tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15665811206582373502024-03-18T22:08:27.128-07:00Lip Gloss and LiteratureMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-16674620153487007652012-09-07T07:02:00.001-07:002012-09-07T07:23:30.958-07:00Star Book Review: A Girl Like You by Gemma Burgess<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkIXex1OcbDaTW93c6xybWE127S43rTFWCHfLBvURI97apq6jcc5FjqYsZyDb5UCIAWRH4FaELizsByR_YhYnJQFDwUjzve8gXrYQlZcvfY4AqcdP4QEEspkDA4i2EMOcqVCSG6zOtexC/s1600/a+girl+like+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkIXex1OcbDaTW93c6xybWE127S43rTFWCHfLBvURI97apq6jcc5FjqYsZyDb5UCIAWRH4FaELizsByR_YhYnJQFDwUjzve8gXrYQlZcvfY4AqcdP4QEEspkDA4i2EMOcqVCSG6zOtexC/s1600/a+girl+like+you.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">In the classic chick lit story, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Girl Like You</i> by Gemma Burgess, Abigail is having a quarter-life crisis of sorts. After finally getting up the courage to leave her boyfriend, Peter, of seven-plus years, Abigail’s biggest fear is that she’ll become the loneliest single girl in London. To avoid “catching” the LSG syndrome, she goes to her Lothario-like flatmate, Robert, for singledom advice. Abigail quickly learns that her best bet for dating is to act like a man. She compiles a best-of list based on Robert’s sage suggestions, and is determined to…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Be Cool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Be Detached<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Act Brutal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Stay in Control<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">(Be) Bulletproof<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Always Leave Them Before They Leave You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Not only do Robert’s strategies help to make Abigail a little less lonely, but it makes her adventures in dating in London a lot more entertaining. Of course, all this friendly coaching brings Robert and Abigail much closer together but now that she’s become a pro on the dating circuit, will she even be able to give Robert a chance? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A Girl Like You</span></i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> is full of hilarious antics and charades, giving readers the inside scoop on dating in a modern London. The description of characters made up for parts that may have been a tad predictable. Overall, well written and a fast read, I felt like I was “a girl like them”, eagerly awaiting the next page. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cYjyOzq3DvbqScH34fj1rKWh55TeZsDbDQVuWCgCwCVT0_jMAdFpkE-nS-gNO7nVXw8RPqnkm0wm36zIERS6bcDROdvu8wnZ8lIzOtVaAb7885gmAjIwM6kqw4IQq_gFwESVOkWG92QZ/s1600/4Stars_Purple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cYjyOzq3DvbqScH34fj1rKWh55TeZsDbDQVuWCgCwCVT0_jMAdFpkE-nS-gNO7nVXw8RPqnkm0wm36zIERS6bcDROdvu8wnZ8lIzOtVaAb7885gmAjIwM6kqw4IQq_gFwESVOkWG92QZ/s1600/4Stars_Purple.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">4 Stars </span></div>
Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-86423405918712579372012-08-14T09:49:00.000-07:002012-08-14T09:49:41.124-07:00Star Book Review: In Office Hours by Lucy Kellaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCo6Pu98i8ZCOaEXqsmVaKiO48VjrDRV9wfkKcu5xJLWhHudpDMFzjl5DxVlwrrkmgFBy5BhTupA0fdchqxQsUroqWQl9p11wL945V5LHbqGu9y00bO_HN_ggi8i_9SDXLgLD78EsWNYeW/s1600/in-office-hours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCo6Pu98i8ZCOaEXqsmVaKiO48VjrDRV9wfkKcu5xJLWhHudpDMFzjl5DxVlwrrkmgFBy5BhTupA0fdchqxQsUroqWQl9p11wL945V5LHbqGu9y00bO_HN_ggi8i_9SDXLgLD78EsWNYeW/s200/in-office-hours.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #215868; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"> In Office Hours</span></i><span style="color: #215868; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"> was a great book full of juicy gossip and serious scandal. Lucy Kellaway’s writing was clad full of all the kinds of details meant for watercooler banter - quite literally, as this novel took place inside a fictional 9-5 office environment in London. IOH wove together two stories about two British women, Stella and Bella, who were on opposite ends of the corporate ladder but who found themselves walking in the same shoes, when each one embarked on a love affair with a coworker that brought nonstop drama into both their personal and work lives. Caught up in romance and debauchery, Stella and Bella rode a rollercoaster with fate and what seemed like everlasting excitement quickly turned into turmoil and disappointment. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzZDeXHkxiKZnBEgvCDopKI9BjjVrXHBNbfEezkQJJC8FGlqA1VNoP34P757fzTolHacfALOXqWT79LcFc2EMLc61BnG3-2aqGUCxNagQtFBp3L7_FJunzpHhYh7hEVr4xYnoOP1QSslL/s1600/Working+Girl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; height: 309px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 208px;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzZDeXHkxiKZnBEgvCDopKI9BjjVrXHBNbfEezkQJJC8FGlqA1VNoP34P757fzTolHacfALOXqWT79LcFc2EMLc61BnG3-2aqGUCxNagQtFBp3L7_FJunzpHhYh7hEVr4xYnoOP1QSslL/s320/Working+Girl2.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working Girl illustration by Bella Pilar</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #215868; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">British author, Lucy Kellaway did a fabulous job exploring the inner thoughts of two very different women and the feelings they are left with after entering an illicit love affair. They differed in everything from their ranks in the corporate world to their roles in family life and marital status and even differed in the men they went after. However, their differences almost evaporated when both were met with a personal and public humiliation as they were outed for their forbidden relationships at the workplace and at home. Having narrated the story in first-person, by alternating between the each woman's voice, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In Office Hours </i>truly allowed the reader to hear two very separate perspectives on what it means to be and feel like "the other woman". </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #215868; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">****4 STARS ****</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLn_Cl89J0b0nMl8SexyV72g7JESJLElyE_OlzIyQAGMsl9cLIi6Qgt0dojnn8NAKpQjwEe8FNWHWcLeKzAUYy8KXaHN_I1GdGEVCNKNlDPPtg7HKLoC3nwZrRffZYPifiFq2PrbefOul/s1600/inofficehours2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLn_Cl89J0b0nMl8SexyV72g7JESJLElyE_OlzIyQAGMsl9cLIi6Qgt0dojnn8NAKpQjwEe8FNWHWcLeKzAUYy8KXaHN_I1GdGEVCNKNlDPPtg7HKLoC3nwZrRffZYPifiFq2PrbefOul/s200/inofficehours2.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #215868; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">This is one of the few books I sincerely hope to see a movie made of in the next few years. Stella and Bella and the scandal that surrounds them would be more than ideal for the big screen. I’m thinking a gorgeous yet believably established woman, like Kelly Rutherford-type for Stella and for young yet naive mom, Bella, a pretty Leighton Meister-type. (I’m a huge Gossip Girl fan if you couldn’t tell.) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff3333; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">**What book would you like to see at the movies? And who would star in it?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-25998493785684071252012-08-10T12:54:00.000-07:002012-08-10T12:54:30.519-07:00Chick Lit Chatter: The Latest in Chick Lit Book Blogs<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been a little out of the Chick Lit digital scene for some time now and am only now starting to catch up. Adding a few new books to my shelf (i.e. Emily Giffin’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You Belong to Me</i> and Jennifer Weiner’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Next Best Thing</i>) and perusing the latest reviews on line, I stumbled across some new, new-to-me and updated, chick lit-focused web sites! Check them out or let me know what you think of the “new” sites. What’s your favorite site?</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d60093; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chloe’s Chick Lit Reviews<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape href="http://www.chicklitchloe.blogspot.com/" id="Picture_x0020_3" o:button="t" o:spid="_x0000_s1030" style="height: 85pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 115pt; margin-top: 17.05pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; text-align: left; visibility: visible; width: 242pt; z-index: -251657216;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t"></v:fill><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\cherbert\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVjShmtywMzLhcjvuI4aOrCGFOFnOKjzCBJS4baxmYns7T5wahjbSN2Uwn0lU28djRFG-YVJFJn0LNRKbCnm1mhKVFm2oO-YdKZ1sbIFSF7Kq8XmzYrrOO0IWEonGtss1BXORYg5uYvb4/s1600/ChickLitChloe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVjShmtywMzLhcjvuI4aOrCGFOFnOKjzCBJS4baxmYns7T5wahjbSN2Uwn0lU28djRFG-YVJFJn0LNRKbCnm1mhKVFm2oO-YdKZ1sbIFSF7Kq8XmzYrrOO0IWEonGtss1BXORYg5uYvb4/s320/ChickLitChloe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d60093; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chloe is one of the latest bloggers I’ve come across to add to my elongated list of chick lit chatters. Can’t decide which chick lit book to read next? Check out Chloe’s Chick Lit Release Dates page. Chloe’s Chick Lit houses quite a complete chronology of chick lit books published by year and month. Your local library doesn’t have a copy of the latest chick lit book you want? Click on the pretty covers on Chloe’s list to link to purchase on Amazon. Reading chick lit is never more than a click away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chick Lit Teens</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcy70kfXbY_PYCBmmw3FndL3mCuX0qFsUaRpE9IBdfZqlovPt6B1pajZv4NZtttcgpwpctcualkU76WyScQA4Q9-iOO9rfyf6N0JtB755XCEHkl0NerYF7p_eBIplOQav-WJc8rHCKMwI/s1600/ChickLitTeens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcy70kfXbY_PYCBmmw3FndL3mCuX0qFsUaRpE9IBdfZqlovPt6B1pajZv4NZtttcgpwpctcualkU76WyScQA4Q9-iOO9rfyf6N0JtB755XCEHkl0NerYF7p_eBIplOQav-WJc8rHCKMwI/s320/ChickLitTeens.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chick Lit really encompasses a broad range of topics and so too, I feel, should the blogs that represent it. I love how <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chick Lit Teens </i>incorporates a section called “Chick Chat” (so catchy!) for just this purpose, full of Guest blogs, Interviews and all your chick lit questions and answers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chick Lit and Wine <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOdgU5v7zrdeciGOFWZ6yY1ei4lr7lNat8e8igKVpoG35tIuVb2PK2hagm2lyLYIy9nelIQ1Fjqcgjs31dvjQcHvOfbTeCchwHujr6AGdQHAQDgAm1rccvGj1gWz1jN4CPTTs_BYrh72_/s1600/ChickLitandWine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOdgU5v7zrdeciGOFWZ6yY1ei4lr7lNat8e8igKVpoG35tIuVb2PK2hagm2lyLYIy9nelIQ1Fjqcgjs31dvjQcHvOfbTeCchwHujr6AGdQHAQDgAm1rccvGj1gWz1jN4CPTTs_BYrh72_/s1600/ChickLitandWine.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #663300; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Syrah and Chardonnay (love the names!) invite you to relish in all things chick lit on their site (and they even pair each review with a different glass of bubbly. (I love blogs that really set themselves apart with a different and fun aspect.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b853; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chick Lit Reviews and News (formerly Chick Lit Reviews)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chicklitreviewsandnews.com/"><img border="0" height="81" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuIFwVDevHg8wwD0krIr7fzig4QJ26jLB4g0n0glFu3pmDJ4pQrSkNoY2af-WoyQcpfS2cIDs71KQeDSWXjL7BwYrL5yuJiAGnCOnRC71hKknH3eeOM_CxWBJqmOc5Oio88PJBV-BvFFG/s320/ChickLitReviewsNews.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00b853; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #00b853; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #00b853; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This oldie but a goodie lands on my list as its recently changed its web address (a very brave thing to do, I might add, in the www). Chick Lit Reviews <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and News </i>(as it is now called) has always been one of my fave, go-to sites for all things chick lit. One of the things that I feel has always set this site apart is its ability to keep up every day with at least two posts on its site, making sure there is a constant flow of information about chick lit; and two, its unique perspective offered from two women, representing both the US and British markets of chick lit. CLRAN really sets the bar high for bloggers everywhere as it continues to showcase chick lit around the clock and around the world!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For all new authors, check out <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Women’s Fiction Writers:<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPN1F-HGj-loVrcteVKO1KrY_mAcJLwQSCtpSQl-tJ6xddTU4claX-IGTBKNYx5Oe4-Hs5aaP_gauZ-ESLf_c8vrzOTYDvA7k-2c97T6WpXDO9uwjpJsnJLvQtfAOQZ64fq57bGXdb7OZ/s1600/WOmensFictionWriters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="62" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPN1F-HGj-loVrcteVKO1KrY_mAcJLwQSCtpSQl-tJ6xddTU4claX-IGTBKNYx5Oe4-Hs5aaP_gauZ-ESLf_c8vrzOTYDvA7k-2c97T6WpXDO9uwjpJsnJLvQtfAOQZ64fq57bGXdb7OZ/s320/WOmensFictionWriters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From soon to be published author, herself, Amy Sue Nathan, offers a place to showcase only new chick lit authors. She invites all new Women’s Fiction authors to send her an email and maybe <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> will be the next women’s fiction author featured on her blog! Like her motto suggests, no bs, just strictly new women’s authors and their experiences on the rise to book-dom. (and she’s not just talking about a higher pair of heels.)</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">**Come back Next Friday when I explore the artists behind some of my favorite cover art. Here are some of the titles whose covers were so appealing I just couldn’t resist adding them to my own shelf:</span></span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsu5utCQRPYD37YBPDgAW-REvXyUzCXrSVClhP9gUof-Qz3i_lQHJ7lOqxBi1ljoTcffMf_edmG4I7zDzhns_kK5FPmyH26rAGbcDkbJvB6-n5PmOAaDzTFL0kQb4hY2pwB4fldMDc434D/s1600/TheWeddingGirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsu5utCQRPYD37YBPDgAW-REvXyUzCXrSVClhP9gUof-Qz3i_lQHJ7lOqxBi1ljoTcffMf_edmG4I7zDzhns_kK5FPmyH26rAGbcDkbJvB6-n5PmOAaDzTFL0kQb4hY2pwB4fldMDc434D/s200/TheWeddingGirl.jpg" width="137" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pJ-wC-zuSLsKb2aXjMq40V4P4OpU-miNJA3JujfcnnNKklpQRM7OCygPhoJVF7fgDeH7ASOw8nWJ-xHBou7Ad9bF0SZMlqLiJLwGYM5egw9hzXkgLXcX6TD-gO34GBOunlCPDCI4F6nx/s1600/a+girl+like+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pJ-wC-zuSLsKb2aXjMq40V4P4OpU-miNJA3JujfcnnNKklpQRM7OCygPhoJVF7fgDeH7ASOw8nWJ-xHBou7Ad9bF0SZMlqLiJLwGYM5egw9hzXkgLXcX6TD-gO34GBOunlCPDCI4F6nx/s200/a+girl+like+you.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_xRrLHoamiEzhnk8sQDlsCx6nM6h7OHX0SZa2P3R4ie6ugZ3z6HeA3h9aGpaMFgU9IHX4ZNd1LU1irJYNFThNyWqQj1HQUnk_lMUII0BRedNxaf5L04iYViabIiqmSXLSlV8dmoDFX8Z/s1600/IHeartNY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_xRrLHoamiEzhnk8sQDlsCx6nM6h7OHX0SZa2P3R4ie6ugZ3z6HeA3h9aGpaMFgU9IHX4ZNd1LU1irJYNFThNyWqQj1HQUnk_lMUII0BRedNxaf5L04iYViabIiqmSXLSlV8dmoDFX8Z/s200/IHeartNY.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptX8RztpK8TJ3luWt9-tbMAYl9tkLg_nHyPeLonwAm-AR6oNBDI5wPVEanHZJTbwuPzFoMTgsWyzpZ5vmU3yM0keFPA026Fg-EntzT2DPlaMsoRIjB2SguwpdCmDVTqFiI7SAtQmxJbbS/s1600/AmericanGirlsABoutTown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptX8RztpK8TJ3luWt9-tbMAYl9tkLg_nHyPeLonwAm-AR6oNBDI5wPVEanHZJTbwuPzFoMTgsWyzpZ5vmU3yM0keFPA026Fg-EntzT2DPlaMsoRIjB2SguwpdCmDVTqFiI7SAtQmxJbbS/s200/AmericanGirlsABoutTown.jpg" width="122" /></a></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-58732350098431127962012-07-20T08:31:00.003-07:002012-07-20T08:31:33.249-07:00Chick Lit According to Jersey<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedsZhmYu_VSF-Qaa_8U7OoQkgd2X6T6nf-4nEru5jZjRsB2UWbhRJ4_hOZyx1p_HyiXYezI9QtcizgIkVcF5JM6hTMCkWo1FoaH-WClzBgMW11Ry-jf0p9ziTeExfz7xX4-lJRZ1BsisS/s1600/jerseylicious2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedsZhmYu_VSF-Qaa_8U7OoQkgd2X6T6nf-4nEru5jZjRsB2UWbhRJ4_hOZyx1p_HyiXYezI9QtcizgIkVcF5JM6hTMCkWo1FoaH-WClzBgMW11Ry-jf0p9ziTeExfz7xX4-lJRZ1BsisS/s1600/jerseylicious2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Have you ever seen the show <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jerseylicious</i>? It is like watching Snooki X 10. Just think: All Snooki, all the time. What really struck me on the show was how difficult it was to tell each character apart from one another. Really, they all looked so similar. The brunettes all looked like little Snooki’s or tall J-Wows and the blondes looked like little mini-Barbie dolls (of course with extra teased up hair dos and stuck in the 90s style; I think I even saw a scrunchie on one of the girls’ wrists!) Full of drama, cat fighting, glammed up hair and makeup, photo shoots complete with hair pulling (I mean extension pulling) and bad clothes proved to be just enough to keep me glued to my seat for 3 and a half episodes (If I hadn’t fallen asleep on the couch, I’d probably have made it to through to 4 full episode). My favorite characters were Michelle and Tracy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Michelle, although not given that much air time in the episodes I saw, seemed like a character straight from a chick lit novel, full of all the perky optimism, beautiful looks and a hint of ditz; but don’t let that ditz fool you, she’s actually a pretty smart cookie. Who doesn’t like a good giggle? Tracy, a brunette with a fierce ‘tude, made it known to ‘Licious rival, Olivia, not to be tardy to her “party”. The two had a major blowout (and I’m not talking a teased up-do) on the front lawn of a few clients who they’d just left the home of after styling before a birthday party in Atlantic City. I was in awe not so much at the verbal beat down that took place, but shocked by the fact that this was all done 20 feet away from their clients! I’m sure I’ll be tuning in again, soon…</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">After watching my own little marathon of the salon styling girls on Jerseylicious, it got me thinking about Snooki and her own adventures in chick lit. Remember her book released in 2011, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s a Shore Thing? </i>I’m curious – has anyone read Snooki’s (aka Nicole Polozzi’s) book? I won’t be surprised to see a re-release or a sequel on the horizon now that there’s a mini-Snooki on the way. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4JEhK1mU29sIQIdc5njaWrsGzFgQ40iXSbtUGGuJHNwmQpFjHzSKj6Z2d-eQbpLeYNShhK-Lw01fe_2hyphenhyphennS_YY6NpoGKmLMmqhAfrr_St_18SOviy_1YUud400OcgbWIVHODNEvJE2xF/s1600/SNOOKI-BOOK-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4JEhK1mU29sIQIdc5njaWrsGzFgQ40iXSbtUGGuJHNwmQpFjHzSKj6Z2d-eQbpLeYNShhK-Lw01fe_2hyphenhyphennS_YY6NpoGKmLMmqhAfrr_St_18SOviy_1YUud400OcgbWIVHODNEvJE2xF/s1600/SNOOKI-BOOK-large.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">It may<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not have been a NY Times Bestseller, but one thing I admire about Snooki, though is she’s always true to herself. Love her or hate her, she hasn’t changed (or apologized for that matter for) who she is. Take it or leave it. Nicole “Snooki” Pollozzi is a Jersey girl through and through. To give you a taste of what I mean, here is a quote </span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I found on the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/03/read-excerpts-from-a-shore-thing-snookis-new-book_n_803864.html"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Huffington Post</span></a> from her cult-novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s a Shore Thing</i>:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Gia danced around a little, shaking her peaches for show. She shook it hard. Too hard. In the middle of a shimmy, her stomach cramped. A fart slipped out. A loud one. And stinky."</span></i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">There you have it. Chick Lit by Snooki. What’s your take on Jersey’s version of chick lit? Are you going to read it or have you? I want to hear all yoru thoughts?