First Line Friday: Wedding Cake to Turin by Lynda Renham

FIRST LINES FRIDAY

First Lines Friday is a new bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. The rules are simple and straightforward so play along!

·        Grab your current read (s).

·        Share the first line(s).

·        Include the title and author so that the other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.

“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.”

~ Wedding Cake to Turin by Lynda Renham

When Charlotte is sent by her boss to deliver a wedding cake to Turin 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.

Synopsis found on Goodreads

What first lines have you been reading? Share with me below!

Star Book Review - Click: An Online Love Story by Lisa Becker

Click: An Online Love Story was one of my favorite debuts of the year. Written in purely email form, Click tells the story of Renee, who’s almost thirty and looking for love.

Desperate to find a good man in the Los Angeles 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.

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!

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?

Renee and her friends will always have each other; but will they ever find true love in Los Angeles?

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.  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 all 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.  

I hope there will be more books from Lisa Becker to read in the future.

**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 Chick Lit Central: The Blog, you have a chance to win your very own copy of Click: An Online Love Story through TOMORROW!!!  Here’s the link: http://chicklitcentraltheblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/we-clicked-with-lisa-beckerplus-book.html**

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

4 STARS

 

Star Audio Book Review - The Single Girl's To-Do List by Lindsey Kelk, Narrated by Cassandra Hardwood

Lindsey Kelk has done it again! Her newest contemporary chick lit novel, The Single Girl’s To-Do List, 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.

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!

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 Heart 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-list in the I Heart series, I Heart Hollywood, also narrated by Cassabdra Harwood.

            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 Beauty Mecca blog. Or if you want to learn more about her I Heart series or check out Angela’s exclusives guides to NYC, Hollywood or Paris, click Here. Both sites are gorgeous (and addictive!)

Putting On my Lip Gloss - Chick Lit and Fashion: BCBG

It’s summer. It’s hot. It’s prime time for beach reading; but do you ever find yourself getting distracted by whatever it is you’re reading? If you’re like me – and it’s no secret if you follow my blog that my favorite summer beach read is anything in the chick lit genre – I’ve caught myself day dreaming about those luscious stilettos, mary janes and knee high boots that Sondra keeps talking about in Beth Harbison’s Confessions of a Shoe Addict. While reading an old Emily Giffin or Lauren Weisberger novel, I’ve gotten lost in fantasy about all those beautiful designer gowns and dresses I last saw on the runaway. Whatever it is, by the time I’ve sprung back to reality, I realize I’ve completely spaced out the last five pages of my book and I stumble to find my place or sometimes, I’ve already put my book down, and the next thing I know I’m surfing the web for the lastest in designer fashion. If this sounds like you, you might relate to the fashionistas of chick lit.

Every reader of those candy covered paperbacks knows that chick lit and fashion go hand in hand so I thought what better time to celebrate some of my favorite styles and designers than during a summer spread of chick lit fashion features. This week I’m going to start with one of the inaugural (to me) designers who has always had ample space in my closet since I first learned what being a chick lit fashionista was all about: BCBG. From BCBGirls, to BCBGMaxAzria to the fabulous BCBG standalone brands, BCBG is always hot on the cusp of the latest in designer fashion, from romantic lace, black and white contrasts or geometric and artsy prints to complement the classic floral designs. I have always found something (and sometimes) everything to make up a season’s worth of wardrobe staples and some pieces just for fun.  

Since I’m reading and writing all the time, I no longer have time to shop at the mall like I used to but who needs to go anywhere when you’ve got a world of shopping in front of you with just one click of a mouse. I remember when I found Bluefly years ago; I was ecstatic. Fashion + discount + mail delivery right to my apartment? Too good to be true, right? Nope, Bluefly has proven itself to me time and time again to be one of the few trusted discounted sites in designer wear on the web. In fact one of the very first pieces I ever bought from the fashion forward web site was a BCBG black and white, floral halter dress! Bought years ago it remains one of my favorite summer staples.

My personal favorites from BCBG have always, hands down, been their dresses; but I also love their babydoll and drapey tops, and of course, there many varies and creative shoes for the “sole”.  One of my oldest and favorite pairs of summer BCBG Shoes are a neutral tan 2 ½” wedge with a criss-crossed, double strap in a super soft suede. Hot, hot hot; but with my birthday right around the corner, I’ve got my eyes on some new summer styles.

