Winner Announced - Click: An Online Love Story by Lisa Becker

Thank you so very much to everyone who participated in my 100^th follower book giveaway. The winner was chosen from the entries on the original post’s comments via Random.org.

I’m so pleased to announce the winner:

Elsie from Elsie Loves Fiction

Congratulations, Elsie!!! She has won an e-book copy of Click: An Online Love Story by Lisa Becker. I can’t wait to find out how she likes it.

To view my interview with the author and for links on more info related to the book offered in this giveaway, please visit the original post:

http://lipglossandliterature.blogspot.com/2011/06/special-author-interview-contest-lisa.html

Be sure to be on the look out on Lip Gloss and Literature for my own review of Click: An Online Love Story this summer.

Thank you so so much to the author, Lisa Becker, for offering an e-book copy of her novel to giveaway on my blog. And, as always, a big thank you to my followers, readers and everyone who participated in the contest! thank you again to everyone who continues to follow my blog.

Stick around later this week when I review the June release of The Little Black Book of Big Red Flags of her debut. For more info, visit  http://www.BigRedFlags.com.

100th Follower Book Giveaway Winner: Announced

100th Follower Contest WINNER Announced!!!

Thank you so very much to everyone who participated in my 100^th follower book giveaway. The winner was chosen from the entries on the original post’s comments via Random.org.

I’m so pleased to announce the winner:

Donna from My Life In Stories

Congratulations, Donna!!! She will have her pick from one of 6 Working Girl Chick Lit books, which are all among my personal favorites.

Holly’s Inbox by Holly Denham

Love Struck by Chantel Simmons

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

Tales from the Yoga Studio by Rain Mitchell

Everleigh In NYC by Cathleen Holst

For links to the books' synopses and reviews, please visit the original post:

 http://lipglossandliterature.blogspot.com/2011/05/working-girl-chick-lit-special-duo.html

Donna, Please contact me at cgraceh at gmail dot com to let me know which book you’d like me to send, I will send the winner an email to contact her about her winnings. I hope she enjoys her new book!!

And thank you again to everyone who continues to follow my blog.

 I hope to have many more fun and exciting book giveaways in the future…wanna help me get to 200?? For an even bigger and better giveaway?? I’m already brainstorming ideas…if interested, please follow me. I’ve got Kaira Rouda, author of Here, Home, Hope visiting me today so stick around for a Special Author Interview and Book Review of her debut.

Winner Announced: The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

     Thank you so much to FSB Media group for offering Lip Gloss & Literature a copy of Brunonia Barry’s second novel, The Map of True Places, to giveaway to our readers!! As always, a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the contest and continues to follow along with my posts! Using Random.org, a winner was generated this morning based on those who commented on the post for the book review. Without further delay….the winner was….#4:

Congratulations to Audra!!!

Please email me your contact info for where you would like to have the book mailed to you at cgraceh at gmail dot com.

If you’re still eager to learn more about The Map of True Places or Brunonia Barry, in general, please read my review or her fantastic guest post on the process of writing.

**For everyone who participated (and anyone who didn’t), please stay tuned for ANOTHER Special Contest. I am so excited that you all have helped me reach my 100^th follower (and still counting) and I want to celebrate you in a big way. Stay tuned this weekend for more details when I announce my 100^th Follower Contest.**

Saturday Sensation! Reading Extravaganza: EVEN MORE Chick Lit Books and Special Contests

May 2011 has been one of the most exciting months in Chick Lit since I can remember. The Chicklit Club, Novelicious and Chick Lit is Not Dead teamed up for the inaugural International Chick Lit Month to celebrate women’s fiction and everyone seems to be jumping onboard. I kicked off the weekend with Friday Fiesta with freebies and fabulous book giveaway links galore. In continuing with a weekend of winnings, I’ve perused the web to find EVEN MORE chick lit novels being offered online plus an audio book library gift set, a writing prompt prize pack and a NOOK Color! It’s a Saturday Sensation at Lip Gloss and Literature. ENTER NOW TO WIN!