</span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-62672497479589503752012-07-12T07:47:00.001-07:002012-07-12T08:08:27.719-07:00Star Guest Post: Wendy Wax, Author of Ocean Beach<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am so delighted to share with everyone a Guest Post from one of my favorite chick lit authors, Wendy Wax. The first novel I read by her was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ten Beach Road</i>, which turned out to be more than just a fun beach read for me. It delved into the lives of threewomen and eventually intertwined their stories after being brought together by the same financial destruction that led them to a shared ownership in a Florida mansion hat proved to be more than just a fixer-upper. I am more than excited to read her follow up to this fabulous novel of friendship and triumph in the sequel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ocean Beach</i>. I have always felt like Wendy Wax has a way with characters and making the reader feel like a part of their lives. The second novel I read by Wendy Wax was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Accidental Bestseller,</i> and she once again, proved to have me tied up in the lives of another group of intriguing women, turning page by page, anxiously awaiting to read how their lives unfold. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I was approached to post an article about Wendy Wax and how she delves into the writing process to bring her characters and stories to life, I of course, jumped at the opportunity and am thrilled to share it with all of you! Happy reading (and writing!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiDvJ33froOc4p87VOdrTuWhaH0mqnqdz_WNYMGB_EuMpEv0vskR8ZwmMUgewXzgJFxdV_8Xk-7X99i2e-emE6kI6N7eJhCY0462Cj3AxGuhVA1SKv0Od87a-dvhrII2kzTkD8-tFaORP/s1600/WendyWax.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiDvJ33froOc4p87VOdrTuWhaH0mqnqdz_WNYMGB_EuMpEv0vskR8ZwmMUgewXzgJFxdV_8Xk-7X99i2e-emE6kI6N7eJhCY0462Cj3AxGuhVA1SKv0Od87a-dvhrII2kzTkD8-tFaORP/s320/WendyWax.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Why I Write What I Write</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>by Wendy Wax</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Last week, my new book <strong>OCEAN BEACH</strong> hit the shelves in bookstores across the country and of course in all the usual online spots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As always, when a new book comes out, I spent the week doing launch parties and signings at some really great bookstores. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Celebrating a new release is always a fun part of the process for me, because I get to step away from my computer and meet all kinds of people who have one thing in common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They love to read and they love books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So right off the bat, we have something in common! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But these readers (most of whom are women) often challenge me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They ask me what kind of books I write and why I write them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They ask me what inspires me and where my ideas come from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the answer in many ways is them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I write books for and about women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do this because I’m fascinated by women’s strength. By how much we can handle and how long we can carry incredibly heavy loads. My female friends and family members lift me up and keep me going when the going gets rough, and I try to do the same for them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">In my experience, women are almost always stronger than they know and more needed and more loved than they will ever realize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The women who come to the bookstores to chat with me certainly are. They come in with their book clubs, or with a girlfriend or two, or with their mothers or their sisters and they often share their stories with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think women are the glue that holds even the most fragile things together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Whether a group of women are related or longtime friends or meet in a time of crisis like Maddie, Nicole and Avery (who first meet when their lives are torn apart by a Bernie Madoff style Ponzi scheme in<strong> TEN BEACH ROAD</strong>), they strive to be there for each other, and they rise to the occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In <strong>OCEAN BEACH</strong>, Maddie and her daughter Kyra, Avery and her mother Deirdre, and former matchmaker Nicole head to Miami’s South Beach ready to shoot the first episode of what’s supposed to be a home renovation show called <u>Do Over</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when they arrive at the historic Art Deco Streamline home they’re supposed to work on, they discover that the network has shifted its focus. <u>Do Over</u> is now a reality show and the cameras are aimed at them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Most reality stars seem to want nothing more than to be in the spotlight 24/7, but I found myself wondering what it would feel like to be under that kind of scrutiny if it was the last thing you wanted. The spotlight can expose all kinds of chinks in your armor and cracks in your foundation. In <strong>OCEAN BEACH</strong> the spotlight’s glare forces Maddie, Nicole, Avery, Deirdre and Kyra to stick together as a group and to support each other fiercely even as each woman deals with current and former loves, career struggles, and figuring out who they are and what they’re made of while they’re lives are shaken, stirred and served up over ice to a thirsty public.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">While I know most of us won’t end up on a reality show—I certainly hope I don’t-- I do know that we often find ourselves getting by with a little help from our friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why I write about women and their struggles and triumphs again and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s why I knew that I had to come back to the women of <strong>TEN BEACH ROAD</strong> and continue their journey in <strong>OCEAN BEACH</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I hope you all get a chance to go to the beach this summer with a couple of your girlfriends and a book or two of mine in your beach bag. But sand and surf aren’t required. Just put your feet up, mix yourself a cocktail and break open a bag of Cheez Doodles (Avery’s snack of choice) and settle in for a ‘virtual’ beach break as the women of <strong>TEN BEACH ROAD</strong> and <strong>OCEAN BEACH</strong> discover the women they were meant to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cheers,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Wendy</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt;">**Thank you to JOAN SCHULHAFER PUBLISHING & MEDIA CONSULTING for providing me with this Guest Post from Wendy Wax.**</span></i></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-59148928549054995962012-03-26T12:08:00.000-07:002012-03-26T12:08:46.695-07:00Star Audio Book Review: I Heart Hollywood by Lindsey Kelk, Read by Cassandra Harwood<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLMwBr3TRAj9VsfA-Dsj9brU4ftb0qtsDzntbe5qpWO_F4dXa4bDdwQWHu8ucwiGnk6dRIp3GGKQcBTprGCB6-3bNq6-WSL12bfZlBVfCcb-YUy8TEWONKN50PY2VmR-GZtg8pVrbnWsh/s1600/IHeartHollywood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLMwBr3TRAj9VsfA-Dsj9brU4ftb0qtsDzntbe5qpWO_F4dXa4bDdwQWHu8ucwiGnk6dRIp3GGKQcBTprGCB6-3bNq6-WSL12bfZlBVfCcb-YUy8TEWONKN50PY2VmR-GZtg8pVrbnWsh/s1600/IHeartHollywood.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #7030a0;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I heart…a lot of things and Lindsey Kelk remains at the top of my “heart” list! Teaming up with British audio queen, Cassandra Harwood whose read a few of her other books, such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Single Girls To Do List</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Heart New York,</i> Lindsey Kelk’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Heart Hollywood</i> is the second installment in her much “hearted” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Heart </i>audio book series. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Angela Clark is still blogging about love, life and drama on her web site and living it up in New York City all in the name of good fun when her boss and creator of magazine, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Look</i>, offers her the chance of a lifetime to do it all, live, from Hollywood, California. Worlds away from home and on the completely opposite coast from the love of her life, boyfriend, Alex, Angela sets out to rock La-La Land…except after a few too many cocktails and a couple of unflattering photos, it looks like Angela might be the one getting rocked!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #7030a0;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While Angela is heating up the pages of the Internet with the Hollywood scoop on fashion and entertainment, she meets gorgeous actor and fellow Brit, James Jacobs, who is supposed to be her latest interview but when the press snaps a picture of the two of them on a night out, it becomes Angela who’s heating up the pages of all the latest gossip mags to hit newsstands nationwide. It wouldn’t be all the bad, except when a second picture hits the gossip mags, and still miles apart from her boyfriend, Angela’s innocence becomes harder and harder to explain. Home couldn’t feel any further away until one day Angela stumbles on a secret that could simultaneously save her reputation and her relationship with Alex but in the same moment, might ruin James Jacob’s career as Hollywood’s favorite heartthrob. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #7030a0;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cassandra Harwood does a superb job emulating the characters of Angela Clark, James Joyce and countless other British and American personalities. She keeps it fun, entertaining and light. I can’t wait for the adventures that await us as Angela ventures out to Paris, France in the third installment in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Heart</i> series. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hO2RB1VboV3kQ7HzofL4x8nlmuUz3lxX2HwzS-qrgIPCeQR9a9AijRKdA5jQmvDIXX0TnLMMQ9ZvISIebc8WNir4d4nB5b9tXGkvNntXaElxCVseyFnI0E7yJ4-jveQNKo7n1lhwgBSt/s1600/4+Stars_3DPurple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hO2RB1VboV3kQ7HzofL4x8nlmuUz3lxX2HwzS-qrgIPCeQR9a9AijRKdA5jQmvDIXX0TnLMMQ9ZvISIebc8WNir4d4nB5b9tXGkvNntXaElxCVseyFnI0E7yJ4-jveQNKo7n1lhwgBSt/s1600/4+Stars_3DPurple.jpg" /></a></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-20124413119442737732012-03-14T06:46:00.000-07:002012-03-14T06:46:37.856-07:00I Heart...Marriage: Part One<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">Welcome Back Fellow Readers and Glossers,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">I have missed you and my books so so much!! Before I post my first book review since (gulp) November 2011, I just want to fill you all in on my life and what’s been going on. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">I have been busy, busy, busy, and this time, not reading. (Tear </span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">) This past February 26, 2012 I….got….married!!! </span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">Needless to say, the past few months, I have spent toiling over all the fabulous blogs, websites, magazines and journals to plan the perfect wedding. Now I know how Nicole really felt in Kim Gruenenfelder’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There’s Cake in My Future</i> (a.k.a. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wedding </i>Fever! In all seriousness, it was a lot of hard work, a lot of long hours and a lot of stress but it was all well worth it in the end and we both got to “put a ring on it”.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TeLJz3daAnVkIu9YinRl7_Puc-bJluwobZv-SX67q0TtdVYVgg-XgqUDB6D9PgJZfwezuMv7-ZliGY7zUZwHXLz60HNHuZOh7AvcS5VjFXuBXYmKPOv3gze4YnrNkPif6UqdvFgRFomp/s1600/TheKiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TeLJz3daAnVkIu9YinRl7_Puc-bJluwobZv-SX67q0TtdVYVgg-XgqUDB6D9PgJZfwezuMv7-ZliGY7zUZwHXLz60HNHuZOh7AvcS5VjFXuBXYmKPOv3gze4YnrNkPif6UqdvFgRFomp/s320/TheKiss.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">Now that the wedding is over and it’s back to reality, I am so excited to get back to doing what I love, reading, reviewing books and audio books and posting about it all on my blog. Weddings and marriage are two of the most common themes throughout chick lit-erature and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to jump right back into things and invite anyone and everyone to nominate their favorite chick lit wedding book. Later, I’ll take all suggestions and nominations and create my very first Top Ten list of chick lit wedding books that will be posted on </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0066; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://lipglossandliterature.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #cc0066;">Lip Gloss & Literature</span></a></span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0066; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">. </span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">The #1 chick lit wedding book will be chosen based on the highest number of nominations </span></i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0066; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">I will be giving away a book or book credits</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0066; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;"> (winner’s choice!) to one lucky participant in this fun game, so get those nominations coming! </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">The winner will be randomly selected from comments section. *Chances of winning will be based on the number if nominations received. </span></i><br />
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">Which book do you want to nominate for your favorite Chick Lit Wedding of all time???</span></i></b></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0066; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">Here are a few ideas from last year’s chick lit releases to get those creative juices flowing from my favorite resource and web site for everything chick lit, the </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.chicklitclub.com/index.html"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Chicklit Club</span></a></span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;"></span></i><br />
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0066; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.chicklitclub.com/weddingfever.html"><span style="color: #cc0066;">http://www.chicklitclub.com/weddingfever.html</span></a></span></i></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What’s on your chick lit wedding bookshelf??</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hope to read with you all very soon!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love,</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cathy</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">XOXO</span></i></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-27551847738758741252011-10-18T07:53:00.000-07:002011-10-18T07:55:29.474-07:00In the Spotlight: Audio Books<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdcKO1flSM5e9-XsJIrxYvzwHS91zSRj6hyzOxooXwe4LiYLJgKIu9DfA_MGHlXtiOF35wbvU-reDEmPT9aVRdQ3n3sBCnF3unGFzvBSDC5Wr8CSiYIHbWvG-qAhCA5NCoy5WfMtvkfWH/s1600/Talkingbooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdcKO1flSM5e9-XsJIrxYvzwHS91zSRj6hyzOxooXwe4LiYLJgKIu9DfA_MGHlXtiOF35wbvU-reDEmPT9aVRdQ3n3sBCnF3unGFzvBSDC5Wr8CSiYIHbWvG-qAhCA5NCoy5WfMtvkfWH/s200/Talkingbooks.jpg" width="175" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have been listening to audio books for the past two plus years. To me, it is like watching your favorite soap opera, reality show or a movie at the theater. Just like reading, listening to the action, the characters and all the artful descriptions, audio books take me into a world of fantasy and fun. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I wasn’t sure if I’d even like audio books before I tried it. I mean talking books? Really? How bizarre, right? And who doesn’t love to partake in the stereotypical activity of curling up on your sofa with your favorite heros and heroines? But what about those long car rides when you are just tired of listening to the same songs over and over again on the radio? Or those days and nights when you’re too tired to read? I know lots of my friends get so into their books that it keeps them wide awake, turning page after page until dawn or until the book is finished – whichever seems to come first. But not me. No matter how much I adore a book, love its characters or am intrigued by the plot, reading often puts me into a state of relation, nearing (and often resulting in) sleep. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I thought maybe audio books would be an interesting alternative to mend my weary mind but to still nourish my love of all things fiction. Plus, I figure, it never hurts to try something once. If I don’t’ like it, there’s no loss; but if I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> like it, it will be one more vehicle to expose myself to more novels in my favorite genre – chick lit.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7GL9lXriltSDNLrsyNrwVrcGPw00oCvsEOZEQ7ZRnxIDAPBgPnjlJ4m7fCOsbOlQydv_R6VbUnJ7KE0V743OC4oExRjvAZN_zeVTV8FNQXhYSnImhZSRhN2Yh3nRIOO-MBnhCJHvL7yP/s1600/TwentiesGirlAudio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7GL9lXriltSDNLrsyNrwVrcGPw00oCvsEOZEQ7ZRnxIDAPBgPnjlJ4m7fCOsbOlQydv_R6VbUnJ7KE0V743OC4oExRjvAZN_zeVTV8FNQXhYSnImhZSRhN2Yh3nRIOO-MBnhCJHvL7yP/s200/TwentiesGirlAudio.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The first book that I found in the audio book section that sparked my interest was a relatively new release (this was back in ’09) called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twenties Girl</i>. Written by one of my favorite authors, Sophie Kinsella, this British chick lit book was read by narrator, Rosalyn Landor, who I later came to find, read a few other books by Sophie Kinsella. The audio book edition of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twenties Girl</i> turned out to be extremely humorous much to the credit of the author but also praise must be paid to the woman who delivered the fine words provided by the author. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since Twenties Girl, I have listened to countless other audio books – from autobiographies to comedies, mysteries, thrillers and of course, chick lit. The more I’ve searched for audio books, the more I’ve found they’re everywhere. Listening to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twenties Girl</i> and being able to compare it to other audio books later, made me realize that an audio book is only as entertaining as the right combination of writing and its narration. I feel lucky that the first audio book I picked out had this winning combination and set the tone for future enjoyment in listening to more chick lit books. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSek709SaaLSxZ98ZJML2BKoG2-dKyUXZuDY-nylYBPHh_MPazxdoSXROz8W108ZLL0iqlpXwIFAtMOEWS5TQz8C02XiWv-VPSoDIB8uvUqHV6EvvJwNDil9gfhyphenhyphenqfCADZpiI8m-81ijC/s1600/GlitteratiHeadphones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSek709SaaLSxZ98ZJML2BKoG2-dKyUXZuDY-nylYBPHh_MPazxdoSXROz8W108ZLL0iqlpXwIFAtMOEWS5TQz8C02XiWv-VPSoDIB8uvUqHV6EvvJwNDil9gfhyphenhyphenqfCADZpiI8m-81ijC/s200/GlitteratiHeadphones.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Have you given </span><a href="http://www.canadapost.ca/shopper/audio-books/sc/892"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">audio books</span></a><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a try yet? What will you listen to next?</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-31821264611321481622011-09-27T11:08:00.000-07:002011-09-27T11:08:06.160-07:00Star Book Review: The Last Page by Lacy Camey<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbiflh1oOXqobPWb2eiC8qAIDR82rj0mNU_wwFK3be1xiPXqkrP_27vxBiRZOr0OOOSdFIz4MN_8vr_EOJKfnVB_gWpHr8F-n3K9gBYsJbr40o2CsfVrWZOravDbnusCRUzyfKsfPvgTP/s1600/the-last-page-COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbiflh1oOXqobPWb2eiC8qAIDR82rj0mNU_wwFK3be1xiPXqkrP_27vxBiRZOr0OOOSdFIz4MN_8vr_EOJKfnVB_gWpHr8F-n3K9gBYsJbr40o2CsfVrWZOravDbnusCRUzyfKsfPvgTP/s1600/the-last-page-COVER.