a search for self and the adventure of her life.

Everleigh in NYC was an excellent debut novel from author Cathleen Holst. I am so happy that I bought this book. It's a definite keeper - a roller coaster ride of romance, business, drama, conflict, excitement, surprise and a whole lot more. So fun, you won't want to skip a single sentence.

You can find out more about what Cathleen Holst is up to on her web site at http://www.cathleenholst.webs.com or check out the wonderful Author Interview she did with me on my blog at http://lipglossandliterature.blogspot.com/2011/01/special-guest-post-with-cathleen-holst.html.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday: Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekkanen

"Waiting On Wednesday"(WOW) is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine spotlights upcoming releases eagerly anticipated. This is my first week joining the 100 plus book bloggers who participate in the weekly meme and I am very excited to be a part of it. I hope to hear from you and your own WOW so that I can add some more books to my TBR shelf

For my first week participating in this meme, I am featuring a novel I truly cannot wait for: Sarah Pekkanen’s Skipping a Beat which will be out for release on Tuesday, February 22^nd. Belated Valentine’s Day gift, anyone?? ! I just finished reading her debut novel, The Opposite of Me, and I can easily and assuredly say that she has quickly risen to the top of my favorite authors list. If you read chick lit or women’s fiction, Sarah Pekkanen is a very talented author you won’t wan to miss. Her characters, stories and writing are so involved and intricate that I found myself having to be reminded that I was reading fiction. When I can’t put a book down or am constantly thinking about the next few minutes I can steal away to read a book, I know I’m hooked!

Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen

What would you do if your husband suddenly wanted to rewrite the rules of your relationship?

Julia and Michael meet in high school in their small, poverty-stricken West Virginia hometown. Both products of
difficult childhoods -- Julia’s father is a compulsive gambler and Michael’s mother abandoned his family when he was
a young boy – they find a sense of safety and mutual understanding in each other. Shortly after graduation they flee West Virginia to start afresh. Now thirty-somethings, they are living a rarified life in their multi-million-dollar, Washington D.C. home. From the outside it all looks perfect – Julia has become a highly sought-after party planner, while Michael has launched a wildly successful flavored water company that he sold for $70 million.
But one day Michael stands up at the head of the table in his company's boardroom -- then silently crashes to the floor. More than four minutes later, a portable defibrillator manages to jump-start his heart. Yet what happened to Michael during those lost minutes forever changes him. Money is meaningless to him now - and he wants to give it all away to charity. A prenuptial agreement that Julia insisted upon back when Michael's company was still struggling means she
has no claim to his fortune, and now she must decide: should she walk away from the man she once adored, but who
truthfully became a stranger to her long before his near-death experience - or should she give in to her husband's pleas for a second chance and a promise of a poorer but happier life?

The above synopsis was found on Goodreads via the Paperback edition.*

Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen will be released February 22, 2011

Visit her web site for more information on Sarah Pekkanen or any of her books.

*There is a giveaway for 5 copies of Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekkanen being offered by Simon and Schuster on Goodreads through February 18, 2011. I just entered. Check it out!

Book Review: The Making of Mia by Ilana Fox; Read by Patience Tomlinson

         

          Last year, Novelicious – another fabulous website dedicated to all things chick lit – did a feature on British author, Ilana Fox, as her second novel, Spotlight, was about to be released. They gave out 20 copies of her book, featured her in their Novel News column, showcased the unveiling of her new web site and best of all, readers heard from Ilana Fox, firsthand, and got a look-see at her Writing Room, “where the writerly magic happens”. At any rate, ever since I saw the first of these features, I have wanted to obtain a copy of (any of) Ilana Fox’s novels, but once again, being a U.S. resident, this has been made difficult at best and at times, impossible. Of course, my best resource when I fail to find a book locally is almost always Amazon and sure enough, after patiently waiting (about a year), Amazon’s audio web site, Audible.com finally came out with her first release, The Making of Mia, read by Patience Tomlinson – and it was most definitely worth the wait.