Beneath A Starlet Sky by Amanda Goldberg & Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper (5 Copies)

Chick Lit Is Not Dead; Ends: May 22, 2011

http://chicklitisnotdead.com/2011/05/amanda-goldberg-ruthanna-khalighi-hoppers-5-dos-and-a-do-over/

Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax

Life in Review; Ends: May 23, 2011

http://lifeinreviewblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/tlc-book-tour-for-ten-beach-road-by-wendy-wax/

When God Was a Rabbit by Saran Winman

Life in Review; Ends: May 24, 2011

http://lifeinreviewblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/tlc-book-tour-giveaway-for-when-god-was-a-rabbit-by-sarah-winman/

Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laura Viera Rigler (4 Copies) (US/Canada & UK/Ireland)

International Chick Lit Month; Chicklit Club; Ends: May 25, 2011

http://internationalchicklitmonth.com/giveaways/

Win a NOOK Color + a $1,000.00 B&N Gift Card

Barnes & Noble on Facebook; Ends: May 25, 2011

http://www.facebook.com/nookBN?sk=app_156563374406560&app_data=%2526utm_referrer%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fapps.facebook.com%25252Freadforever%25252F#!/nookBN?sk=app_156563374406560

The Scarlet Kimono by Christina Courtenay

Novelicious, Ends: May 26, 2011

http://www.novelicious.com/competitions/

Viola in the Spotlight by Adriana Trigiani (2 Copies) (US ONLY)

The Book Butterfly; Ends: May 28, 2011

http://thebookbutterfly.com/2011/05/win-copy-of-viola-in-spotlight-by.html

Friendship Bread by Darien Gee

A Cozy Reader’s Corner; Ends: May 30, 2011

http://acozyreaderscorner.blogspot.com/2011/05/friendship-bread.html

Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax

Reviews By Molly; Ends May 30, 2011

http://www.reviewsbymolly.com/2011/05/tlc-blog-tour-review-plus-bonus.html

Various Chick Lit Teen Books (Choice of Sarah Dessen’s The Truth About Forever, Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty, Maureen Johnson’s 13 Little Blue Envelopes and more) (2 Winners; One Book Each)

LC’s Adventures in Library Land; Ends: June 1, 2011

http://lcsadventuresinlibraryland.blogspot.com/2011/05/lcs-200-follower-giveaway.html

Summer in the South by Cathy Holton (3 Hardcover copies)

Bookin’ With Bingo; Ends: June 2, 2011

http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/2011/05/summer-in-south-author-interview-and.html

100 Personalized Writing Prompts + The Writing Sampler by Bryan Cohen; $50.00 Amazon Gift Card

Writing is a Blessing; Ends: June 2, 2011

http://writingisablessing.blogspot.com/2011/05/guest-post-and-giveaway-by-bryan-cohen.html

When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman

Chick Lit Reviews; Ends: June 5, 2011

http://chicklitreviews.com/2011/05/21/aw-giveaway-when-god-was-a-rabbit-by-sarah-winman/

Abby MacDonald Audiobook Library! Sophomore Switch, The Anti-Prom & Boys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots

Chick Lit Reviews; Ends: June 12, 2011

http://chicklitreviews.com/2011/05/20/aw-giveaway-abby-mcdonald-3-audiobook-library/

**Please Check Back to Friday's Post for a Fiesta of Free & Fabulous Finds in Chick Lit Books Across the Web!!**

Star Book Review and Contest: The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry takes readers and listeners on a psychological journey through the eyes of Zee. Zee was born and raised on the North Shore of Massachusetts, frequenting the towns of Salem and Marblehead. Zee is the product of the estranged marriage between her Parkinsonian-afflicted father, Finch, and her late mother, Maureen, who suffered from bipolar disorder. As you might imagine, Zee’s parents, especially the death of Maureen, have greatly affected Zee’s sense of self her entire life. Although she’s a well-respected psychological counselor in Boston today, Zee, at one time, had given in to her inner rebel and had an obsessive passion for stealing boats. She was very good at it, careful to always cover up her tracks, but like all things in life, her bad behavior eventually caught up with her and it was time for Zee to face the music, so to speak. In The Map of True Places, we find Zee at yet another crossroads in her life, dealing with the death of a client and the progressive illness of her father, and once again, Zee must grapple with a hard reality and learn to grow from her experiences.

          I would not consider The Map of True Places to be a traditional chick lit novel, but with its overarching theme of self-growth, I would classify it as women’s fiction. Like many novels of this genre, we meet our heroine at a place in her life where she is essentially backed into a corner or hitting rock bottom, as some might call it. Zee is faced with several difficult dilemmas that upon first glance seem to be rooted in various dramas involving her family, love relationships, and career. However, upon more careful inspection (and a lot of introspection), Zee realizes that she must do a lot of soul-searching before she can even begin to contemplate any of her outward problems. Zee embarks on a journey of self-exploration, learning that you can nerve be too old to grow.