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The Last Page</span></i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #cc00cc; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">by Lacy Camey is a light hearted, quick and fun read in contemporary chick lit romance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Norah Johnson, a would-be romance writer just can’t seem to catch a break. Devastated from a break up with a starting baseball player (a Yankee no less), Norah finds herself spiraling into a deep and dark depression. Just when no one can seem to get through to her, she finally gives in to her family’s requests and moves to their house on the beach for some serious R&R (rest and recuperation).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #cc00cc; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alongside her sister and best friend and the beautiful, picturesque scenery, Norah hopes things will just get back to normal. She enlists the help of a professional therapist; and armed with her trusty pen, Norah attempts to write herself out of all the hurt and heartbreak she can’t seem to shake; but when a gorgeous local guy stumbles across of her writing, Norah gains a secret admirer determined to help mend her broken heart. Will Norah be ready for love when and if he finds her??</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #cc00cc; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This book reminded me of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Message in a Bottle</i> by Nicholas Sparks (great movie btw!) but from the opposite sex’s perspective. At times predictable, but always enjoyable, Lacy Camey showcases her skills at creating characters and dissecting their relationships. I felt really close to Norah throughout the novel , identifying with her problems and relationship with her sister and was definitely rooting for her the whole way through. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An easy book to read in one sitting. You’ll be at the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">last page</i> before you know it!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yOizJDqHC21YMgLWQOnQKQ_X12sqfeiPjOxFm-aMp0MHEnesnjhp179btPkfqELJcC8zbDPSdOEtv5V6ZkYOo7lTnBsNwMBjBe1QvD8jp1t3jFzxOZ7Zarsuw8nhDLbkfN4chNXGNs5H/s1600/LacyCameyWrites" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yOizJDqHC21YMgLWQOnQKQ_X12sqfeiPjOxFm-aMp0MHEnesnjhp179btPkfqELJcC8zbDPSdOEtv5V6ZkYOo7lTnBsNwMBjBe1QvD8jp1t3jFzxOZ7Zarsuw8nhDLbkfN4chNXGNs5H/s1600/LacyCameyWrites" /></a><span style="color: #cc00cc; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A great book for anyone in search of self, freedom or just looking for some good entertainment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t wait for more from this new author and with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Last Page</i> being the first in a series of books, we’re sure to see more fashion forward and chick lit friendly books in the near future.</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">For more on </span><span style="color: #cc00cc; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Lacy Camey</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> and all the latest on her writing, check out her </span><span style="color: #cc00cc; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.lacycameywrites.com/"><span style="color: #cc00cc;">web page</span></a></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">! Also check out her previous stops on the </span><span style="color: #cc00cc; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://chicklitplusblogtours.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/the-last-page-by-lacy-camey/"><span style="color: #cc00cc;">Chick Lit Plus Tour</span></a></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> and more to come. </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><em>**BIG THANKS to Lacy Camey for sending me a copy of her e-book, The Last Page and to Samantha at Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours for setting up the tour!!**</em></span></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-64504460095047958942011-08-30T07:24:00.000-07:002011-08-30T07:25:13.382-07:00Liebster Blog Award - Thanking Small Bloggers Everywhere<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #33cccc; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">I love the name alone of this award</span><span style="color: #33cccc; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="color: #33cccc; font-family: "Kristen ITC";"> I could walk around all day saying it. If you’ve never heard of it (like me until now), the Liebster Award is given to encourage, highlight and congratulate small bloggers across the web. I was so excited to be nominated by my book blogging neighbor, Fiction Fool!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ0rm_ritu9F2aA_PjG17ffLP2Od6rYEqIu8c3LOZwtrkJJ2449vV-QktWOI5WIlGlxWbYDAxQZyjY9yy5Xmiu32cIinrMZFyONszKUR5VIFhFOpxcqJIdg7xbVzaqzw5p2E2IwS0tf3Z/s1600/leibsterblogaward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ0rm_ritu9F2aA_PjG17ffLP2Od6rYEqIu8c3LOZwtrkJJ2449vV-QktWOI5WIlGlxWbYDAxQZyjY9yy5Xmiu32cIinrMZFyONszKUR5VIFhFOpxcqJIdg7xbVzaqzw5p2E2IwS0tf3Z/s320/leibsterblogaward.jpg" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #33cccc; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">I have been keeping up with my blog for a little over one year now and still loving it. I try to keep my posts central to the topic of chick lit but always looking for ways to expand on various aspects of the genre, adding fun and exciting new features on my blog as I go. If you ever have an idea or there's something you want to see on my blog, I'm very receptive to ideas and opinions so please voice yours!</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #33cccc; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Now onto the award...In order to keep this fabulous award going I've picked 5 up and coming blogs who have less than 200 followers. The 5 blogs I selected are some of my absolute favorites that I check on a regular basis. (Some of the blogs I picked don't show a Follower widget so if you in fact have MORE than 200 followers, it was not my intention to imply that you do and I hope no one is offended.) <u>There is no obligation</u> to continue this award if it’s not your thing. </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #33cccc; font-family: "Kristen ITC";"></span><b><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">So here’s the fabulous Bloggers I want to spread the love to (and the award). Take some time to check them out! You won’t regret it.</span></b></div><b><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;"></span></b><span style="color: #00ccff;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";"> </span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hQb1LoiuffPs11VGwW-ZAEevOJqc37R9vDEaagyGitdoezZ0v1UafihbHQMhBptEQUaHb4A0IY-gin-yxQ8Xg6yEdnUTgWO_obxKpwrrsNMmLW0YQZlGYgO7vyuFIsMllH4ujst43lM4/s1600/LipGLoss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hQb1LoiuffPs11VGwW-ZAEevOJqc37R9vDEaagyGitdoezZ0v1UafihbHQMhBptEQUaHb4A0IY-gin-yxQ8Xg6yEdnUTgWO_obxKpwrrsNMmLW0YQZlGYgO7vyuFIsMllH4ujst43lM4/s200/LipGLoss.jpg" width="200" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoList" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">1.<span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><a href="http://precisionreviews.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Precision Book Reviews</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 11pt;">by Literary Marie</span></b></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">2.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="http://aspiringwriterworld.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3366ff;">An Aspiring Writer’s World</span></a> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 11pt;">by Gabriella</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoList" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">3.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="http://loonachicklit.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Chick Lit Café</span></a></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 11pt;"> by Jessica </span></b></div><div class="MsoList" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">4.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="http://chicklitgoddess.com/"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Chick Lit Goddess</span></a> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 11pt;">by Isabella</span></b></div><div class="MsoList" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">5.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="http://www.chicklitbee.com/"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Chick Lit Bee</span></a> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 11pt;">by Nancy & Shannon</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC";"><br />
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<b><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">For those 5 Blogs I’ve listed above, in order to spread the love, here’s what you do:</span></b><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
<br />
1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.<br />
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2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.<br />
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3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.</span></div><div class="MsoList" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Congratulations to everyone and thanks again to Fiction Fool for the recognition!!!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC";"></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQULiSAw4UXAapblMm6CD3ionJLLajQDyhEFFzPYmRt_ikBuLIlaqX5kI3Uo9PUM5HkGudEdaC5gDm8sstWauuYp8CwzPsbL8hHsVx2xJ9F03-yM07Eo89YCitTi5XVb8-wDRMPgt5te2W/s1600/Literature.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQULiSAw4UXAapblMm6CD3ionJLLajQDyhEFFzPYmRt_ikBuLIlaqX5kI3Uo9PUM5HkGudEdaC5gDm8sstWauuYp8CwzPsbL8hHsVx2xJ9F03-yM07Eo89YCitTi5XVb8-wDRMPgt5te2W/s200/Literature.bmp" width="200" xaa="true" /></a></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-30637328583277558152011-08-17T05:40:00.000-07:002011-08-17T05:40:03.561-07:00Special Guest Post and Book Review: Just Friends with Benefits by Meredith Schorr Blog Tour <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_Vo8tu42Y2pCnojLHpx9mKI1R0OwnCWFOxWCWokM9KlS9m4vcrr0r08Bu55bHLc6aOrB0apDqU7ntkA0lw-78Yt20cLP_plzp4ESq-Zs102gCdV07M4nw5edi6eWpSoNKNUA_31PqMAH/s1600/JFWB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_Vo8tu42Y2pCnojLHpx9mKI1R0OwnCWFOxWCWokM9KlS9m4vcrr0r08Bu55bHLc6aOrB0apDqU7ntkA0lw-78Yt20cLP_plzp4ESq-Zs102gCdV07M4nw5edi6eWpSoNKNUA_31PqMAH/s320/JFWB.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="color: #00b8ff;"><i> Just Friends with Benefits </i>by Meredith Schorr is a fabulous chick lit novel that you won't want to miss this summer! The whole time I read this book, I kept visualizing it as a movie. I would be so excited if someone were to pick it up and it had a chance to become a blockbuster hit on the big screen! It's got all the right elements of fiction that keep me reading and turning each page faster and faster. In fact, one of the things I loved most about JFWB was Meredith Schorr's skill at taking a traditional theme of chick lit – finding love – and mixing in all kinds of alternative and sometimes, unusual experiences, characters and events to create a story of love, friendship, work and life. </span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<span style="color: #00b8ff;">In JFWB, readers are introduced to an easily likable main character, Stephanie Cohen, who is determined that this is the year she will find love. (This idea totally reminds me of an episode – or I guess season – of Sex and the City when Charlotte declares to all of New York City, in a somehat dreunken state, that this is the year she will be married.) Stephanie has tried all kinds of ways to meet men, from going out to bars, to dating on the internet and the more traditional “set-ups” between friends. When she decides to go a completely different route to get her man (by looking into her past), she feels that she is ready to move fast and forward. Of course, life is never that simple and the target of her dreams does not fall into place so easily. And so sets up a rollercoaster of love and emotions, friendship and the opposite sex and in the process, Stephanie learns a lot about herself, life and love. </span></div><br />
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<span style="color: #00b8ff;">Read the novel in its entirety to find out if Stephanie's blast from the past turns out to be the One for her. You won't be disapointed. I was really surprised that this was Meredith Schorr's first novel and can't wait to read more from this budding author. <b>4 Stars</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiOkdHs_RB6mYh8BxiSlnyJ8vDQWVZD1-J7qwTKP5tMORAxU5vqDGQYjh4S3oQjRKsuWOI5ZLFYqwa-M9f2U4N4lfRNhMeES94ctQrTvognZen4NLVYNOKPbRjk74vg20BtwQyEMMRGTJ/s1600/4Stars_Purple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiOkdHs_RB6mYh8BxiSlnyJ8vDQWVZD1-J7qwTKP5tMORAxU5vqDGQYjh4S3oQjRKsuWOI5ZLFYqwa-M9f2U4N4lfRNhMeES94ctQrTvognZen4NLVYNOKPbRjk74vg20BtwQyEMMRGTJ/s1600/4Stars_Purple.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #00b8ff;">***If you can't get enough of JFWB or Meredith Schorr, please read on to the Q&A I got to do with Meredith Schorr. I hope you'll find it just as fun as I did learning more about her and her novel. If you still can't get enough, please check out more of her <a href="http://chicklitplusblogtours.wordpress.com/authors-on-tour/meredith-schorr/">blog tour stops</a> across the Internet.***</span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvEnlpbkrljFfA1w2UJPoLuf4ix2j4awbzOA1H37bVBpBIAOrRcehvk8GbAu9HRdK8NzBetrwXVL_EJWHWrgT8jFwwQeWtkJvNKL3ULRC9G-FVYQr1kHsqYOBSXs-lcHpcaXpzIppoeK6/s1600/MSBio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvEnlpbkrljFfA1w2UJPoLuf4ix2j4awbzOA1H37bVBpBIAOrRcehvk8GbAu9HRdK8NzBetrwXVL_EJWHWrgT8jFwwQeWtkJvNKL3ULRC9G-FVYQr1kHsqYOBSXs-lcHpcaXpzIppoeK6/s1600/MSBio.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>Q&A: Catching Up with Chick Lit Writer of Just Friends with Benefits, Meredith Schorr</b></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff6633;"><i>Q. I often hear “write what you know” and read that your novel, “Just Friends with Benefits”, was inspired by real life. How much “real life” is in it? Where do you draw the line between fiction and reality?</i></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>MS: JFWB is definitely fictional. Nothing in the story really happened, at least in the context in which I wrote it but many of the characters are based on people I know or have known. Stephanie's friends from college were loosely based on a group of people I met when I went on vacation with a guy I was dating one summer. And Stephanie is very much like me. My friends and family will not let me dispute that statement! I think the scenarios that played out in the book are true-to-life and that was because I drew from my own experiences when writing them - I know a lot about friendship (fortunately) and also about mistakes and misconceptions many women make in dating and relationships (unfortunately). </b></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff6633;"><i>Q. You refer to your novel as “chick lit”. How would you define the genre? What does it mean to you? </i></span> </div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>MS: I define chick-lit as light reading, generally targeted to women who read for entertainment and escape. What separates it from "women's fiction", in my opinion, is that the tone and voice are more "easy-breezy" and the plot usually centers around a woman (or women) who is struggling to find her place in the world, whether it be relationships, career, friendship etc. She does not have to be in her 20s or even in her 30s in my opinion as long as she is learning something about herself and the tone is light. I do not limit the term "chick-lit" to novels about brand name shoes, fancy cocktails, cruel bosses and dating disasters. I like to refer to my novel as "realistic chick lit" in that even women who do not typically read what might have been defined as "chick lit" in the past will likely relate to and enjoy my book. And I have been told that is the case!</b></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #ff6633;">Q.<i> Just Friends with Benefits </i>doesn’t take on the stereotypical/traditional roles and scenarios of most chick lit novels. What made you decide to go this alternative and unique route?</span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>MS: Thank you for noticing :) I actually never made a conscious decision to leave out stereotypical scenarios of many chick lit novels. I simply wanted to write a story that was not only humorous, but relatable and since, as mentioned above, Stephanie is much like me, I wrote the story with my own experiences and thought processes in mind. I'm a very down-to-Earth, albeit quirky at times, chick. And much like Stephanie, I was a late bloomer - I like to think I'm still blooming! </b></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff6633;"><i>Q. Can you explain a little about how you became a writer? Did you have any specific influences (people, events or other)? </i></span> </div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>MS: I honestly had no idea I wanted to write until I was a full-fledged grown-up. In fact, my sister used to write speeches for me in high school! It wasn't until writing became an integral part of my job as a Trademark Paralegal that I realized how much I enjoyed even writing emails to clients. I was told I was a good writer and ate it up and so I dabbled in fiction. I started with a children's story but it wasn't for me and then I began to blog and was hooked. People actually enjoyed my blogs and would comment on how well I expressed myself in writing and I think it was probably their encouragement that made me pursue it further. That and the fact that I loved doing it. </b></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff6633;"><i>Q. I read that one of the first things you did in your writing career was take a class at one of the Gotham Writer’s Workshops online. How was it? Would you recommend this or any other preparatory steps to aspiring writers out there?</i></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>MS: I actually took two courses with Gotham. Both classes were "live", not online. I took the first class just to try something different. When I started the second class, I had already started writing JFWB and I learned so much even from the first critique session. I have to give a lot of credit to the teacher and students in that class for everything they taught me about plot development, conflict, and pacing. Extremely helpful! I'm not sure a class is for everyone and I honestly do not think someone can really be taught to be a good writer - an author's voice should be natural and unique to them and I'm not sure it could be taught nor do I think it should be specifically modeled after someone else's voice. But I do think all writers can learn from constructive criticism and the opinions of others. I think it is important to have someone objective read and critique our writing. </b></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff6633;"><i>Q. Do you have a specific routine or process to your writing and/or what does your writing space look like?</i></span> </div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>MS: My writing space can look like a table in Starbucks, the waiting room at a doctor's office, a seat on the train etc. - I tend to write in short increments of time, whenever I get the chance. But when it comes to editing, it's my two-person kitchen table, overlooking 2nd Avenue in NYC!</b></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff6633;"><i>Q. Are you working on any other books at the moment or have plans for more in the future?</i></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #ff6633;"><span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>MS: I completed my second novel this summer and it's currently in final revisions. I hope to begin the submission process in September. I have a few ideas floating around in my head for a third but nothing has stuck yet.</b></span> </span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff6633;"><i>Q. What are some of your other favorite books to read? Genres? Authors?</i></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>MS: I read a lot of chick lit and women's fiction - shocking! Some of my favorites include Something Borrowed, Love the One Your With, Jemima J, The Opposite of Love, 29, Save as Draft and Skipping a Beat. (I could go on...) I love Emily Giffin. LOVE. A new favorite is Adena Halpern. And Julie Buxbaum is brilliant.</b></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff6633;"><i>Q. I love your blog and how you “put yourself out there” for others to read and share in your experiences. Do you have any suggestions to other bloggers? </i></span> </div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>MS: In full disclosure, now that I'm trying to build my name as a writer, I find blogging to be tricky since I don't want to be anonymous anymore and yet am not comfortable letting it all hang out. At first I thought I had to blog about writing and publishing and not only did I struggle coming up with topics, but I did not enjoy the process very much. I decided recently to stop putting so much pressure on myself and simply write what was on my mind regardless of whether it was centered around writing. </b></span> </div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>My target audience is readers not writers and I have a feeling my personal blogs are more interesting to them anyway. I still have to reign myself in from putting anything in my blog that I wouldn't want read by total strangers, friends and family, an ex boyfriend or a current crush, but at least I enjoy the process once again. My advice to other bloggers is to blog about something that is interesting to you so that your passion shines through in your writing. It also makes sense to know your target audience and what topics would draw them in. Finally, I would advise bloggers to be comfortable about the material they are putting out there on display. Oh, and I am glad you love my blog - thank you!</b></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #ff6633;"><i>Q. What are your interests/hobbies outside of writing? </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>MS: I love to exercise, particularly running. I'm running my first half marathon in September. I'm a baseball fan - New York Yankees all the way! And I cannot live without music or television, or my friends and family. I am endlessly interested in my friends and family. </b></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #ff6633;"><i>Q. What is something that most people wouldn't necessarily know about you (that you would be willing to share here, of course!)? </i></span> </div><br />