The Making of Mia was an absolutely adorable debut from British chick lit author, Ilana Fox. This is the tale of one woman’s journey from ugly duckling to beautiful swan and the struggle between good and evil that evolves on the way. Jo Hill dreams of working and writing in fashion magazines, but the problem is she doesn’t seem to look the part. She’s practically obese compared to the skeletally thin workers at Gloss who look more like the models on the cover than the writers behind-the-stories. Despite her appearance, she is able to score a fab job as the personal assistant (PA) to Joshua Garnett, one of the (if not The) most powerful persons in the world of publishing. Sadly, her career ends all too soon after a mix-up has Jo sending Joshua’s wife a pair of naughty knickers meant for his lover’s birthday. Joshua reprimands her in front of the entire Gloss staff, horrifying and embarrassing Jo, to say the very least. She flees to Miami where she undergoes a major makeover and later, re-emerges in the world of fashion magazines.

          In her “new” self, Jo takes on the name Mia Blackwood and the role of Hollywood heartthrob, Gable Blackwell’s little sister, her new bff. Mia Blackwood becomes more prosperous and successful than Jo could have dreamed, turning all kinds of heads with hardly any effort at all - trouble is, no one knows her as Jo Hill anymore. Mia realizes she must get back to focusing on the what brought about her desire for change in the first place and continues on her elaborate scheme to exact revenge on former boss, Joshua Garnett. Although Mia knows what an arrogant, cheating, lying and overall despicable man Joshua is, he still manages to convince the rest of the magazine world of his power and should he recognize Mia as Jo, her plan will crumble before it can even begin. Will Mia get her man? Will she find her place in the world as Mia Blackwell or Jo Hill? Listen to the unabridged audio, beautifully read by narrator Patience Tomlinson. Recommended to anyone who enjoys a fabulously written, fantastically orchestrated and articulated, modern fairy tale. A plus.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

***Read more about Ilana Fox and her latest books at www.ilanafox.com. You can also follow her on Goodreads or Twitter (@ilana)***

Putting on My Lip Gloss: January 19, 2011 – Writing for Stilettos

Photo Credit: Novelicious

I was checking out Novelicious, not only because it’s one of my favorite Chick Lit Websites, but also to look up an article I remember being published about year ago and I came across a new section dedicated towards Aspiring Authors, titled The Secret Dreamworld of an Aspiring Author by Anna Bell. One of the things I love most about Novelicious is that they are always exploring (in depth) another vantage point of the world of chick lit, this one being the Writer’s perspective. What used to be a weekly event called, Writer’s Wednesday, has been modified to Writer’s Tuesday and includes everything from, Author Interviews, My Writing Room (where Writer’s work their magic) and Top Five Writing Tips from a wide variety of your and my favorite Chick Lit authors.

But back to Anna Bell’s blog entry…..she began talking about a National Association in the UK called the Romantic Novelists Association (RNA) (not to be confused with the Romance Writers of America (RWA) as I did). Ms. Bell said in her post that RNA Membership is only open to published authors – now I looked this up on their web site and it does at least appear that “published” is somewhat arbitrary in that it can be in a magazine, a book, a short story, a newspaper etc etc; but I don’t think it means your everyday blogger or entrant in NaNoWriMo. That being said, they also have an “exclusive” membership to amateur/wanna-be writers, like me, called The New Writer’s Scheme. (Hooray! There is hope out there for me and a support network of writers.) However, as she so disappointedly realized, the exclusivity of this amateur membership is such that they cap off members at a count of 250 and by the first few hours of January first, membership is CLOSED! So heartbreakingly, Anna Bell blogged on about hoping to have better luck next year. (I wish you all the best, girl!! Us fellow wannabe writers gotta stick together, right?!)