          I enjoyed the set up of Zee’s character and the back and forth between the past and present during the opening prologue and first two parts of the novel. For me, it became harder to pay attention to the audio during Zee’s scenes with her father, Finch and his partner, Melville; but I must say the intertwining characters and intersecting storylines was very intriguing and worth your full attention during the entirety of the audio. As a psychology graduate student I especially loved the sneak peak I was given into the world of counseling as well as the deeper exploration of characters. I think this novel also hit so close to home with me because I am from Massachusetts and could picture the places Zee visited.

The Map of True Places takes risks that other novels do not, approaching the often taboo and difficult subjects of bipolar disorder, homosexuality and suicide. Brunonia Barry proves her talent as an artist of words, crafting articulate chapters and dividing the book into several sections. She is also the bestselling author of The Lace Reader. This was my first listen to narrator, Alyssa Bresnahan, who succeeds in creating a lovable heroine in Zee and fulfilling her duties as a variety of other, memorable friends and family.

3 STARS

For more information on Brunonia Barry, check out her web site at http://www.brunoniabarry.com/.

She also hosts two sites specifically for her bestselling novel, the Lace Reader, a story about a woman who can foretell the future in patterns of lace, and The Map of True Places. Visit http://www.lacereader.com/ and http://themapoftrueplaces.com/ for the book trailers, information on where to buy and more.

If you want to learn about the writing process and how Brunonia Barry was able to accomplish writing such a complex and popular novel, please check out the guest post she did at Lip Gloss and Literature back in April:

To WIN your very OWN COPY of THE MAP OF TRUE PLACES BY BRUNONIA BARRY, simply enter below.

You need not be a follower or re-publish this contest. Comment and be sure to include an email address where I might be able to reach you should you be the winner of one (1) paperback copy of The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry.

Open to US/CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY. This contest will be active today through next Wednesday, May 25. The winner will be chosen at random via Random.org and announced the next day. A big thank you to Anna at FSB Media for providing a copy of The Map of True Places to the winner at Lip Gloss and Literature. Comment today to enter!! GOOD LUCK!!

10 Things I Love About Chick Lit: Fabulous & Free Fiction - Enter Now to WIN!

It's been far too long since I've posted an update of Chick Lit Book Giveaways and Freebies across the web. With Two (2) Special Contests going on at Lip Gloss and Literature , one to win Beneath a Starlet Sky and one to win The Scent of Jade, there's no better time than NOW to try for your chance at any one (or ALL) of these great reads?! I've ordered them beginning with the contest who's date ends soonest. See below for all contest links and details:

1. Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews

Goodreads; Giveaway Ends: April 28, 2011

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/10133-summer-rental

2. The Scent of Jade by Dee DeTarsio (2 e-Copies!!)

Lip Gloss & Literature; Giveaway Ends: April 30, 2011

http://lipglossandliterature.blogspot.com/2011/04/special-guest-post-contest-dee-detarsio.html

3. Dance Lessons by Aine Greaney

Silver’s Reviews; Giveaway Ends: April 30, 2011

http://silversolara.blogspot.com/2011/04/book-giveaway-dance-lessons-by-aine.html

4. The Four Ms. Bradwells by Meg Waite Clayton

Colloquium; Giveaway Ends: May 1, 2011

http://www.jhsiess.com/2011/04/14/book-review-and-giveaway-the-four-ms-bradwells/

5. Buy How to Date a Werewolf by Rose Pressey for $1.99 & WIN an iPAD2!! (Second prize $50.00 Gift Card to Amazon.com)

By Author; Giveaway Ends: May 5, 2011 @ 12:00PM

http://rosepressey.com/blog/2011/04/05/contest-win-an-ipad-2/

6. Attachments by Rowan Rowell

Colloquium; Giveaway Ends: May 8, 2011

http://www.jhsiess.com/2011/04/19/book-review-and-giveaway-attachments/

7. Beneath a Starlet Sky by Amanda Goldberg & Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper (US/Canada)

Lip Gloss & Literature, Giveaway Ends: May 10, 2011

http://lipglossandliterature.blogspot.com/2011/04/star-book-review-and-contest-beneath.html

8. Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

Goodreads; Giveaway Ends: May 10, 2011

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/9687-fly-away-home

9. The Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Goodreads; Giveaway Ends: June 1, 2011

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9266810-ten-things-we-did

10. Thin, Rich, Pretty by Beth Harbison

St. Martins Press; Giveaway Ends: June 1, 2011

http://us.macmillan.com/smp/promo/slhrthinrichpretty?utm_source=exacttarget&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_content=may2011&utm_campaign=slhr

Star Book Review and Contest: Beneath a Starlet Sky by Amanda Goldberg & Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper

SPECIAL NEW RELEASE & BOOK GIVEAWAY: OPEN TO ALL US/CANADA RESIDENTS

(See below for details.)