<span style="color: #ff8080;"><b>MS: I am incredibly hard on myself. Even in my proudest moments, I often have doubts and questions. I drive my closest friends crazy, but I have gotten much better at enjoying the moment, accepting credit and kudos and talking myself off of the self-doubt ledge! Late bloomer - I told you!</b></span><br />
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<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #00b8ff;"><b>A big thanks to Meredith for participating in the Q&A and a big thanks to Samantha at <a href="http://chicklitplus.com/">Chick Lit Plus</a> and <a href="http://chicklitplusblogtours.wordpress.com/">Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours</a> for setting up the interview and book review with Meredith Schorr. </b></span></div><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lipglossandlit-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1597056057&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-69469650225618289832011-08-16T10:41:00.000-07:002011-08-16T10:41:52.153-07:00Teaser Tuesday - 40 Love by Madeleine Wickham, Read by Katherine Kellgren<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOScPilV7V9NuLUBzSaUtH8x9MeTn7oeAkpGfBYbx8QXzE6m0iGMLDbCKyalnAfSxn_hymRG-qFFjRYaqIBm_nTceQ-NtK_tjlBlhpC6RISqoE-zJ4wEYZeiWq0tv8O_YGwGgVWg4twLN/s1600/teasertuesdays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="122" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOScPilV7V9NuLUBzSaUtH8x9MeTn7oeAkpGfBYbx8QXzE6m0iGMLDbCKyalnAfSxn_hymRG-qFFjRYaqIBm_nTceQ-NtK_tjlBlhpC6RISqoE-zJ4wEYZeiWq0tv8O_YGwGgVWg4twLN/s200/teasertuesdays.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #999999; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Teaser Tuesdays</span></i></strong><span lang="EN" style="color: #333300; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #663300; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #996633; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/teaser-tuesdays-aug-16/"><span style="color: #996633;">MizB of Should Be Reading</span></a></span></b><em><span lang="EN" style="color: #333300; mso-ansi-language: EN;">.</span></em><span lang="EN" style="color: #333300; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Anyone can play along! Just do the following</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">:</span></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #3366ff; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Grab your current read</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #3366ff; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Open to a random page</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #3366ff; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span lang="EN" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!</span></strong><span lang="EN" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> (<em>make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!</em>)</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #3366ff; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Share the <strong>title & author</strong>, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.25in;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAuVYb9Md1S0lx46eb-MK7jfC5jenWzhQYQNdK-ZsczHJJwRV7X79NovyRiyg_0Qm5WVzPTbDn5UlgY11dUcjqfuTFr2BjKlb-hDOH0qnqoy04S6iqucTOXur9MAQ7n9o413L6Bfx6R5R/s1600/40Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAuVYb9Md1S0lx46eb-MK7jfC5jenWzhQYQNdK-ZsczHJJwRV7X79NovyRiyg_0Qm5WVzPTbDn5UlgY11dUcjqfuTFr2BjKlb-hDOH0qnqoy04S6iqucTOXur9MAQ7n9o413L6Bfx6R5R/s320/40Love.jpg" width="210" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #339966; font-family: Corbel; font-size: large;">“She had spent most of the day getting ready for tomorrow, but luckily the tasks she had allotted herself – arranging flowers, preparing vegetables, waxing her legs – were the sort of thing that could be done outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main dishes – vegetable terrine for lunch, seafood tartlets for dinner – had arrived from the caterers that morning and Mrs. Finch had already decanted them onto serving plates. She had raised an eyebrow –<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> couldn’t you even bring yourself to cook for eight people? –</i> but Caroline was used to Mrs. Finch’s upwardly mobile eyebrows<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and ignored them. For Christ’s sake, she thought, pouring herself another glass of wine, what was the point of having money and not spending it?” </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Corbel; font-size: large;">~ 40 Love (also known as The Tennis Party) by Madeleine Wickham, Read by Katherine Kellgren</span><span style="color: #339966; font-family: Corbel;"></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.25in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: #339966;"><span style="font-size: large;">In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">40 Love</i> Madeleine Wickham, once again, gives readers and listeners a taste of the affluent British community and does a superb job of exaggerating all their tendencies, nuances and situations to create a dark and humorous ambiance. Katherine Kellgren delivers an effective sound of the haughty, totty voiceovers that reign supreme in Madeleine Wickham’s cynical and sarcastic characters. I can’t wait to find out what madness lies ahead! </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Lucida Sans"; font-size: large;">40 Love (aka The Tennis Party) by Madeleine Wickham, Read by Katherine Kellgren*</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Lucida Sans"; font-size: large;">It was Patrick's idea that they should have the tennis party weekend. After all, he had the perfect setting - the White House. Bought out of his bonuses as an investment salesman, it was complete with stable, cocktail bar, jacuzzi, shell-shaped bedheads and, of course, the tennis court (towered over by an authentic Wimbledon-green umpire's chair).<br />
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He hadn't actually told Caroline, his brash and beautiful wife, what the real reason for the party was. And if she suspected that he had a hidden agenda, she managed to hide it in a cloud of Pimm's-induced laughter. She was glad to welcome Stephen and Annie, their impoverished former neighbours, less glad to see newly wealthy Charles and his aristocratic wife Cressida, and barely able to tolerate the deadly competitive Don and Valerie.<br />
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As the four couples gathered on the sunny terrace, it seemed obvious who was winning in life and who was losing. But by the end of the party, nothing would be certain. As the first ball is served over the net it signals the start of two days of tempers, shocks, revelations, the arrival of an uninvited guest, and the realisation that the weekend is about anything but tennis.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cmO9L1ZQhzENJce7NKGS_ZsC03XKhI4iu4Fn2bq-DFP_ThFKystURXDP0sLt-TNiziYpD7q6igOzv9Hm8W1z5pDhSsByfikhDSf3N3QA_Z4yCXiQoaQz-W5IPIbOLGWNIHXawKVPA4HV/s1600/MWSpeaks+40Love.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="115" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cmO9L1ZQhzENJce7NKGS_ZsC03XKhI4iu4Fn2bq-DFP_ThFKystURXDP0sLt-TNiziYpD7q6igOzv9Hm8W1z5pDhSsByfikhDSf3N3QA_Z4yCXiQoaQz-W5IPIbOLGWNIHXawKVPA4HV/s200/MWSpeaks+40Love.bmp" width="200" /></span></a></div><br />
<em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Lucida Sans; font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="color: #339966; font-family: "Lucida Sans";"><span style="color: #38761d;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #339966; font-family: "Lucida Sans";">40 Love will be on sale everywhere August 30, 2011.</span></em><i><span style="color: #339966;"></span></i></span></strong></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #339966; font-family: "Lucida Sans";"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Check out her </span></strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHNuPW6wfoA"><span style="color: #339966;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">YouTube video</span></strong></span></a><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> promoting the new release!</span></strong></span></em><i><span style="color: #339966;"></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"></div></span></span></em><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #339966; font-family: "Lucida Sans"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></b></em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #339966; font-family: "Lucida Sans"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></b> </span></em></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Lucida Sans"; font-size: 10pt;">*Synopsis available on Sophie Kinsella’s web site at <a href="http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/books/madeleine-wickham/the-tennis-party/"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/books/madeleine-wickham/the-tennis-party/</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Lucida Sans; font-size: x-small;"><em>A BIG THANK YOU TO Esther at MACMILLAN AUDIO for sending me a copy of 40 Love for review. All opinions of the novel are my own for review purposes ONLY.</em></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-15168014466916489982011-08-10T12:44:00.000-07:002011-08-10T12:44:23.044-07:00Waiting on Wednesday - What Came First by Carol Snow<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5e3w-nm81RItcpmSHFSEXsYxO7LH_0EpkmlpB0ilLsxhwth8Z9OTZ82ndZwfP2rSw5Lm6P9SFs-KfLnocGBZR0iCihhTZKO1FgeIvilMrMVsqvzzuEvkET9JF3xYu6X7Z8zcOY_rtLND/s1600/WOW_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5e3w-nm81RItcpmSHFSEXsYxO7LH_0EpkmlpB0ilLsxhwth8Z9OTZ82ndZwfP2rSw5Lm6P9SFs-KfLnocGBZR0iCihhTZKO1FgeIvilMrMVsqvzzuEvkET9JF3xYu6X7Z8zcOY_rtLND/s1600/WOW_Logo.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #339966; font-family: Corbel;">"Waiting On Wednesday"(WOW)</span></i></b><span style="color: #339966; font-family: Corbel;"> is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from </span><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: Corbel;"><a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #99ccff;">Breaking The Spine</span></a> </span><span style="color: #339966; font-family: Corbel;">that spotlights upcoming releases eagerly anticipated. I hope to hear from you and your own <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WOW</i></b> so that I can add some more books to my TBR shelf.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffcc00; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Carol Snow’s first two books were<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Been There Done That </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Getting Warmer.</i> After reading both books on the recommendation from a good friend, I was a bona fide Carol Snow fan, eager for more of her novels to come out. It’s with no great delay that she has published several others since, with her latest one coming out early this Fall. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What Comes Next </i>tackles yet another topic, high in the priorities of life for women, wife and mother hood. As I’m planning my wedding, this topic may be one more step ahead for me, but never too early to think about and what better place to begin to imagine things than through chick lit fiction!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #339966; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">What Came First by Carol Snow</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><strong><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">First comes love, then comes marriage, then . . . things can get a little complicated. </span></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lJMp7YFOXtcLnbPOwoEPjbCgrkf2A2XrjLj4bGacrF8NZTtZNVf-OHeyByYO7_JaX5HevKD7sKX8IwvPwlNhBlXV80z7UbpKZnbwU3G1v92M7f0rOIXeuKoxbLBbZ6rjz5u_gG1lI5Dv/s1600/WhatCameFirst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lJMp7YFOXtcLnbPOwoEPjbCgrkf2A2XrjLj4bGacrF8NZTtZNVf-OHeyByYO7_JaX5HevKD7sKX8IwvPwlNhBlXV80z7UbpKZnbwU3G1v92M7f0rOIXeuKoxbLBbZ6rjz5u_gG1lI5Dv/s320/WhatCameFirst.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Vanessa wants just one thing for her twenty-ninth birthday: an engagement ring from her longtime boyfriend, Eric. But when the ring turns out to be a mix CD and Eric turns out to be a guy who doesn't want to get married or have children, Vanessa considers a new path to having a family. </span></div><br />
<span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">When Wendy and her husband, Darren, couldn't have children the old- fashioned way, a sperm donor seemed like the perfect solution. She never imagined she'd have out-of-control twins who'd drive her to cookie binges and scrapbooking while Darren escaped into the virtual world of computer games. </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBJbtiP12zcWw5V6Z0l7cuf9ja5DQg0jlIVQ5CirdyqK_XqOEcAJmLz2G3WzzNQNAp-ygMBg0ffJLpeSoD8cHS6EvgbyNwiBJ162KQkrI4qYZyqJQ0MEotabeVwgFY_eMdyPVf8xmQDer/s1600/CarolSnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBJbtiP12zcWw5V6Z0l7cuf9ja5DQg0jlIVQ5CirdyqK_XqOEcAJmLz2G3WzzNQNAp-ygMBg0ffJLpeSoD8cHS6EvgbyNwiBJ162KQkrI4qYZyqJQ0MEotabeVwgFY_eMdyPVf8xmQDer/s200/CarolSnow.jpg" width="128" /></a><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Single and career-driven, Laura didn't need a man to have a baby - at least not one that she ever met. Thanks to an anonymous donor, she shares her life with her adored eight-year-old son, Ian. She'll do anything for Ian - even fill their backyard with a bunch of noisy chickens. But the one thing Ian really wants is something Laura's never been able to give him: a sibling. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Now, to grant Ian's wish, Laura starts a search that will not only change her life but Vanessa's and Wendy's as well... </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Synopsis Available on Goodreads</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Learn more about Carol Snow on her blog at </span><span style="color: #339966; font-family: "Kristen ITC";"><a href="http://www.carolsnow.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #339966;">http://www.carolsnow.com/</span></a></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-80054702191643729522011-08-07T05:54:00.000-07:002011-08-07T05:57:28.792-07:00Star Audio Book Review: Summer and the City (The Carrie Diaries #2) by Candace Bushnell, Read by Jenna Lamia<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRNWfYJ0llMAtBIhFaruOUYO8UiHTC8CQoI7vZGuWY3yaIL5ZkQ20_xtQz5p5FyjOq3kIrTIeuN2kKSJ9fnCMADNskjcUa3KxgH_l2WSfsEMYkO8JDXenOIaHMjni4rCj9bMXI6GwVJmz/s1600/SummerintheCity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRNWfYJ0llMAtBIhFaruOUYO8UiHTC8CQoI7vZGuWY3yaIL5ZkQ20_xtQz5p5FyjOq3kIrTIeuN2kKSJ9fnCMADNskjcUa3KxgH_l2WSfsEMYkO8JDXenOIaHMjni4rCj9bMXI6GwVJmz/s1600/SummerintheCity.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Corbel;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Hot days, warm nights, designer handbags and stiletto heels. You know what that means? Carrie Bradshaw is back in <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New York</state></place> in Candace Bushnell’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Summer and the City: The Carrie Diaries #2. </i>I loved this second novel in the series that gives SATC fans a glimpse at the life of Carrie before she was the glamazon NYC Sex columnist with a fetish for designer anything. I listened to the audio, read by Jenna Lamia, and I felt like I was watching an episode of HBO’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sex and the City.</i> I really enjoyed this book more than its predecessor, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Carrie Diaries.</i> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Corbel;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Carrie Bradshaw is out of high school, almost 18 and eager to return to the city she loves before heading off to <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Brown</placename> <placetype w:st="on">University</placetype></place> in the fall. Now that she’s not in high school, Carrie is eager to begin her reign of independence. She finds an apartment to rent with several roommates, revisits with newest friend, Samantha Jones and signs up for a writing class at a local university. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You’ll meet another one of the infamous foursome in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Summer and the City</i> when Carrie seeks the advice of a redhead working at an upscale department store. </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Corbel;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Samantha invites Carrie along to some of the hottest parties in NYC and before she knows it, Carrie’s part of some of the chicest social circles in town and while also making connections to further her career. In one night she meets new boyfriend, Bernard and a playwright enthusiast named, Bobby, who promises Carrie his loft/studio to perform her play once she finishes it. Excited to get a head start on her writing career, Carrie vows to complete her play if it’s the only thing she does this summer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, writing is NOT the only thing Carrie does all summer, emerging from her youth as a social butterfly and a few other things you’ll have to listen to or read the book to find out.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Corbel;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;">You won’t want to miss a second of this audio book. <span style="color: magenta;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Corbel;">Summer and the City</span></i><span style="font-family: Corbel;"> is full of surprises right up to the very end. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Corbel;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"> </span></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Corbel;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"> 4 STARS</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5F4WeEO6P_6wySbTp6LMRJiyYZH-MFD3UXDZ9AwgGrZcULNECrs2AtOg9ymhHHoGmx8G-3oZUD2sza9xXiVjvXF-wTH56EjXQxL4AmNltnqSqb3w-hyIzaUKCgi7HNf0A0alKgxDKgjzB/s1600/4Stars_Magenta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5F4WeEO6P_6wySbTp6LMRJiyYZH-MFD3UXDZ9AwgGrZcULNECrs2AtOg9ymhHHoGmx8G-3oZUD2sza9xXiVjvXF-wTH56EjXQxL4AmNltnqSqb3w-hyIzaUKCgi7HNf0A0alKgxDKgjzB/s1600/4Stars_Magenta.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-67488524039155682532011-08-01T07:47:00.000-07:002011-08-01T07:47:57.814-07:00Star Book Review: The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Mn-d5n8YTSzwNVT9w00Ag9c5azmurnl7C_mM_vQXUIfK4qRWEyDaqoNZE3fyIpM5GB4L4am7jSodjoPWsR5sIWHbZmnBr34Si_6jCfAY5oKpCt2MJqoVGNHsAdemK7Ur6XyCYt6A7z9W/s1600/ArtForgetting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Mn-d5n8YTSzwNVT9w00Ag9c5azmurnl7C_mM_vQXUIfK4qRWEyDaqoNZE3fyIpM5GB4L4am7jSodjoPWsR5sIWHbZmnBr34Si_6jCfAY5oKpCt2MJqoVGNHsAdemK7Ur6XyCYt6A7z9W/s320/ArtForgetting.jpg" t$="true" width="211" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff7c80; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">The Art of Forgetting</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";"> </span></i><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">was a fantastic debut and notable addition to the library of contemporary women’s fiction. Camille Noe Pagan introduces readers to bffs, Marissa and Julia, who have a love-envy relationship not unlike that of the infamous chick lit pair, Rachel and Darcy. Julia and Marissa have been through just about everything from childhood to adulthood, <state w:st="on">Michigan</state> to <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">New York</place></state>, break-ups to make-ups but one night changes everything.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">When Julia is victim of a tragic car accident, her brain sustains devastating injuries, affecting every facet of her life. No longer able to remember the past or basic self-care skills, Julia’s parents move her back home to <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Michigan</place></state>, and she and Marissa are separated for the first time in their friendship. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Adapting to life in <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">New York</place></state> without Julia is no easy feat for Marissa but life must go on. Boyfriend Dave is ready to take the next step with her but when ex-boyfriend, Nathan reappears, will old habits and forgotten relationships be rekindled? Marissa’s career at Svelte Magazine leads her down a new path and coworker, Naomi introduces her to a new extracurricular, helping and inspiring young girls to run a 5K. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">With so many changes in her life and within her relationships, Marissa is growing up at a faster pace than she’s used to. Will she adapt to all the changes or will she want to run back to her roots and Julia in <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Michigan</place></state>? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">I’ve added The Art of Forgetting to my list of </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff7c80; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">MUST READS for 2011</span></b><span style="color: #ff7c80; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">.</span><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";"> I absolutely love how the author took some of the integral components of chick lit and combined it with fresh facts and serious drama to create a tale that’s never been told. You won’t want to forget this one! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">5 STARS</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25U1DD9GNuRgzSnqZedHTOwvlMLTLjlKPpD-I0IiZtuOBuq44RVqkuW8-Kig8ZvGENX4e4Aq5pcYbGhAADhhIVkxnvls810drPON4ry7meAJvpo9lknZZh__cltI9g7MMz1Lixfns4BOm/s1600/5Stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25U1DD9GNuRgzSnqZedHTOwvlMLTLjlKPpD-I0IiZtuOBuq44RVqkuW8-Kig8ZvGENX4e4Aq5pcYbGhAADhhIVkxnvls810drPON4ry7meAJvpo9lknZZh__cltI9g7MMz1Lixfns4BOm/s1600/5Stars.png" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">To read an excerpt from </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff7c80; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">The Art of Forgetting</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff7c80; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">,</span></b><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";"> check out her web site at: </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff7c80; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">http://www.camillenoepagan.com/taof.html</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Want to get some tips on writing while learning about Camille’s everyday life?? Visit her blog at<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff7c80; font-family: "Kristen ITC";"><a href="http://thewahmdiaries.com/"><span style="color: #ff7c80;">http://thewahmdiaries.com/</span></a></span></b><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">***I received a copy of The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan via </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff7c80; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";"><a href="http://www.netgalley.com/"><span style="color: #ff7c80;">NetGalley </span></a></span></b><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">solely for review purposes. All thoughts and ideas about the book are my own opinion.***</span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-47960848839493350342011-07-29T06:37:00.000-07:002011-07-29T06:38:08.002-07:00Star Book Review: Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lipglossandlit-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1402241143&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: large;">The sequel to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City</i> was full of all the gossip, drama and “scandal” that I anticipated after reading its predecessor, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Holly’s Inbox. </i>While this book can be read on its own, it’s definitely more fun having already read the previous one. All the same characters (and a few new ones) return with more secrets, conflicts, and just life stuff to be hashed out over email. </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: large;">Holly and Toby are still together and working together at DK Huerst; although with Toby’s frequent business trips to <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">France</place></country-region>, Holly’s feeling even lonelier than before she and Toby got together. But as always, she’s got all her besties by her side, including funny guy, Jason, diva, Aisha, and coworker, Trisha. </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: large;">You won’t believe the surprises in store in this fun British chick lit novel. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone’s got a big secret and Holly and Toby each have something major to tell one another but will they be able to communicate with one another with the distance that has grown between them? You won’t want to put this one down! Despite the book’s intimidating physical size, the email format makes for quick and easy reading all the way through. Holly Denham is a fabulous writer and two-book series comes highly recommended from Lip Gloss and Literature. 4/5 </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yeDd2lK1zXag4JWbF09F5fKlIXIOlJsZt3Mf__bnxSQnVpd-jNsLQGUagjnoLq_FOC9tP1V601c_dm-DhmROX9UrGAOhdr7eXUX1jbb-tOIEC1r4Fxey81jLuPd9iIw1uwshfDAPYJqc/s1600/OnlineDate2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yeDd2lK1zXag4JWbF09F5fKlIXIOlJsZt3Mf__bnxSQnVpd-jNsLQGUagjnoLq_FOC9tP1V601c_dm-DhmROX9UrGAOhdr7eXUX1jbb-tOIEC1r4Fxey81jLuPd9iIw1uwshfDAPYJqc/s1600/OnlineDate2.bmp" t$="true" /></span></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: large;">For more fun (and a sneak peek at the original <em>Holly’s Inbox</em>) Log onto, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://hollysinbox.com/"><span style="color: purple;">http://hollysinbox.com/</span></a></b> where you can get a taste of all the juicy details to come. </span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-10191560550356369692011-07-27T12:58:00.000-07:002011-07-27T15:36:26.950-07:00Special Author Interview & Book Review with Lynda Renham, Author of Wedding Cake to Turin<div class="Section1"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWI3atEC9d-4P8KyjAU8tYqzUuV1uxCJtTuua7c09t2fcROTGhODyCpJWlcdy8yAooZgLeWxx2rD7X9oGEYQdiEGxTGd5IrQHfw6OQZFa7FbUeOverfm_eyMYV_gLsFD3RjICOygrKr1si/s1600/lyndarenham" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWI3atEC9d-4P8KyjAU8tYqzUuV1uxCJtTuua7c09t2fcROTGhODyCpJWlcdy8yAooZgLeWxx2rD7X9oGEYQdiEGxTGd5IrQHfw6OQZFa7FbUeOverfm_eyMYV_gLsFD3RjICOygrKr1si/s200/lyndarenham" t$="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Q. I often hear “write what you know. Was there any truth to your novel, </span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Wedding Cake to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Turin</place></city>?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966;">LR: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wedding Cake to <city w:st="on">Turin</city> </i>was born after a visit to <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Turin</city></place>. We actually went to a wedding and did, in fact, escort a wedding cake. The story can be read on my humorous blog at <a href="http://lrcook.wordpress.com/2009/10/17/wedding-cake-to-turin/"><span style="color: #339966;">http://lrcook.wordpress.com/2009/10/17/wedding-cake-to-turin/</span></a>The idea for the novel was conceived after this trip, although my trip was obviously less traumatic than Charley’s.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Q. You refer to your novel as “humorous chick- lit suited for women between the ages of twenty-five and fifty-five”. How would you define the genre? What does it mean to you? </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966;">LR: I think my novel could be described as a “Romantic Comedy” and very much written tongue in cheek. The Chick-lit genre has a wide definition and I wouldn’t attempt to define it. I love an easy read and that is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wedding Cake to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Turin</place></city>.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Q. I read that you have been working on the craft of writing since you were 10 years old. How did you become a writer? Did you have any specific influences (people, events or other)? </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966;">LR: Yes, I have been writing from a young age. I remember being highly influenced as a young teenager by the likes of Sylvia Plath and Iris Murdoch. My novel ‘The Diary of Rector Byrnes’ which I published under the name of Mary Renham was very much influenced by Iris Murdoch. I stopped writing during a difficult period in my life and it was only after my second marriage and my husband’s persistent support that I began again. I started writing for “The Scavenger” online magazine for which I became an associate editor. I have since written many articles and several novels. It is hard to recall how I became a writer. It just feels like I have always been one.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Q. Do you have a specific routine or process to your writing and/or what does your writing space look like?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966;">LR: I love writing in our summer house and find it very odd to write anywhere else. Usually the door is open and the cat is lazing around outside. I play lots of music, usually through my headphones. Every novel I have written has had a music connection. I type them straight onto my Netbook and Andrew (my husband) listens to the work I have done later that same evening and we discuss any changes that could be made. I usually work in the afternoons. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Q.I read that you are working on another novel to come out later this year, called Croissants and Jam”. Can you tell us a little about it?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966;">LR: Yes, I am very excited about this novel. ‘Croissants and Jam’ is also a romantic comedy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966;">In the novel, the reader goes on a journey with the heroine (Bels), who is off to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Rome</place></city> to be married. However, she has doubts that Simon is the right man for her. A mishap on the plane means her flight gets diverted. A chance encounter with another passenger leads to nothing but trouble and Bels find herself struggling to get to her wedding rehearsal on time. He life is thrown into turmoil when she finds herself deeply attracted to the Good Samaritan who has offered to drive her to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Rome</place></city>. Hilarious situations arise as she tries to get to her fiancée. Does the marriage go ahead or is her heart stolen by her travelling companion? Read the book to find out. A delicious fun, cheeky read with lots of tasty food references.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Q. What are some of your other </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">favorite</span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"> books to read? Genres? Authors?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966;">LR: I like chick-lit and adore Louise Bagshaw’s books. I also enjoy the classics and Jane Austen and the Bronte’s are particular favourites. Having lived in the Middle East for some time, I very much enjoy novels that are based there and one of my favourites is ‘Mornings in Jenin’ by Susan Abulhawa. A new author I am enjoying is Roni Cooper.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Q. I notice you have several web sites where you post information and various articles as well as several book sites where readers can buy Wedding Cake to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Turin</place></city>. What can you tell aspiring authors, bloggers and readers about self-publishing? Do you have any suggestions for anyone seeking to take this route?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966;">LR: As you may already know, many writers have taken the self-publishing route, of course, John Grisham, being the most well-known. The only advice I can really give on taking this route is proof read, proof read and proof read even more. It is not an easy road and a great deal of enthusiasm is needed and of course, much self-publicizing. The important thing is to never give up and to be ruthless with your work. If it is boring, delete it. If you’re rambling, delete it but always be ruthless.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Q. What are your interests/hobbies outside of writing? </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966;">LR: I love photography, eating copious amounts of yogurt, playing with my cat and needlecraft. Once a week I crash out with Andrew on the couch for a DVD fest, which is my all-time favourite thing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Q. What is something that most people wouldn't necessarily know about you (that you would be willing to share here, of course!)? </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966;">LR: I have twenty three loyalty cards from our local supermarket. Why? The loyalty card assistant is a Jude Law look alike. I cannot resist him. If he tells me something has double loyalty points, I want it. I once came home with several tins of dog food (triple points) and I don’t even own a dog! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 13pt;">Like the interview? Want to learn more about Lynda Renham and her writing? Check out her blog at <em><a href="http://www.renham.co.uk/"><span style="color: red;">www.renham.co.uk</span></a></em></span><cite><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> and keep reading to check out my review of her novel, Wedding Cake to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Turin</place></city>…</span></cite><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 13pt;"></span></div></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Wedding Cake to <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Turin</city></place> by Lynda-Renham Cook</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCrO8q-wwVAKgal-OPwk5zL7hPeDm3dazA4dBkcPWGPQERkmyO-l9nCLWl5Vs_uMuqLAYeXLAew7ia4r3LEzvBobti7EOfyxt9KFd0mjYujelDU1N8pk3dTcYhrYQK1K4rlwHfROO7LKp/s1600/weddingcaketurin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCrO8q-wwVAKgal-OPwk5zL7hPeDm3dazA4dBkcPWGPQERkmyO-l9nCLWl5Vs_uMuqLAYeXLAew7ia4r3LEzvBobti7EOfyxt9KFd0mjYujelDU1N8pk3dTcYhrYQK1K4rlwHfROO7LKp/s320/weddingcaketurin.jpg" t$="true" width="248" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Self-published author Lynda Renham Cook has written an action-packed, chick lit adventure story full of stilettos and designer dresses, guns, cops, movie stars and beautiful people. And the excitement certainly does not stop there. From plane rides, to mafia men, weddings, affairs, <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Italy</place></country-region> and Facebook, <i>Wedding Cake to Turin</i> is up with the latest trends and doesn’t leave anything uncovered.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Leading lady, Charley, works at the trendy company Our Celebs, where she is personal assistant (and girlfriend) to boss, Nigel. When Charley suspects Nigel of cheating on her with her best friend, Sam, it puts a real damper on Charley’s Christmas. As if things couldn’t get worse, Nigel announces at the company Christmas Party that Charley is to fly to <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Turin</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Italy</country-region></place> on Christmas Day to deliver a Wedding Cake to one of the hottest actors in the world at the moment, Marc, and his fiancé.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Charley meets the most gorgeous man on her plane ride by the name of Michael who showers her with attention and gifts after mere hours of knowing her. Michael has a knack for showing up at the worst and best possible moments all at once. Is he too good to be true? Another new friend, Felicity, is sent alongside Charley as her assistant to make sure the cake gets delivered to Marc on time and in one piece; but when Felicity and Marc meet, sparks fly between them and his wedding…well…you’ll have to read to find out!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9835763-wedding-cake-to-turin"><span style="color: #339966;">Wedding Cake to Turin</span></a></span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #339966; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";"> brings on a whirlwind of events from page one! You’ll feel like you’re right alongside Charley during every agonizing and exciting minute of her saga. Author Linda Renham applies some of the more traditional elements of chick lit to her novel but then she mixes it up with many of her own scenarios, characters and creations. A very entertaining and fast-paced read with a gorgeous cover.</span><br />
<span style="color: #339966; font-family: Lucida Calligraphy;"><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lipglossandlit-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1446663620&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #339966; font-family: Lucida Calligraphy;">Get your own copy of Wedding Cake to Turin on Amazon in paperback or find it in their Kindle e-bookstore.</span><br />