So anyways Ms. Bell’s post got me thinking about what I could do here in the U.S. to jumpstart my journey on the path towards becoming a published chick lit writer (especially after verifying that yes, the RNA’s New Writer’s Scheme was officially closed and not open to U.S. residents…bummer.) As I said, it initially reminded me of the National Group here in the U.S., the Romance Writers of America (RWA), which just so happens to have a sub-chapter dedicated to Chick Lit. Anyone can become a member of the Chick Lit Writers (CLW) subdivision of the RWA – you just have to be a fan of chick lit (and, of course, you must be willing to shell out the fees). I have yet to join the Chick Lit Writers but it’s very tempting, the more I work on my writing, read more chick lit novels, meet authors and read other book reviewers’ blogs.  Not only does it seem like a great networking and educational tool for anyone interested in chick lit – and especially those interested in writing chick lit – but the biggest attraction for me is their annual Get Your Stiletto in the Door writing contest.

Photo Credit: Chick Lit Writers (CLW)

 

The Get Your Stiletto in the Door writing contest is for anyone (you don’t even have to be a member of the CLW) to submit a never-before published manuscript of chick lit genre fiction to the Chick Lit Writers division of the RWA. If my memory serves me right (because the rules will not be published again until Spring 2011), the contest is judged by notable chick lit writers, reviewers and editors. I believe the winner gets their work published in a notable piece of literature and of course, publication on the Chick Lit Writers web site. Most of all, the contest gives wannabe-writers a chance to have their manuscripts read – rather than tossed in a bin, shredded by Macmillan, HarperCollins or whoever is accepting chick lit fiction these days or just thrown into a pile of “To Be Read” scripts never to be seen again – and for me, I know I’m not going to win any contest or publish an Emily Giffin-worthy bestseller these days, but to gain the recognition of someone willing to actually peruse my work (and I guess they will send it back to you with edits or comments of some sort if you include a SASE), that’s worth more than gold to me (okay, maybe not gold, but you know what I mean). If nothing else, the contest (like what NaNoWriMo 2010 did for me late last year) could provide the excitement of working towards an actual chick lit novel written by me (no matter how novice my work might be at this point) could be just that source of motivation I’ve been looking for to get a finished product out the door (or at least up on my computer screen).

So, Anna Bell, thank you for your post on Novelicious. I will definitely be looking forward to what you have to say to all of us aspiring writers next Tuesday!

Photo Credit: Novelicious

Putting on My Lip Gloss is a new series of blog posts that represent my personal thoughts, ideas and general ramblings related to chick lit reading and writing. Every day is an inspiration – I never know where my next post is going to come from, but when it does, I always feel like putting on my lip gloss! Thanks for reading.

STYLISH BLOGGER AWARD

I am so excited to have been nominated for my very first Blog Award since moving to Lip Gloss and Literature! Thank you so much to The Nostalgic Librarian for nominating me for the STLYISH BLOG AWARD!! I'm so glad you found me here.

Please check out her site for the latest in YA, Teen Books and More. She has a fabulous blog and is running a great giveaway through January 30, 2011 to win 3 (Count Em? 3!) popular YA Books, Her and Me and You by Lauren Strasnick, It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han and Elixir by Hilary Duff and Elise Allen.

Check out the giveaway at: http://nostalgiclibrarian.blogspot.com/2011/01/happy-giveaway-2011.html or just visit the Nostagic Librarian at http://nostalgiclibrarian.blogspot.com/:

UPDATE: I was also so kindly nominated for the Stylish Blogger Award by Kstar. Usually I would do a whole new post but since it was within a day of this one I really just wanted to make sure I gave kstar the proper nod, thanks and much appreciation for nominating me. In my search on the web for blogs, there are sooo many Stylish Blogs out there - and Kstar, your Books Etc. blog is definitely one of them! Check out her blog for all the latest in book reviews, life and more. And check out the Blogs I follow on my profile for even more stylish book blogs .

And Now the Rules of the Award:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.