“Welcome to Hollyweird…” so greets readers to the second helping of star-studded dramedies of Lola Santisi and her celeb-crazed family. Amanda Goldberg & Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper, daughters of two of Hollywood’s very real and brightest players, have earned a name for themselves with their behind-the-scenes sneak peak at what it’s like to live in Tinseltown. Be prepared for an outlandish yet dead-on portrayal of life Beneath a Starlet Sky.

Everyone in Hollywood knows the Santisi’s but no one knows what it’s really like to live on the inside of the star-crazed, camera-hungry, award show stealing family like daughter. Lola Santisi. Lola is the CEO of Julian Tennant, Inc., a struggling wedding designer and her BGF, ‘Best Gay Forever’. She will do (almost) anything to get him on the cover of Vain magazine, even if it means having to beg Papa Santisi to put a rehab-bound actor in his latest Oscar-worthy film. Lola’s BFF, Kate, has always put business before pleasure especially now that she’s managing Saffron Sykes, the hottest star since Angelina Jolie, but what will happen to Lola and Kate’s friendship when Kate’s relationship with Lola’s brother, Christopher goes sour? As if things weren’t already chaotic enough, Mother Santisi and her reality-tv film crew are around every corner and demanding Lola and everyone act out scripted scenes to boost sweeps week ratings. Finally, Lola thinks she may have finally found her own Dr. McDreamy, Lev, but when he’s approached to act a bit part in a TV medical drama, Lola’s afraid there won’t be enough medicine to cure the actor bug. But, with the Cannes Film Festival on the horizon, maybe what everyone needs is a little time away from La-La Land but then again where the Santisis go, drama usually follows and where else but a film festival would plenty of cameras catch all the action….

This book was sinfully delicious! I loved every page. For a book with many characters, it was so easy to follow all the drama and I found myself rooting for Lola the entire way. Beneath a Starlet Sky proves that you can take the girl out of Hollywood but you definitely can’t take the “Hollywood” out of the girl! A four star, guilty pleasure. If you haven’t read Goldberg and Hopper’s first novel, Celebutantes, chronicling the Santisi-saga in all their celeb-frenzied glory, I would definitely add that to the top of your TBR list. In the meantime, get a copy of Beneath a Starlet Sky, head on over to France with Lola Santisi, catch a film, see the stars, and just wait for all the drama unfold.

4 STARS

Here’s your chance NOW through Tuesday, May 10, 2011 to WIN your VERY OWN COPY OF Beneath A Starlet Sky by Amanada Goldberg and Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper. Write a comment below, including your email and then cross your fingers that you’ll be reading soon about all the antics of Lola, Kate, Julian and all the Santisis at this Cannes Film Festival! It’s a story not to be missed….

SPECIAL CONTEST & DETAILS:

TO WIN ONE (1) COPY OF BENEATH A STARLET SKY BY AMANDA GOLDBERG & RUTHANNA KHALGHI HOPPER (Provided by the Publisher),

ENTER BELOW:

1.                          Write a Comment below and include a Valid Email Address where I can contact the winner

2.                          OPEN to all US and CANADA Residents

3.                          One Winner will receive one (1) copy of Beneath a Starlet Sky, provided by the Publisher

4.                          ONE entry per person (No extra entries; although spreading the word about this fabulous contest is always appreciatedJ)

5.                          Winner will be chosen Wednesday, May 11, 2011 via Random.org

6.                          Winner will be Announced on my blog, Lip Gloss & Literature and an Email will be sent to the winner at the email provided

7.                          If the Winner does not respond within 48 Hours, a new winner will be selected.

Thank you to the publisher for providing the copy of Beneath a Starlet Sky and Thank you to EVERYONE for participating. GOOD LUCK!!

Special Guest Post & Contest: Dee DeTarsio, Author of The Scent of Jade

(Self) Interview With Dee DeTarsio, Author of The Scent of Jade

 

(And after the interview, check at the bottom for details on the special contest and giveaway for two (2) Amazon Kindle e-book copies of her adventurous, romoantic comedy, The Scent of Jade.)

Dear Marian Keyes,

Wait a minute. Why are you writing a letter to Marian Keyes, famous author and brilliant Irish storyteller, an icon gifted with wit and charm beyond compare?