</div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-53257769128696551562011-07-23T05:39:00.000-07:002011-07-23T05:39:11.644-07:00Guest Post: Research by Deborah Coonts, Author of Wanna Get Lucky?<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7j5VzgvTNjS1aODeoJYMRhCDkx0dsx8x3C50fZJwSkSFdgLsgy08Cw6moUuFbSZWM9sCAT2Av05NnmU76bHPQ8cqUW-V1HOiu_-hQF4wv7xPJOZJP1DdXa-bZcJ9eszBkH4jiapNUocUy/s1600/WelcomeVegas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7j5VzgvTNjS1aODeoJYMRhCDkx0dsx8x3C50fZJwSkSFdgLsgy08Cw6moUuFbSZWM9sCAT2Av05NnmU76bHPQ8cqUW-V1HOiu_-hQF4wv7xPJOZJP1DdXa-bZcJ9eszBkH4jiapNUocUy/s200/WelcomeVegas.jpg" t$="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">I bet I am the only taxpayer who used a night at a male strip club as a business deduction. Well, okay, me and several politicians, but mine was legit. This writer gig has its upside, I can tell you that. Who knew research could be this much fun? I wish I could tell you that I based my novels in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Las Vegas</place></city> because I wanted Uncle Sam to cover some of the cost of great nights out, but I wasn't that smart. And to be honest, while digging around <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Sin</placename> <placetype w:st="on">City</placetype></place> can be wildly amusing, it does have its downside:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">As with most of life's lessons, this one was learned the hard way. And here is what I've learned: USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">Right out of the gate, for novel number one, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #339966; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8507743-wanna-get-lucky"><span style="color: #339966;">WANNA GET LUCKY?</span></a></span></b><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;"> I needed to experience a sex toy trade show. As with most things, I didn't really think it through. I mean, people go to these all the time, don't they? It was a trade show, for chrissake! With vendors and everything. So, picturing the Home and Garden Show I attended at some point in the past (I know! What was I thinking? Apparently I must have been channeling Donna Reed -- that's the only excuse I can come up with.) I launched off, blissfully clueless.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">My head started to swim after the fourth or fifth row of battery-operated boyfriend exhibits. I'm from the South, please, we don't even discuss sex, much less have it thrust in our faces -- I thought I was made of sterner stuff, but apparently not. So, even though as a <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Texas</place></state> girl I can ride bareback, shoot dinner on the wing, gut a deer, converse fluently in china patterns and silver place settings, identify this season's Prada from last's, and break the nose of any guy who calls me "Honey," I found myself totally out of my element. When Oprah admonishes us to challenge ourselves everyday, I don't think this is what she means. I started to hyperventilate. I needed help, and a change of plan.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">After two glasses of liquid fortification at the bar, I headed into the movie theatre. Big mistake. You see, when I'm nervous, I laugh uncontrollably -- doubled-over, tears-rolling-down-my-face, gulping-lungfuls-of-air kind of laughing. And I really hadn't recovered my composure.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdRRDhPz_SAP09Ga1zAhpWvZQkNl8OYjgH9hPV1sLRUM7DaV1EO-eqc43pQvhpkI0qYsRo1MqSXzZM2txuz0c5LbxibGVCNWwQ17tZNscuJ-G8ORnWLaB7BJr6eoifLrEofO9ifceCz4a/s1600/VegasStrip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdRRDhPz_SAP09Ga1zAhpWvZQkNl8OYjgH9hPV1sLRUM7DaV1EO-eqc43pQvhpkI0qYsRo1MqSXzZM2txuz0c5LbxibGVCNWwQ17tZNscuJ-G8ORnWLaB7BJr6eoifLrEofO9ifceCz4a/s200/VegasStrip.jpg" t$="true" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">I discovered two things that day: porn stars take themselves very seriously, and I can outrun over-siliconed twenty-somethings . . . if they are wearing six-inch heels. As a woman of a certain age, I already knew I could outrun any guy preoccupied with his wanker, so that was no biggie.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">Now, when I go off on a research expedition, I gather the posse. There is safety in numbers. At least that's what my mother used to say, but I don't think she ever envisioned the places I have to see, the sacrifices I'm called upon to make for my art. Once the girls gather, we fortify ourselves with liquid courage, check to make sure the EMTs are on speed-dial and we have the names of several reputable bail bondsmen (assuming that isn't an oxymoron), then we're off.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">Our first foray into the dangerous world of research as a group was a night out at one of the few, if not the only, remaining true male strip clubs. The club occupied the second floor of a ramshackle old building in a part of town that had lost even then the faintest memory of respectability. Emaciated, disinterested young women writhed around poles on the lower floor. Like ants following a trail of pheromones, a single file of women snaked through the bar to the back staircase. We fell in as I meticulously tucked my receipt into my wallet -- business expense, you know. At the top of the stairs we were assaulted by a coven of naked young men wearing only a tiny sack over their privates. One brazen, doe-eyed, long-haired kid, started running his hands over me. "Don't." I snapped. I was in no mood to play -- as I said, this was business . . . and he was . . . not appealing. He reared back as if I'd hit him with a Tazer. "I can't touch you?" he asked, clearly incredulous. I narrowed my eyes at him and he slunk off. Smart boy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcqkPW-rsIqwTNQKX3Rt3xh-c49Hh5_jVambvLetqDS5T06f-1kbwkcNfnyKtXMJNQonHaRb37uW6m2UKBdpFEm2iCDFkYkfYVv_30GnKe7gApaq9ul_xW0b9Zbc3rPRHauhpmobzkqCu/s1600/LasVEgasLights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcqkPW-rsIqwTNQKX3Rt3xh-c49Hh5_jVambvLetqDS5T06f-1kbwkcNfnyKtXMJNQonHaRb37uW6m2UKBdpFEm2iCDFkYkfYVv_30GnKe7gApaq9ul_xW0b9Zbc3rPRHauhpmobzkqCu/s200/LasVEgasLights.jpg" t$="true" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">One of my friends, who had decided to "dress slutty" in honor of our outing, attracted the most attention, as I skooched into a booth enjoying the show. And what a show it was. The music started. A guy dressed as a Marine strutted out and started doing his thing. As I watched, all I could think of was "What ever happened to the Village People?" I was clearly having trouble going with the flow.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">Women beat their open palms on the stage, stuffed the Marine's tiny sack with dollar bills, while one Adonis straddled my "slutty" friend and began grinding into her chest. She looked around his perfect set of cheeks that were aimed in my direction, and raised her glass while gracing me with a huge grin. I flagged the waiter down and ordered a double.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">That's about all I think I can tell you. I know truth is an absolute defense to libel, but discretion is the glue that binds female friendships. However, to this day, I wake up in a cold sweat that somewhere there is a grainy photo, hastily taken with a camera phone . . . </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">But, if it’s all the same to you, I'd rather take in a male strip show.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">© 2011 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff9900;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3314464.Deborah_Coonts"><span style="color: #ff9900;">Deborah Coonts</span></a></span></b><span style="color: #ff9900;">, </span>author of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9744503-lucky-stiff"><span style="color: purple;">Lucky Stiff</span></a></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: #339966 1pt solid; mso-border-top-alt: solid #339966 .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 1pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #339966 .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 0in 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #339966 .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 0in 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">WANNA GET LUCKY? By Deborah Coonts</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #339966 .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 0in 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTO5n4TTPErAJLDOMRE228H1tVeWdNWeqI9vDK73jU6e4o6rTHmt8-3_0dkDWmwj3Lia-m6pJsx18-t-iZ4oDLbLrn5vDQBB4LRlOhUaHLMuc6Bwu8iFzB6Z-w7FI643dP8_G0YZ45VQKh/s1600/WannaGetLucky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTO5n4TTPErAJLDOMRE228H1tVeWdNWeqI9vDK73jU6e4o6rTHmt8-3_0dkDWmwj3Lia-m6pJsx18-t-iZ4oDLbLrn5vDQBB4LRlOhUaHLMuc6Bwu8iFzB6Z-w7FI643dP8_G0YZ45VQKh/s1600/WannaGetLucky.jpg" t$="true" /></a><span style="color: #339966; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">A young woman plunges from a Las Vegas sightseeing helicopter, landing in the Pirate’s lagoon in front of the Treasure Island Hotel in the middle of the 8:30 Pirate Show. Almost everyone writes her off as another Vegas victim. </span></div><br />
<span style="color: #339966; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">But Lucky O’Toole smells a rat. She’s head of Customer Relations at The Babylon, the newest, most opulent mega-casino and resort on the Strip, so she’s got a lot on her plate: the Adult Film industry’s annual awards banquet, a spouse-swapping convention, sex toy purveyors preying on the pocket-protector crowd attending ElectroniCon…. Still, Lucky can’t resist turning over a few stones. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #339966; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">When a former flame is one of the snakes she uncovers, Lucky’s certain she’s no longer dealing with an anonymous <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Sin</placename> <placetype w:st="on">City</placetype></place> suicide. To top it all off, Lucky’s best friend Teddie—<city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Las Vegas</place></city>’ finest female impersonator—presses to take their relationship to the next level. Leave it to Lucky to attract a man who looks better in a dress than she does. </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: #339966 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #339966 .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #339966 .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #339966; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">Lucky must manage the <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Babylon</city></place>’s onslaught of outrageous festivities, solve a murder, and struggle to keep her life and libido from spinning out of control… not to mention keep her balance in six inch heels</span><span style="color: #339966;">.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #339966 .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff9900; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">Author Bio</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4O6mZCK475KyNzQQKLh1ij_JEE5Rj7UMB0-njeA4CsvcDIshMDPnJTrtUHkH3My_towBDrNF6ozd1yK3ENCH_ZPv1i0x5_0pkvkWwECmINj11a4a9ih6Y29bvLocQacDmsMu5R8qYOP1/s1600/deborah+coonts.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4O6mZCK475KyNzQQKLh1ij_JEE5Rj7UMB0-njeA4CsvcDIshMDPnJTrtUHkH3My_towBDrNF6ozd1yK3ENCH_ZPv1i0x5_0pkvkWwECmINj11a4a9ih6Y29bvLocQacDmsMu5R8qYOP1/s1600/deborah+coonts.bmp" t$="true" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff9900; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">Deborah Coonts, author of Lucky Stiff, says her mother tells her she was born in Texas a very long time ago, though she's not totally sure -- her mother can't be trusted. But she was definitely raised in <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Texas</place></state> on barbeque, Mexican food and beer. She currently resides in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Las Vegas</place></city>, where family and friends tell her she can't get into too much trouble. Silly people. Coonts has built her own business, practiced law, flown airplanes, written a humor column for a national magazine, and survived a teenager. She is the author of the Lucky O'Toole <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Las Vegas</place></city> adventure series.</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff9900; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">Her first book, Wanna Get Lucky?, was released in 2010.</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff9900; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">For more information please visit http://www.deborahcoonts.com/, and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff9900; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 13pt;">Much thanks and appreciation to <a href="http://www.fsbmedia.com/"><strong><span style="color: orange;">FSB Media</span></strong></a> for providing copies of both Wanna Get Lucky? and Lucky Stiff and this original article, all by author Deborah Coonts.</span></i></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-54544499156065926662011-07-22T06:27:00.000-07:002011-07-22T06:31:13.017-07:00Putting on My Lip Gloss #6 - Writing the Great American Chick Lit Novel<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lipglossandlit-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1594741158&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Two of my favorite questions to ask an author when I get a chance is 1)</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"> Do you have a specific routine or process to your writing and/or what does your writing space look like? </span></i><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">and 2) </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">What advice do you have for wannabe writers out there?</span></i><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"> </span><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">Everyone’s writing process is different and I just love to get an idea for how each author gets their inspiration for their books and more so, once they have their idea for the “Great American Novel”, what comes next? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The answers I’ve received and seen on other web sites’ interviews have been so varied. I’ve heard everything from “write what you know” to “my ideas for my book came to me in a vision in a dream one night”. Personally, I like to draw inspiration from other novels. One, it gives me an idea for what has b4en done and what hasn’t. Two, it gives me an idea for what sells and garners interest from the general arena of readers. Three, it allows me to justify long hours of “research” (a.k.a. reading).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another tactic I use is to outline. I like to write a general outline for my work in progress (WIP) before I put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). As I’m writing, I fill in the outline with more details so that I don’t forget what has already been included in the novel so far and what’s left to be added at a later point. In a similar way, I create character sketches. I love to create consistent characters by using a specific theme, background or pattern of <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lipglossandlit-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0312359004&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>personality. For example, in my current WIP I have been using the Zodiac Calendar and its definitions to illustrate my main character and her two besties. Olivia (the main character) is a Leo, born in late July. Her zest for love has her constantly trying new things. She can’t live without her friends and she loves an audience. Emily, her bff from college, is driven just like the Ram, Aries. She is super independent, confident and a natural leader. Ruby, on the other hand, while she, too, is very driven by her passions, is a little more right brained than Emily, often inclined to more of the arts. She is a lover and a very loyal friend, a true Scorpio through and through. This is just one example for how you can use various resources to influence your story and its characters. You could investigate their deep-rooted fears, citing their Freudian tendencies. You could look at personality types, A, B and C. You could base your characters on their family roles (i.e. the scapegoat, the leader, the hero or the mascot. What I love about writing and fiction is that your options and resources are essentially limitless. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8baY5lxJlgPy3rr6aQrL8Bc-wM1YRHo4CbGSs4JeKfSXJprlV2B5jA6SyM57ybi82JnJwYr25P0WiboiKkrvUxS0XSt6b-zKVsndmQ60wMbQZpKVT48BDhsdHSnFC9p0beWmGlAKdLK5/s1600/chick+lit+postits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8baY5lxJlgPy3rr6aQrL8Bc-wM1YRHo4CbGSs4JeKfSXJprlV2B5jA6SyM57ybi82JnJwYr25P0WiboiKkrvUxS0XSt6b-zKVsndmQ60wMbQZpKVT48BDhsdHSnFC9p0beWmGlAKdLK5/s1600/chick+lit+postits.jpg" t$="true" /></a><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally, another thing to consider as a writer is how to get those ideas and outlines on paper? Do you write them? Draw pictures in crayon? Do you type up a complete outline with bibliography? While the ideas and avenues for portraying your story are limitless, everyone has their favorites, including me. I found some of the cutest, trendiest, personalized supplies – cheap,</span><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"> <span style="color: grey;">cheap, cheap!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know, for me, when it comes to keeping track of my writing, I am obsessed with office supplies. From little and big notebooks, to</span> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff66cc;"><a href="http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Item/Bic+Clic+Stic+Ice+Grip+Pen/33381/Default.aspx"><span style="color: #ff66cc;">Pink Clic Grip Pens by Bic</span></a></span></b> <span style="color: grey;">to sturdy and trendy </span><a href="http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Item/Showcase+Tote-Embroidered/36391/Default.aspx"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Tote Bags in Black</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff66cc;"> and Pink</span></b></a> <span style="color: grey;">a la Amanda Brown’s Legally Blonde to carry all my supplies, I am a writing accessory junkie</span>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #339966;"><a href="http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/marketing-promotions/1970-1.html"><span style="color: #339966;">Amsterdam Printing</span></a></span></b> <span style="color: grey;">has</span> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #6666ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Category/Plastic+Pens/15/Default.aspx"><span style="color: #6666ff;">cheap promotional pens</span></a></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">from 33 cents to just over a dollar, in everything from The Executive Widebody, to pastel colored Eco Spririt Pens and for the kids, toy-designed pens called Attitude is Everything. It doesn’t just stop at Pens, either. From t-shirts to coffee mugs, laptop bags and water bottles, Amsterdam Printing has it all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">I imagine if Carrie Bradshaw were still televised, we would see her carrying her laptop in a chic </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #cc9900; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><a href="http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Item/Ladies+Quilted+Tote+Bag/42446/Default.aspx"><span style="color: #cc9900;">Quilted Tote Bag</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">, <span style="color: grey;">fit for a queen in a regal Gold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHm3fyeEhBKziadmcdukQjS0Ecz-c3HmOKK2MbRHqcHCZiZKwutKTXyZOzHhkQllFt6xo5zgThUiSES54o0DwK3B934cZMi6daq_J7ySTJFDdilGzLJ2bBaKvyYdqXCQyaIAYc5gcOGG5/s1600/carrieearrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHm3fyeEhBKziadmcdukQjS0Ecz-c3HmOKK2MbRHqcHCZiZKwutKTXyZOzHhkQllFt6xo5zgThUiSES54o0DwK3B934cZMi6daq_J7ySTJFDdilGzLJ2bBaKvyYdqXCQyaIAYc5gcOGG5/s1600/carrieearrings.jpg" t$="true" /></a><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><span style="color: grey;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember her “Carrie” earrings that she used to always wear on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sex and the City </i>(and later it was a “Carrie” necklace?) Well, on</span> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #339966;"><a href="http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/marketing-promotions/1970-1.html"><span style="color: #339966;">Amsterdam Printing</span></a> </span></b><span style="color: grey;">you can get anything and everything emblazoned with your name, intials, company logo or whatever else you would like to see printed on your pens, t-shirts, laptop bags, etc. I can just see myself drinking my cocoa java (Hot chocolate + coffee) out of a Lip Gloss and Literature mug, while writing my character sketches with my Cathy pens in my notebook emblazoned with my initials, CGH, in Aqua and Pink. </span></span><span style="color: grey; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZdiX7EnGABQq9s5wQxOVk_GfmiF6uu40wDS3b-JWZQxRhP37J3IUZdKUdcndQa7YsuQ7CQw90CBtLmWorEBzkOQNSWmNNMYLdcnyWTFRulnC0d6qRVg_drZcXYYgU0HQv0MPvMiq0Z5m/s1600/HotPinkPump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZdiX7EnGABQq9s5wQxOVk_GfmiF6uu40wDS3b-JWZQxRhP37J3IUZdKUdcndQa7YsuQ7CQw90CBtLmWorEBzkOQNSWmNNMYLdcnyWTFRulnC0d6qRVg_drZcXYYgU0HQv0MPvMiq0Z5m/s200/HotPinkPump.jpg" style="cursor: move;" t$="true" unselectable="on" width="200" /></a><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you write your story? Where do you come up with your ideas? And what will you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">use</i> to write that story?</span><br />