2. Tell us 7 things about yourself.

3. Award 15 super stylish bloggers this award.

4. Contact those bloggers and let them know they have won.

7 things (you might or might not know) about myself:

1. When I was a kid filling notebooks with creative writing, I decided my pseudonym would be G.C. Grace.

2. I have a huge love for all things arts and crafts - but unfortunately, I'm also the queen of procrastination and prone to starting and stopping projects all too frequently:(

3. Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes and Candace Bushnell gave me my first taste of "chick lit" about ten years ago.

4. My fiance and I live in a place more known for its tourists than its residents - Cape Cod, MA.

5. I participated in my very first NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this past November and wrote 15,150 words (ot of the 50,000 goal) - something to strive for next year!

6. Most people who know me know I've dreamed of having a little puppy to call my best friend for some time - but last summer, my fiance and I rescued a little calico kitten who is the new love of my life ("Honey").

7. One of my reading challenges this year is to read 100 books - think I can do it? We'll see....

And here , in no particular order, are the 15 Stylish bloggers I am excited to pass on the Stylish Blogger Award to:

Novel Escapes

Confessions of a Bookaholic

Michelle & Leslie's Bookpicks

The Chick Lit Bee

Stiletto Storytime

Girls With Books

lit*chick

Chick Lit Central: The Blog

Chick Lit Cafe

Book Love Blog

Coffee, Books and Laundry

Queen of Reading

Readaholic

The Book Chick

So Many Books, So Little Time

Big Congrats to all those who continue to Blog in Stlye!! You inspire me to keep my own blog stylish:)

Check back soon for more book and audio book reviews, author interviews, guest posts and a whole lot more of eberything chick lit!  

Star Book Review: The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen

A truly satisfying debut...

The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen

This was an excellent debut from Sarah Pekkanen about two sisters who just might not be as opposite from each other as they think. Twins, Lindsey and Alex Rose, couldn’t be more opposite from one another. Alex, the gorgeous, fair haired twin has always been praised for her looks and continues to prosper in a successful modeling career. She has chosen to live in their hometown in Maryland, just outside Washington DC where she plans to marry Gary, a carbon copy for the Ken doll. Lindsey, the darker-haired twin realized long ago that in order to gain attention she would be far better off capitalizing on all the things that Alex “was not”, and so she focused hard on getting all A’s in school, getting into a great college and then getting hired by a leading advertising firm in New York City. Unfortunately, just when Lindsey thinks her life in Corporate America is about to really take-off, everything crumbles. After a humiliating series of events, she feels she is left with no choice but to leave the city and move home. Everything Lindsey has planned for her life has gone or is about to go awry, and soon she is in the throes of a major identity crisis and finds herself doing (and wearing) all kinds of things she never dreamed she would. Meanwhile, little does Lindsey know, but Alex is undergoing her own drama in life and before the two sisters know it, their lives begin to intersect in ways they’d never imagined. Read the entire novel to find out what happens when these two sisters outgrow the competition of their relationship and start learning from and leaning on one another.

I really loved this story because of its complexity, its unique plot line, and its diverse range of emotional drama. Just when you think the story is about to get going, it gets even better. It had all the ups and downs you could want in a women’s fiction/chick lit story. There was ample emotion, conflicting relationships and above all, two women's search for self. At times uplifting, poignant, heartbreaking and motivating, this book truly had it all. I read this book after my home group, The Chick Lit Book Club, chose it for the January book of the month and I am so grateful that it won. It makes for a great debut and addition to the chick lit genre. I can't wait to try more books from the author. I would predict she'll be around for a long time. Rating: 5 STARS

For more information on Sarah Pekkanen or her next book release, Skipping A Beat, visit her web site at http://www.sarahpekkanen.com/.

Special Guest Post with Cathleen Holst

Special Guest Posts are made possible by the generous, kind and voluntarily participation of women authors around the globe.