Well, if you would bother to take that snooty tone out of your implication, I will answer. I am reaching out to Ms. Keyes because I’m convinced we are BFF soul mates. We have so much in common. It’s uncanny! I even sometimes wonder if we’ve shared past lives together. And besides all that, I am really jonesin’ for a new novel from her; isn’t it Helen’s turn? I’m also thinking Mammy Walsh has some stories in her past...

Why are you stalking Marian Keyes?

She’s a Virgo, I’m a Virgo. She’s a successful internationally recognized goddess of an author, and I...well, I’ve read everything she’s ever written. I expect we would be best friends, as close as sisters. She even looks amazingly like my younger sister, Ma... OK, my sister’s name isn’t Marian, it’s MaryBeth, but we call her Beezer, which has the exact same number of letters Marian’s name does. Coincidence? (I sometimes even call my sister an eejit!)

That’s the strength of your connection?

Her most excellent Ms. Keyes is from Ireland, I love the color green. From her first book, Watermelon, (my seventh favorite fruit) to Sushi For Beginners (I’m only up to California rolls myself!) to Anybody Out There...I have loved, read, and reread every word. I’ve even read parts aloud to my husband.

What can guys learn from chick lit?

Lots of cool stuff. Like women think it’s sexier for guys to fill up our cars with gas, than to play bongos on our ass. (See what I did there, I made it sing-songy so it can be remembered easier.) Guys need to come over to the pink side--they don’t know what they’re missing.

You really think Marian Keyes is going to respond to you?

She’s going to have to sign that restraining order sooner or later.

What do you want from her--a blurb for your book?

That would be genius. I’ve even taken the liberty of writing it for her myself:

“You’d be an eejit not to read this gobshite.”  Marian Keyes xoxo

You must really think you’re fly like a G6.

More like a V8.

So, what would you say if you were ever lucky enough to meet the object of your affection?

WHEN I finally meet MARIAN KEYES! (I will be the one wearing my skinny jeans that look brand new on account I don’t get to wear them that often, with a brand new top that covers all the right places--I think a dress would be too-too...) I’m thinking of leading off with, “Top of the morning!” as an icebreaker.

I am such a gobshite.

Dear Marian--Friend me!!

Photos: Marian Keyes...                                                     ...and her doppelganger, my sister, Beezer!    

For more of the writings of hilarious author Dee DeTarsio, check out her blog at http://ogblayotspay.blogspot.com/ or her website at http://www.deedetarsio.com/ or http://thescentofjade.com/.

Currently at work on her fourth novel, she has written three others, of which I was so lucky to read and review the first, The Scent of Jade. Aptly marketed as "Romancing the Stone" meets Survivor, you won't be disappointed as you fly through the pages in this adventurous romantic comedy. Dee DeTarsio has very generously offered two (2)!!! copies of The Scent of Jade to two lucky winners worldwide. (These are Amazon Kindle formatted e-books. you do NOT need a Kindle to read them, simply download the Kindle application to your phone, iPod, Computer or other compatible device.)

Contest!! Rules & Details: Two (2) Kindle e-Books: The Scent of Jade by Dee DeTarsio

1. Post a Comment below with your Email Address for entry to win one of two copies of The Scent of Jade.

2. One entry per person.

3. Contest is open worldwide; you just need computer access to receive the e-book.

4. Each winner will receive an electronic copy of The Scent of Jade. This is an e-format from Amazon Kindle. You do NOT need to own or use a Kindle ereader; simply download the Kindle Application on your phone, computer, iPod or other compatible device.

5. Contest will be open through Saturday, April 30, 2011.

6. Winners will be chosen randomly through Random.org.

7. Must include email address in comment so that I can contact you should you win. (I will NOT use your email for any other purpose.)

Good Luck and in the meantime, Check out my review of The Scent of Jade on Lip Gloss and  Literature.

 

50th Follower Book Giveaway Winner: Announced

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in my 50^th follower book giveaway. The winner was chosen from the entries on the original post’s comments (see link below) via Random.org.

I’m so pleased to announce:

She will have her pick from one of 5 Classic Chick Lit books, which are all among my personal favorites.

4 Blondes by Candace Bushnell

Angels by Marian Keyes

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

 I hope you like your new book!! And thank you again to everyone who continues to follow my blog.

 I hope to have many more fun and exciting book giveaways in the future…hey, it’s not that far off from 100…..maybe a giveaway for a 2011 novel for a centennial follower contest…what do you think?!?!!?

For synopses of the books offered in this giveaway for the winner or anyone to read or just view their covers, please visit the original post:

http://lipglossandliterature.blogspot.com/2011/03/50th-follower-book-giveaway-choose-from.html