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<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #444444;">Putting on My Lip Gloss is a 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.</span></i></strong></div></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-75393619489415312062011-07-21T15:00:00.000-07:002011-07-21T15:07:16.328-07:00Booking Through Thursday: Reading Repeats with Some My Favorite Chick Lit Authors<h2 align="center" style="margin: auto 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #99cc00; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Wanna Join Booking Through Thursday??</span></span></span></h2><h2 align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8bEnefPkEoNKMLs0foENTDAG_DRc98om1KlM99h37E_mdlS37AK_g5TIoHLJ3p0ske-nHiOsZtbyxsWOc5CHbpMtECTkZP13zKOIeQRF-sdeNCrTmXaSEynRetWEomRTgt1PyWbUda1L/s1600/BTT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><img border="0" height="67" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8bEnefPkEoNKMLs0foENTDAG_DRc98om1KlM99h37E_mdlS37AK_g5TIoHLJ3p0ske-nHiOsZtbyxsWOc5CHbpMtECTkZP13zKOIeQRF-sdeNCrTmXaSEynRetWEomRTgt1PyWbUda1L/s200/BTT.jpg" t$="true" width="200" /></span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: #99cc00; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Posted from http://btt2.wordpress.com/</span></span></span></h2><span lang="EN" style="color: #99cc00; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Copy the questions, paste them into your blog and answer them.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #99cc00; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. When you're done, come back here and post a quick comment or trackback letting everyone know so we can read your responses. Be sure to leave a link to your actual post! (Just type in the web-address--Wordpress will automatically turn it into a link for you.)</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #99cc00; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. If you don't have a blog yet, then just post your answers in the</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #99cc00; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Comments area for the set of questions you are responding to.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #99cc00; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Lastly, no, you do NOT have to answer on Thursdays. Please feel free to answer any time you want, we're just glad to have you.</span></span><br />
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><u><span style="color: #a64d79;">This Thursday’s Question:</span></u></span></b></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">What’s the first book that you ever read more than once? (I’m assuming there’s at least one.)</span></span></b></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">What book have you read the most times? And–how many?</span></span></b></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">The very first book I read more than once was<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22695.Summer_Sisters"><span style="color: green;">Summer Sisters</span></a></i></b> by Judy Blume. (This was also the very first book I ever cried while reading it</span><span style="color: green; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="color: green; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">) I absolutely adored this book. It reminded me of the movie <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beaches</i>, chronicling the close friendship of two women, who reconvened each summer for fun, family and fiesta. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Summer Sisters by Judy Blume</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span id="freeText9167197215793951382"><span style="color: #134f5c;">In the <span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lipglossandlit-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0385337663&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>summer of 1977, Victoria Leonard's world changed forever - when Caitlin Somers chose her as a friend. Dazzling, reckless Caitlin welcomed Vix into the heart of her sprawling, eccentric family, opening doors to a world of unimaginable priviledge, sweeping her away to vacations on Martha's Vineyard, a magical, wind-blown island where two friends became summer sisters... <br />
Now, years later, Vix is working in New York City. Caitlin is getting married on the Vineyard. And the early magic of their long, complicated friendship has faded. But Caitlin has begged Vix to come to her wedding, to be her maid of honor. And Vix knows that she will go - for the friend whose casual betrayals she remembers all too well. Because Vix wants to understand what happened during that last shattering summer. And, after all these years, she needs to know why her best friend - her summer sister - still has the power to break her heart....</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">There have been other books that I have read twice not always purposefully but by the time I remembered I read them, I kept on reading through because I couldn’t recall the ending and they were highly enjoyable. One example of such books was one I borrowed from the library, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/82748.Sushi_for_Beginners"><span style="color: green;">Sushi for Beginners</span></a></i></b> by Marian Keyes, last year. The characters all sounded familiar with their unique names, like Ashling Kennedy, Lisa Edwards and especially, Marcus Valentine. Sure enough, about half way through I realized that I had read it a few years prior, but I couldn’t remember the ending so I kept reading on. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgswi_XsX2baPmQ_sLLpWByXH_G-SEIwHy3-8ax4U9-j_Vaigtil25d319rSY5e0UgBrDjpMMHElpSdBJRWWpCBS_0uW1LM7YkMoC_FzrVfqqFIGur5tiryrvUdDuhx-nQWK49hrb5Vw4/s1600/SushiBeginners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="color: green; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">Sushi for Beginners by Marian Keyes <br />
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</div>Prada-wearing magazine editor Lisa Edwards thinks her life is over when her "fabulous" new job turns out to be a deportation to Dublin, launching Colleen magazine. No more jet-setting to the fall collections. No more fabulous parties and photographs in the society pages. The only saving grace is <br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>that her friends aren't there to witness her downward spiral. Might her new boss, the disheveled and moody Jack Devine, save her from a fate worse than hell? <br />
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Ashling Kennedy, Colleen's assistant editor, is an award-winning worrier, increasingly aware that something fundamental is missing from her life -- apart from a boyfriend and a waistline. And then there's her closest, oldest friend Clodagh "Princess" Kelly, who is apparently living the domestic dream in a suburban castle. So why, lately, has Clodagh had a recurring urge to kiss a frog -- sleep with a frog, if truth be told?<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, other books I have recently decided that I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want </i>to read or listen to for a second time. Specifically, one that comes to mind includes a Sophie Kinsella novel, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1358844.Remember_Me_"><span style="color: green;">Remember Me,</span></a></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>that I read in the Fall of 2009. I loved the book so much that I wanted to see how the audio version sounded as well and sure enough, it was just as scintillating and maybe even more hilarious to hear spoken aloud. I continue on this trend with another Sophie Kinsella, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33722.The_Undomestic_Goddess"><span style="color: green;">The Undomestic Goddess</span></a></i></b> that I read many years back, and it, too, had a laugh-a-minute audio to entertain every car ride. There are many more books on my To-Be-Re-Read list. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella <span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lipglossandlit-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0440242401&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span id="freeText11500513310433557125"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed. <br />
<br />
Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all. <br />
<br />
Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does? </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: green; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="color: #f1c232;">The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lipglossandlit-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=044024238X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58UEQkm1i_U5_8CCn3ZhwDC9AgPf5bZ_-pKlhTeIsOpMlzyVVPht3EBRSXFzgYJBl_YFQF79a6DkM2fOskaOFMoUYd9HOOtjroYVP5e6lusZuwsG5NXWMHf5CWIdkcCZAPBy7gQkTv8WX/s1600/the-undomestic-goddess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"></span></a><span style="color: green; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="color: #f1c232;">High-powered attorney Samantha Sweeting has just made a mistake that could snuff out her career. In total meltdown, she abandons her office and catches the first available train out of London, winding up in the middle of nowhere. Still suffering from brain freeze, she wanders first into a large mansion and then into a job as a housekeeper. Samantha's domestic skills are in severe disarray, but somehow she blunders through sewing, ironing, cleaning, and patching together her life. A winning "undomestic" tale from the author of <em>Shopaholic & Sister</em></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;">What books will you be reading for a second time around??</span></span></span></i></div></span></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-5455440620017395962011-07-20T09:51:00.000-07:002011-07-20T09:51:00.043-07:00Waiting on Wednesday - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? by Claudia Carroll <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65HOLv82WPxtca61IG5Og7iH_R2ETdi-m_jXIRfj7IT7EWPxd3TKDVxX2NEl1Uh8ddplJnWheeUdp9rPZ1AviWFVAp1TRayVN8C1swmTh7PUzLZu7RlojVOkY02DbmUC3xhKmH79o3eWP/s1600/WOW_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65HOLv82WPxtca61IG5Og7iH_R2ETdi-m_jXIRfj7IT7EWPxd3TKDVxX2NEl1Uh8ddplJnWheeUdp9rPZ1AviWFVAp1TRayVN8C1swmTh7PUzLZu7RlojVOkY02DbmUC3xhKmH79o3eWP/s1600/WOW_Logo.jpg" t$="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WoW Logo Provided by <br />
Jill at Breaking The Spine</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">"Waiting On Wednesday"(WOW)</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"> <span style="color: #ff9900;">is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from </span><span style="color: #ff6600;"><a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Breaking the Spine</span></a> </span><span style="color: #ff9900;">that spotlights upcoming releases eagerly anticipated. This is my third 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 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WOW</i></b> so that I can add some more books to my TBR shelf.</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Who wouldn’t be attracted to covers full of pastel colors and beautifully caricatured women with catchy titles like, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5310206-do-you-want-to-know-a-secret"><span style="color: #ff3399;">Do You Want to Know a Secret?</span></a>, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1540502.He_Loves_Me_Not_He_Loves_Me"><span style="color: #ff3399;">He Loves Me Not... He Loves Me</span></a>, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7818243-personally-i-blame-my-fairy-godmother"><span style="color: #ff3399;">Personally I Blame My Fairy Godmother</span></a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6780441-if-this-is-paradise-i-want-my-money-back"><span style="color: #ff3399;">If This is Paradise, I Want My Money Back</span></a>?? </i>Claudia Carrol, a <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Dublin</place></city> born and bred chick lit author has been penning chick lit since 2004 and hasn’t stopped yet. Her books have been high on the bestseller list and she has even had offers to make some of her books into movies and tv sitcoms. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?</b> by Claudia Carroll is no exception to the fabulous name that Ms. Carroll has established for herself, already gaining a 4.29/5.00 rating on Goodreads. This will be my first novel to read by Claudia Carroll and I hope that it “reads” up to its reviews.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: #9933ff 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #9933FF .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #9933FF .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9933ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? by Claudia Carroll</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #9933FF .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1fRHTzbdpZQ91qusth8izG8cCbaxmAgvD0iCnahbV_UPlrqnesAfwtfJHPj-ryk1JK6kmj50kc1OjPvQG2fRrlqCV339VHgWimzlHaoIFupi-YLVxO8wA6KUMGfi_xTghPG2RbigmSIm/s1600/willyoulovemetomorrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1fRHTzbdpZQ91qusth8izG8cCbaxmAgvD0iCnahbV_UPlrqnesAfwtfJHPj-ryk1JK6kmj50kc1OjPvQG2fRrlqCV339VHgWimzlHaoIFupi-YLVxO8wA6KUMGfi_xTghPG2RbigmSIm/s1600/willyoulovemetomorrow.jpg" t$="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover and Synopsis<br />
via Goodreads</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Absence makes the heart grow fonder…doesn’t it? <br />
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What happens when two people decide to give themselves the year off…from each other? <br />
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Annie and Dan were the perfect couple. But now the not-so-newly weds feel more like flatmates than soul mates and wonder where all the fun and fireworks went … <br />
When Annie lands her big break in a smash-hit show that’s heading for the bright lights of Broadway, she’s over the moon. Goodbye remote Irish <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">village</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Stickens</placename></place>, hello fabulous Big Apple! But with their relationship already on the rocks, how will Annie and Dan survive the distance? <br />
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They’re hitting the pause button on their marriage. One year off from each other – no strings attached, except a date to meet in twelve months at the Rockefeller Centre to decide their fate. <br />
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Will they both turn up? Or is it too late for love? <br />
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Lose yourself in a fabulously entertaining and poignant love story – perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC";"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: #9933ff 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #9933FF .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #9933FF .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9933ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Claudia Carroll is the author of other popular chick lit novels like, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Personally, I Blame My Fairy Godmother </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If This is <place w:st="on">Paradise</place>, I Want My Money Back</i>. Visit her web site for more info at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.claudiacarroll.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9933ff;">http://www.claudiacarroll.net/</span></a></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #9933FF .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #9933ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">What are you waiting on this Wednesday???</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-45429374156262098562011-07-17T07:18:00.000-07:002011-07-17T07:20:08.575-07:00Star Audio Book Review - If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster, Read by Jaime Heinlein<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IJu6xZlzAV7ryzRFmeC2zRzPuqB376XCX8gzkR93WaiUnZGwap56W2marAA5tKXIWSfIoRyKijYwmSCKRExPyXJMBI_e7-Su4gMY78gDbp1GzMoaO2oizthnGXWmzRODQmtIogSey2JI/s1600/IfYouWereHere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IJu6xZlzAV7ryzRFmeC2zRzPuqB376XCX8gzkR93WaiUnZGwap56W2marAA5tKXIWSfIoRyKijYwmSCKRExPyXJMBI_e7-Su4gMY78gDbp1GzMoaO2oizthnGXWmzRODQmtIogSey2JI/s320/IfYouWereHere.jpg" width="209" /></a><span class="readablereviewtext"><span style="color: #339966; font-size: 13pt;">Jen Lancaster is the reining queen of chick lit comedy in my book and she’s back again, this time tackling fiction in her latest novel, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If You Were Here</i></b>. I love listening to Jen Lancaster’s books so much more so than reading them, and I was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> disappointed with this one. Teaming up with veteran narrator of Bitter in Black, Pretty in Plaid and My Fair Lazy, Jaime Heinlein packs a punch in this audio book with the trademark bitter humor and sarcastic wit, I’ve come to expect from all of Jen Lancaster’s works. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA70xOUuTH9RfOmPRFirj5n1MDd_f0z00wIxK8UDqE6jysovwazwl-aZPKEkU4xhaauNlRV0htDEkrhzvoXSqkmzs7-hvTv66UcRBxteRGLzOuiEXjXXr_9n5R6aytzSRiHNDQRjO4tQO3/s1600/SamanthaJake.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA70xOUuTH9RfOmPRFirj5n1MDd_f0z00wIxK8UDqE6jysovwazwl-aZPKEkU4xhaauNlRV0htDEkrhzvoXSqkmzs7-hvTv66UcRBxteRGLzOuiEXjXXr_9n5R6aytzSRiHNDQRjO4tQO3/s200/SamanthaJake.bmp" width="200" /></a><span class="readablereviewtext"><span style="color: #339966; font-size: 13pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="readablereviewtext"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #339966; font-size: 13pt;">If You Were Here</span></i></b></span><span class="readablereviewtext"><span style="color: #339966; font-size: 13pt;"> reads like an HGTV special with a blast back to the 80s, specifically, in the times of John Hughes’ movie madness. Mia and Mac (Jen and Fletch?) look forward to buying a home of their own in the suburbs of <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Chicago</place></city>. Tiresome days of house hunting seem to lead nowhere until they walk into a familiar looking home. Sure enough, the gorgeous mini-McMansion is none other than the fictional home of High School Hunk, Jake Ryan, the object of Molly Ringwald’s affection in the John Hughes hit, Sixteen Candles. Mia cannot turn down the opportunity to tell all her friends about her famous abode, and she and Mac make a substantial offer. Little do they know upon signing, however, the glamorous house requires more than a little TLC and so begins their adventures in contracts and construction.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKCj62d7DyPfb_p5bdC58COqPg5788Lm0s6FXLmGD8_EsQMqEb4ob1UktHy1Danbgb3b9tZmjDKrl0iqTp7pn10JU8f_ycE57wph9dQ95invxhrGdYsbszrWtwmxJ-PLNJ5X5u7eAODZu/s1600/JakeRyansHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKCj62d7DyPfb_p5bdC58COqPg5788Lm0s6FXLmGD8_EsQMqEb4ob1UktHy1Danbgb3b9tZmjDKrl0iqTp7pn10JU8f_ycE57wph9dQ95invxhrGdYsbszrWtwmxJ-PLNJ5X5u7eAODZu/s320/JakeRyansHouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake Ryan's house in the suburbs of Chicago <br />