Cathleen Holst is the author of Everleigh in NYC, published in 2010. I met Cathleen Holst on Goodreads.com, a social networking sites for book lovers, like me, who want to share what they are reading with friends. Besides being a very talented writer, Cathleen is a mother, wife, owner of two dogs and friend to many. She is born and raised on Atlanta, Georgia.* Check out the trailer to her debut novel on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x1UfnFhjb8.

Say hi to Cathleen Holst at her own blog at http://www.fictionbycmholst.webs.com/.

Q. How did you get your start in writing?

A. The same as everyone, I guess. I wrote a book. Oh, you wanted a serious answer. Well, let me think…no, I think that’s really it. You have to plonk your butt in a chair and write.

Q. Was there anything or anyone that stood out as having an influential role in your becoming a writer?

A. Yes. Her name is Ms. Ray. She was my history teacher during my sophomore year in high school. The details are bit fuzzy, (10th grade was a long time ago) but one of our assignments was to write a story. I don’t remember if we were able to choose the topic or if it was given to us, but all I remember is basing my story around the Salem witch trials. When she returned our work, she’d written a note across the top of my paper. “Cathy, you’re an excellent writer.” For a fifteen year-old, maybe. But, I’ve never forgotten that. Ever.

Q. Where do you draw inspiration from for your novels?

A. Everywhere. As a writer you really have to pay attention to everything. I love writing dialogue so I tend to pay really close attention to people’s mannerisms, dialect, etc. As for the storyline, those come organically. I never know what a story is going to be about when I sit down to write. It all just happens. And I really like it that way. I’ll probably never be able to write a series because of that, though.

Q. What does a typical day look like for you? (If there is such a thing as routine or typical.)

A. Since I’m not under any kind of deadline at the moment, I don’t really have an ironclad schedule. But when I was working under one, I basically wrote all day every day. I stayed up late to write while everyone was sleeping, then woke up early before the rest of the house. Trust me, large doses of caffeine were involved.

Q. What does your writing space or room look like?

A. Usually write in the kitchen or in the living room. I like bright open spaces. There were a few times where I had to lock myself in the bedroom so I wouldn’t be disturbed. That’s not easy to do with a husband and three kids. Mom is always needed. No matter what she’s trying to accomplish.

Q. What are some of your favorite books? Authors? Genres?

A. This list could get quite lengthy. Let’s see…I loved the Harry Potter series. JK Rowling’s got one hell of an imagination. Pillars of the Earth and World Without End were amazing. Ken Follett’s historical fiction is nothing short of brilliant. Innocent Traitor by Allison Weir. I dare anyone to read that book and not have the utmost respect for the Lady Jane Grey. I was blown away by her poise and grace at such a young age.

I also really enjoyed the Twilight series. I’ll probably catch a lot of flack for that, but I really got sucked in to the story. I hear a lot of talk about Stephenie Meyer’s writing being mediocre, at best, but luckily I read her books before I really began studying the craft of writing so I didn’t focus (or even notice, really) the mistakes. Which, honestly, I’m really happy about. It was a great story, I thought. And at the end of the day, isn’t that really what matters most?

I’m a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella, but not so much of her Shopaholic series. I’m not really sure why, I just don’t really care for them. My all-time fave of hers would have to be Undomestic Goddess. Second, Twenties Girl. And let’s not forget Lindsey Kelk and her I Heart Series. I adore her writing and her as well. We follow each other on Twitter. She’s an amazing person. I love it when published authors take the time to actually talk to their fans.

Q. What are your interests/hobbies outside of writing?

A. I’m obsessed with all things Superman. Yes. I’m a geek. Go ahead, laugh it up. I’m not ashamed. Other than that, when I’m not watching television (which I do entirely too much of) I enjoy running and shopping—mostly for home décor items. Oddly, I’m not a big fan of shopping for clothes. Although, I do enjoy shoe shopping.