from the 80s John Hughes movie, Sixteen Candles</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="readablereviewtext"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #339966; font-size: 13pt;">If You Were Here</span></i></b></span><span class="readablereviewtext"><span style="color: #339966; font-size: 13pt;"> is one hilarious vignette after another, with crazy neighbors, colorful carpenters and laborers, a farm-ful of pets and of course, the wacky couple themselves, Mia and Mac. Listeners get a front row seat to Mia and Mac’s dreams of owning their own home. If you’ve listened to (or read) Jen Lancaster’s previous autobiographies, you may find, like I did, that it can be difficult to separate the fictional couple from that of real-world hubby and wife, Jen and Fletch; but regardless, with Jaime Heinlein’s vociferous voiceover and Jen Lancaster’s signature sarcasm, Mia’s personality and humor is difficult to separate from that of the queen of sarcasm herself but still I was kept laughing out loud all the way through. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="readablereviewtext"><span style="color: #339966; font-size: 13pt;">3 STARS</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfZ7ZzeuBVsvSW8TYUuyOIz9_c-HHCTXwPqw3lSNOxprwqBurLK0vFvH75oFSkXF_PJyUomX8vffa3FSBAp6uwuvk4-zj0aA8r2Ps7am_PQFOPNE5fwdQx2cImfMpHz6kJ1aJ94yDXCcu/s1600/3Stars_Orange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfZ7ZzeuBVsvSW8TYUuyOIz9_c-HHCTXwPqw3lSNOxprwqBurLK0vFvH75oFSkXF_PJyUomX8vffa3FSBAp6uwuvk4-zj0aA8r2Ps7am_PQFOPNE5fwdQx2cImfMpHz6kJ1aJ94yDXCcu/s1600/3Stars_Orange.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="readablereviewtext"><span style="color: #339966; font-size: 13pt;">For more Jen Lancaster, visit her hilarious blog at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">http://www.jennsylvania.com/</b></span></span><span class="readablereviewtext"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;">If You Were Here</span></i></b><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;"> brought up memories of the Brat Pack and 80’s movies like Sixteen Candles so I thought I’d continue reminiscing about some of my favorite 80’s flicks:</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite 80s Chick Flicks</b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEWD_mYHQ7F0wR0QZJ5C7Fh4Li7JG2kPVwyEKq_Iv49W9A1vXwlHLsNAbYBqsg8CRkwHRHG-3PchPD6RM9WbcK0QGUEBE0He3PzxBxEhEg-mjhLvUj4b2i67tJYaKUDjd6WbIpx1mXcl_/s1600/DirtyDancing.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEWD_mYHQ7F0wR0QZJ5C7Fh4Li7JG2kPVwyEKq_Iv49W9A1vXwlHLsNAbYBqsg8CRkwHRHG-3PchPD6RM9WbcK0QGUEBE0He3PzxBxEhEg-mjhLvUj4b2i67tJYaKUDjd6WbIpx1mXcl_/s200/DirtyDancing.bmp" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;">Dirty Dancing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;">16 Candles</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;">The Breakfast Club</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtXwDzkOAEkFu89vmg-_Y5lQeTHfpRoW85IiarcSHhjwhlplIKhUKI4y42RClD7ZbFK5do6yaNoG7ECZ7SdbvmeyoGVh0r7vwVwtfZJWcUyr96bzYaRf33buXKmz9JhQhrUecmgYYTstH/s1600/breakfastclub.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtXwDzkOAEkFu89vmg-_Y5lQeTHfpRoW85IiarcSHhjwhlplIKhUKI4y42RClD7ZbFK5do6yaNoG7ECZ7SdbvmeyoGVh0r7vwVwtfZJWcUyr96bzYaRf33buXKmz9JhQhrUecmgYYTstH/s200/breakfastclub.bmp" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;">Pretty in Pink</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;">The Princess Bride</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;">Ferris Bueller’s Day Off</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;">Heathers</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;">Adventures in Babysitting</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrLd3cnjAHclT-gZ2oBW-4xTpCdFLQWytT1iENhn3hjF7uYciKDv0qTCjC4aNeFeDZ6O444Jh2NgHwT520cAxpWkAD3FQTN5lZb1cRTJ_JL1i2F6s_mvjcKPdBsRjBQp8cFWHCee0gKKg/s1600/adventuresinbabysitting.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrLd3cnjAHclT-gZ2oBW-4xTpCdFLQWytT1iENhn3hjF7uYciKDv0qTCjC4aNeFeDZ6O444Jh2NgHwT520cAxpWkAD3FQTN5lZb1cRTJ_JL1i2F6s_mvjcKPdBsRjBQp8cFWHCee0gKKg/s200/adventuresinbabysitting.bmp" width="200" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXsob4wtaQF8gEedZC7zxZ1XDdFtCQNgEySMhbiRruh57ogm051HQibsWqmt7sqdxvkECyQwl6s62yvV_2j05mreLeQM8GZ2-grxaCRHrLmfVbr65mP9zTovmFqacBP6v1v_jy-kITZLF/s1600/sayanything.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXsob4wtaQF8gEedZC7zxZ1XDdFtCQNgEySMhbiRruh57ogm051HQibsWqmt7sqdxvkECyQwl6s62yvV_2j05mreLeQM8GZ2-grxaCRHrLmfVbr65mP9zTovmFqacBP6v1v_jy-kITZLF/s200/sayanything.bmp" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;">St. Elmo’s Fire</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;">Say Anything</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13pt;"><em>What was your favorite<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> 80s Chick Flick??</b></em></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-59095726464738085212011-07-15T12:35:00.000-07:002011-07-15T12:35:45.031-07:00First Line Friday: Wedding Cake to Turin by Lynda Renham<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzZRQtPF4rsVT-HnxMKxMT7vSu7x1QTAW9jIaPPHoFtpYvCiL6Z2tHhG95KtonHyyiO9tI1QtHQC4B4EbiWDljGPXdyCPu7KzZU3uE0PAhT-TyNsvzNJ_gRxdTrKUh64pXeIJEDiDMelA/s1600/LiteraryMarie_PrecisionReviews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzZRQtPF4rsVT-HnxMKxMT7vSu7x1QTAW9jIaPPHoFtpYvCiL6Z2tHhG95KtonHyyiO9tI1QtHQC4B4EbiWDljGPXdyCPu7KzZU3uE0PAhT-TyNsvzNJ_gRxdTrKUh64pXeIJEDiDMelA/s1600/LiteraryMarie_PrecisionReviews.jpg" /></a><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;">FIRST LINES FRIDAY</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;">First Lines Friday is a new bookish meme hosted by </span><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;">Literary Marie</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;"> of </span><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;"><a href="http://www.precisionreviews.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="color: windowtext;">Precision Reviews.</span></b></a><span style="color: green;"> </span><span style="color: magenta;">The rules are simple and straightforward so play along!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;">Grab your current read (s).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;">Share the first line(s).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;">Include the title and author so that the other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;">“Don’t you just hate Christmas? Well maybe you don’t. I mean, what is it that makes people so sentimental at this time of year? There are the gruesome office parties of course, which if I am truthful I did once enjoy, well always enjoyed in fact, until this year. Actually, if I am totally truthful, I adore Christmas or at least did.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;">~</span><span style="color: green; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;">Wedding Cake to <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Turin</city></place></span></i></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 13pt;"> by Lynda Renham</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j_IWfZboZOk1zTIPvCitcBs4a72AkYEOlNpEC70XX9YX3qWYfSH3lNsT2YH6nxLMUNsZmFJABvZ9cjzonR6yEoiYMIQAENzROp7wVqWqbVssKoXrKrdO87XEpcCzMylE-Ryz8cd0fNeC/s1600/weddingcaketurin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j_IWfZboZOk1zTIPvCitcBs4a72AkYEOlNpEC70XX9YX3qWYfSH3lNsT2YH6nxLMUNsZmFJABvZ9cjzonR6yEoiYMIQAENzROp7wVqWqbVssKoXrKrdO87XEpcCzMylE-Ryz8cd0fNeC/s320/weddingcaketurin.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">When <city w:st="on">Charlotte</city> is sent by her boss to deliver a wedding cake to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Turin</place></city> little does she know what she will be letting herself in for. Torn between feelings for her boyfriend and a new man that she meets at the airport, she embarks on a journey of hilarious situations, finding herself mixing with the rich and famous and the Italian Mafia. Charlotte has to decide just how much she is prepared to do for love but does the man she love truly love her? Charley's journey to find love is both hilarious and touching.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">Synopsis found on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/"><span style="color: red;">Goodreads</span></a></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt;">What first lines have you been reading? Share with me below!</span></b><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt;"></span></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-63052283882136589802011-07-13T07:02:00.000-07:002011-07-13T07:02:46.037-07:00Star Book Review - Click: An Online Love Story by Lisa Becker<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjVLeXWKbtILRPvmxGfT-qy14Vl8cgFMOvPycMkKp_mzxPb_FAtYH33ftymz0JEcuBlwuJnhwGpnFdNU7x67x9VIuBzYwqriNNLPYfhRG-A7Gr3Kl6lZTA-Xoc9rhBjM8atnQnMrMPmQz/s1600/Click.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjVLeXWKbtILRPvmxGfT-qy14Vl8cgFMOvPycMkKp_mzxPb_FAtYH33ftymz0JEcuBlwuJnhwGpnFdNU7x67x9VIuBzYwqriNNLPYfhRG-A7Gr3Kl6lZTA-Xoc9rhBjM8atnQnMrMPmQz/s320/Click.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Click: An Online Love Story</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"> </span></b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">was one of my favorite debuts of the year. Written in purely email form, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Click</span></i></b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"> tells the story of Renee, who’s almost thirty and looking for love. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Desperate to find a good man in the <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Los Angeles</place></city> area who will treat her right and make her laugh, Renee’s best guy pal, Mark (who’s surprisingly not gay – a nice change up from the conventional chick lit novels), convinces her to join him in a quest of online dating. In her first challenge - before she even begins sifting through the guys – she must decide which dating site, among the plethora of them all she wants to post her profile on. The choices are virtually limitless, from generic sites, like Dating World, to more specific ones, like Choose Jews, Renee’s got a big decision to make that might greatly influence her future cyber love match.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJHplPVhUvQlsXdjgFKphnA_SD8vcdgTLnP8_kd-NfvUNvRC6pDLn1GOY-_WIqiw3g_IEUK9DMfiaBTZWpzX0_jYVpvDPblvDst2VoOaD4k2w_4OrHptWzIBP0MM64ciybn2WiAkSreVb/s1600/OnlineDate.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJHplPVhUvQlsXdjgFKphnA_SD8vcdgTLnP8_kd-NfvUNvRC6pDLn1GOY-_WIqiw3g_IEUK9DMfiaBTZWpzX0_jYVpvDPblvDst2VoOaD4k2w_4OrHptWzIBP0MM64ciybn2WiAkSreVb/s1600/OnlineDate.bmp" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Once she decides on her site, the dating games begin almost instantaneously. It seems Renee’s profile attracts most everyone, from students and doctors to businessmen and even a rock star, Renee’s in for one adventure after another and as the reader, I got a front row seat to all the heartbreak, letdowns, anticipation, excitement and much hilarity! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Shelley, Renee’s oversexed bff, has no interest in settling down just yet. She names all of her conquests (i.e. The Cuddler, Rocket Man, etc etc.) and provides all the comfort, advice and sometimes just a good drink that Renee needs throughout her rollercoaster of dating. Then there's Renee's other bff, Ashley, who is in an eternal on-off relationship with Evan. Ashley is totally against online dating bit will she change her mind when she finds out that Renee has put herself out there on the Net? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Renee and her friends will always have each other; but will they ever find true love in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Los Angeles</place></city>?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9o-fpzjNG1L23dtodTMe8Sl_tMGGXvpIe89S9mStLVUloL37pcHWxWL1ob5pVBgD0uffmJn4Ih4Tr-a2FTrXstzwdr5y4d3VNZrT6QJIkcG1Yglf9reeUY69vzFvqXFWtpa3D6xoMGsiJ/s1600/OnlineDate5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9o-fpzjNG1L23dtodTMe8Sl_tMGGXvpIe89S9mStLVUloL37pcHWxWL1ob5pVBgD0uffmJn4Ih4Tr-a2FTrXstzwdr5y4d3VNZrT6QJIkcG1Yglf9reeUY69vzFvqXFWtpa3D6xoMGsiJ/s1600/OnlineDate5.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">This truly was a great book. It was a very quick read for me. In fact, I haven’t read a book this quickly (3 days!) since I was a teenager. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a laugh out loud book with wonderful characters that were really well-defined. Having just read Holly's Inbox, I was well-prepared for the email format of this novel. If you’ve never read a book like this, it may take you a few pages to get used to all the “To;”, “cc’s” and especially “bcc’s” in this book (look for much humor here!), Subject lines, Fwds and more. Although you never get to hear first person conversations and events – for instance, you don’t get a seat at the table while the girls lunch at Mel's and you aren’t walking along side them on nights out on Melrose in Santa Monica – but you still get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> the scoop via email the next day. I am continually amazed at the creative behind this format, and it really works; believe me, you won’t miss a single, juicy detail and you’ll likely be laughing aloud throughout the entire novel. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">I hope there will be more books from Lisa Becker to read in the future.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UsuWhz_8UBN_JIkVMgJBe-vNbXAOG1ItkOxErfT57vK-KOQ7O6-qZsw5CBebkis7pS0IXBkCSs36FkYiR1n7huTAYzx0R5987NuP5AONKk-2wJoSZ3H_MDqVOrtLJGwUkLHLcmvAkhgw/s1600/OnlineDate3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UsuWhz_8UBN_JIkVMgJBe-vNbXAOG1ItkOxErfT57vK-KOQ7O6-qZsw5CBebkis7pS0IXBkCSs36FkYiR1n7huTAYzx0R5987NuP5AONKk-2wJoSZ3H_MDqVOrtLJGwUkLHLcmvAkhgw/s200/OnlineDate3.bmp" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">**Thank you so much to Lisa Becker for sending me a copy of her book. I hope more of you get a chance to read it!! In fact, if you head over to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://chicklitcentraltheblog.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Chick Lit Central: The Blog</span></a></b></span><span style="color: #990033; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">,</span><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"> <span style="color: #cc0000;">you have a chance to win your very own copy of </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: grey;">Click: An Online Love Story</span></i></b><span style="color: grey;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">through TOMORROW!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the link: </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: grey;"><a href="http://chicklitcentraltheblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/we-clicked-with-lisa-beckerplus-book.html**"><span style="color: grey;">http://chicklitcentraltheblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/we-clicked-with-lisa-beckerplus-book.html**</span></a></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Can’t get enough of this review? Check out the previous Interview at Lip Gloss and Literature that I was so lucky to do with Lisa Becker last month: </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><a href="http://lipglossandliterature.blogspot.com/2011/06/special-author-interview-contest-lisa.html"><span style="color: grey;">http://lipglossandliterature.blogspot.com/2011/06/special-author-interview-contest-lisa.html</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"></span></div><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">4 STARS</span></b><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhya9Hp1AMgFJvvQ1DgBthvOdzQl4xdEhIN1fiyOjbUIaEbEwe3_V9Skh_txo8DAM6tQ1wOvracxvQOurShQmZqaGnuHPcjwb1__WJudeVk4afSIIEGzUkv8LD-5-kh7YJfxgjVCnzIea3p/s1600/4+Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhya9Hp1AMgFJvvQ1DgBthvOdzQl4xdEhIN1fiyOjbUIaEbEwe3_V9Skh_txo8DAM6tQ1wOvracxvQOurShQmZqaGnuHPcjwb1__WJudeVk4afSIIEGzUkv8LD-5-kh7YJfxgjVCnzIea3p/s1600/4+Stars.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"> </div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566581120658237350.post-1936499334152299702011-07-11T06:26:00.000-07:002011-07-11T06:26:27.101-07:00Star Audio Book Review - The Single Girl's To-Do List by Lindsey Kelk, Narrated by Cassandra Hardwood<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLy-KemwFpf5m-oKA8LNuQeLexCBUZTs5v_L7XexHgEtnk9N_Xj-uq-SWKRDw0jis_0caEOS-y4KLgkxnERu227x6qG3azHj_pWDCwpAA0kzpnnUOJvSPule5_JgG7lCROpA_CAuT3LIQ/s1600/SingleGirl%2527s+To+Do+List.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLy-KemwFpf5m-oKA8LNuQeLexCBUZTs5v_L7XexHgEtnk9N_Xj-uq-SWKRDw0jis_0caEOS-y4KLgkxnERu227x6qG3azHj_pWDCwpAA0kzpnnUOJvSPule5_JgG7lCROpA_CAuT3LIQ/s1600/SingleGirl%2527s+To+Do+List.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #0066cc; font-size: 13pt;">Lindsey Kelk has done it again! Her newest contemporary chick lit novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Single Girl’s To-Do List</i>, combines great friends, a not-so-great ex-boyfriend, a laundry list of to-dos and few new and hilarious romantic adventures into one fabulous audio book. Leading lady, Rachel Summers thinks everything in life is grand and hopes that soon boyfriend Simon will make an honest woman out of her and then they can buy a house, start a family, and conquer the world (and Rachel’s never-ending to-do lists) together. Unfortunately, Simon’s got other plans – and they don’t include Rachel. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #0066cc; font-size: 13pt;">Heartbroken and lost, Rachel is lucky to have the best of friends run to her side, where they stay for the entire story. Best friends Matthew and Emelie help Rachel see that she needs to create an entirely new kind of to-do-list, one that highlights and celebrates her singledom. And so Rachel sets off, with two-weeks to accomplish all kinds of things she’s never experienced before. Do something illegal? Get a tattoo? Find a date for Dad’s wedding? Some items are definitely harder than others…and almost all hilarious!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7abJttfnVq4ZNe1iPz0BD_dnaaIn848kCQZgCuDj2aMGmA0qSw52TN4tvVVh4vK6jwqTSb1vbKaKmUADqP5KI6-3mInFc9mkUdfVa7czJ65UPImfuGYEy39NTYz1SMuV4iKyx-SQlaai8/s1600/ToDoList.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7abJttfnVq4ZNe1iPz0BD_dnaaIn848kCQZgCuDj2aMGmA0qSw52TN4tvVVh4vK6jwqTSb1vbKaKmUADqP5KI6-3mInFc9mkUdfVa7czJ65UPImfuGYEy39NTYz1SMuV4iKyx-SQlaai8/s200/ToDoList.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #0066cc; font-size: 13pt;">Lighthearted and fun, Lindsey Kelk has delivered an uplifting novel that reminds me why I love being a woman. In what seems to have become something of a signature trademark, she continues to make good use of pop culture references, like she’s done throughout her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Heart</i> series. While I have yet to listen to the audio renderings of the I Heart series, Kelk uses same narrator, Cassandra Harwood, who does a fantastic job as Rachel, Emelie, Matthew and crew. She has a strong voice which is easily enunciated, pitch perfect and adjusted accordingly by character. I look forward to checking out the next audio book on my own to-do<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">-</i>list in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Heart</i> series, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Heart Hollywood</i>, also narrated by Cassabdra Harwood.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWV2WQ8bDiVoJTBz3HDZorKqQ7bk_7G94dDaV3IMEUb30KeeDC81Lknw7sdD-3y58jxtvCGkUYgnA_ZcUZA7PufLkpC38Jy-aBIpMh3u181XAMSNJBhLHDEl5K8xyyr663uP6saOyMFBt/s1600/IHeartSeries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWV2WQ8bDiVoJTBz3HDZorKqQ7bk_7G94dDaV3IMEUb30KeeDC81Lknw7sdD-3y58jxtvCGkUYgnA_ZcUZA7PufLkpC38Jy-aBIpMh3u181XAMSNJBhLHDEl5K8xyyr663uP6saOyMFBt/s1600/IHeartSeries.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #0066cc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have always found Lindsey Kelk to be a very inspirational, young writer in contemporary chick lit. From author to fashion aficionado to blogger and beauty editor, she seems to do a little of everything. Check out her latest reviews of all things pretty and colorful for hair, make-up and skin at her <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.beautymecca.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Beauty Mecca</span></a> </b>blog. Or if you want to learn more about her<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> I Heart </i>series or check out Angela’s exclusives guides to NYC, <city w:st="on">Hollywood</city> or <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Paris</place></city>, click <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.iheartnewyork.co.uk/"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Here.</span></a> </b>Both sites are gorgeous (and addictive!)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12795836064376100004noreply@blogger.com0