Q. What advice do you have for wannabe writers out there?

A. Don’t stop writing, and don’t listen to the naysayers. Follow your heart. Writing is not easy, but it’s so worth it. Also, do your homework when it comes time to query. Not querying properly can stop you before you even have a chance to start. Read up about the agency/agent you’re submitting to. Make sure you address the proper agent by name. Follow their submission guidelines to the letter. Because, honestly, just as much effort that when into writing your book also needs to go into writing the synopsis/query. It’s all very, very important.

Q. Is there anything you would change on the path that got you to where you are today?

A. Yes. I’ll just leave it at that, if that’s okay with you.

Q. What is something that most people wouldn't necessarily know about you (That you would be willing to share here of course)?

A. Hmm…I’m afraid of the dark. I don’t freak out over it, but let’s just say, I don’t sleep with all the lights off.

Everleigh in NYC by Cathleen Holst

While celebrating Mardi Gras in the big easy, Everleigh Carlisle and her BFF Christina share most things together; gossip, clothes, far too many drinks, and a visit with a voodoo priestess where an unspoken wish is granted, unknowingly altering the course of Everleigh’s life.

Two years later, her dreams are set to come true when she lands her dream job as a columnist for New York’s premiere fashion magazine, C'est Magnifique. Things become complicated when her cheating ex declares his love for her, and she meets Robert Cates, making three important discoveries: 1) Despite her best efforts, she is hopelessly attracted to Robert. 2) She has the bizarre ability to hear his thoughts. 3) He’s her new boss.*

Everleigh in NYC is available for purchase at all major bookstores nationwide and many online retailers, like Barnes and Noble.com and Amazon.com.

**Author info and synopsis provided by Goodreads.com.

Welcome to Lip Gloss & Literature...

Welcome to Lip Gloss and Literature where I hope I can entertain and inform you with EVERYTHING CHICK LIT!!

In 2010 I started my first blog, where you wish upon a star, where I fulfilled my dream of reading,  writing and reviewing chick lit. In hopes of making my blog more easily accessible to chick lit, women’s fiction readers and writers everywhere, I’ve brought all those great posts and more over here to Lip Gloss & Literature.

Now you’ve already seen the name and background changes. Here are a few more things sure to happen at LG&L in 2011:

v    Author Interviews & Guest Posts

v    Audio Clips from various Publishers &  Narrators of Chick Lit

v    Reading Challenge Updates & Reviews:

v    Red Dress Ink Fans Ultimate Reading Challenge to read all the RDI published books from 2001 to 2008

v    Chick Lit Plus Reading Challenge 2011 to read 12 Chick Lit novels in 2011

v    Book Chick City’s 100 Books in a Year Challenge to read 100 Books in 2011

v    Quarterly Reading Challenges Hosted by Red Dress Ink Fans on Goodreads.com

v    Chick Flick Reviews for chick lit books that made it onto the big screen

v    Writing Tips, Ideas and Resources

v    And More….

v    Chick Lit Books & Reviews

v     Don’t Hex With Texas (Enchanted #4) by Shanna Swendson

v     Falling Out of Fashion by Karen Yampolskey

v     Me Vs. Me by Sarah Mlynowski

v     See Jane Date by Melissa Senate

v     The Smart One & The Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik

v     You’ll Never Nanny In This Town Again by Suzanne Hansen

v     And many more old, new and fabulous chick lit books…

v    Audio Book Reviews

v     A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff, Read by Violet Mathieson

v     Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella, Read by Rosalyn Landor

v     Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich, Read by Lorelei King

v     How I Write by Janet Evanovich Read by the Author, Ina Yalof and Alex Evanovich

v     A Desirable Residence by Madeleine Wickham, Read by Katherine Kellgren

v     And many other provocative vocalizations of your favorite chick lit novels…

v    Product Reviews on the latest and favorites in Reading, Writing, Fashion, Women’s interests and various other items

As always, if you want to check out my Audio Book Reviews at the Chicklit Club, please visit:

http://www.chicklitclub.com/audio-books.html

Or follow me on Goodreads for my latest reads, listens and past reviews:

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3168170

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~ Cathy