Among my favorites this summer that I’ll definitely be seen wearing while I read the latest from Beth Harbison, Emily Giffin, Candace Bushnell and other chick lit fashionistas include the drapey tunic, (many) colorful babydoll tees with romantic and flirty details, long and short dresses (I can never have enough dresses!) and of course, strappy sandals and high heeled wedges. I think every girl needs a new pair of black strappy sandals each summer and a funky pair just for fun (see the python BCBG shoes I picked out!). I think I will always be a fan of the babydoll top and dress, no matter how old I get. Although Black and white (and this year silver and grey) continue to reign in the shades of my closet, I am loving this summer’s bright colors in green, purple, and yellow. Anything floral will always get my debit card swiping although the tie-dyed, ombre and artsy, geometric fashions I’ve seen on the site this year have given me something new to add to my collection. Check out the rest of the garb at BCBG at Bluefly and then check back in and let me know:  

What chick lit books will you be reading at the beach this summer? And what will you be wearing while you read it?

Here are some of my favorite Fashionista Chick Lit Books to check out this summer or any season:

Top Ten Fashionista Chick Lit

1. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
2. The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
3. Fashionistas by Lynn Messina
4. Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell
5.  Beneath a Starlet Sky by Amanda Goldberg & Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper
6. Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison
7. The Debutante Divorcee by Plum Sykes
8. I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk
9. Adored by Tilly Bagshawe

10. Falling out of Fashion by Karen Yampolskey

Who made your fashionista list??

**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.

Special Author Interview & Book Review with Marika Christian, Author of Phone Kitten

Thank you very much to Marika Christian for taking the time to answer a few of my burning questions about her and her newest release. Marika Christian is the author of the debut novel, Phone Kitten. Visit her blog, Miss Quoted, at http://marikachristian.blogspot.com/ to learn more about the author and where to buy her book. Please continue reading after the interview for my review of Phone Kitten!

Q. I often hear “write what you know”. Does “Phone Kitten” have any personal background to it? 

MC: Phone Kitten is nothing but personal experience, except for the murder part. I’ve never solved a crime, but I did take jobs at two different phone sex services, both successful, both still in business. Every call that is featured in the book, is a call I actually took. 

Q. Phone Kitten is about a female phone sex operator who also becomes a sleuth. What inspired you to combine contemporary women’s fiction with a little mystery? 

MC: Mysteries have always been big with me. Growing up, I read a lot of Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden.  When my family would vacation in Germany, my aunt, who worked at the military base, would bring me boxes of novels by Victoria Holt. They always had a bit of mystery as well. And never doubt the influence of Scooby Doo. You can never go wrong with a mystery-solving dog.  

Q. Can you explain a little about how you became a writer? Did you have any specific influences (people, events or other)? 

MC: When I was a little girl, I got a typewriter for my birthday and I would write about my dog, Trixie, having tons of adventures. I think I always dreamed about being a writer, but dreaming it is different from doing it.  It wasn’t till I moved to New Orleans that I really started working at it. New Orleans is such a creative city. There are days when I look around and I think “This is where I live!” It’s still exciting and new. When I arrived in New Orleans, I was lucky enough to meet up with a mentor who guided me along the way. It was a combination of the right people, meeting at the right time, and being in the right city. New Orleans is magic that way. 

Q. Who is your all-time favorite character and why?

MC: Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody. She’s very stubborn, she’s believes she’s always right, yet she’s deeply sentimental, and addicted to romance. She uses her parasol as a weapon. She is wonderfully flawed, and still tendered-hearted and funny.  I love her. Her relationship with Emerson, her husband, is wildly passionate. I’ll confess to having Crocodile on the Sandbank as an audio book. I listen to it often, and when it gets to the part about their first kiss, I always catch my breath, stop what I’m doing, and listen. Best Kiss Ever. You can’t go wrong with Amelia.  Elizabeth Peters is the best.

Q. Do you have a specific routine or process to your writing and/or what does your writing space look like?

MC: I’ve always been a night owl, so I don’t start till late in the evening. I make a pitcher of iced tea, I read the last thing I wrote, I probably make a few changes, then I dive in.  I have a play list made up of songs that remind me of my characters that I listen to while I write. Once I’m in the story I just let it take over.  My work space is small and a little cluttered, but I like it that way. 

Q. Are you working on any other books at the moment or have plans for more in the future?

MC: I’m currently working on a sequel to Phone Kitten. Emily has a new job, some new friends, neighbors, and a new mystery to solve. She’s got a few more stories in her. Luckily, I like spending time with Emily.

Q. How do you balance writing with your job in telecommunications?

MC: I’m lucky enough to work from home, and my schedule is pretty much mine to make. While I do have to manage my time and make sure I get my hours in, it also gives me the ability to write more then a 9-5 job would. If I could stop myself from playing on the Internet, things would be perfect.    

 

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

MC: I love taking my dog, Dash, for walks in the French Quarter. He’s very friendly and he likes to visit a few of our friends.  I always take my camera. I’m not a great photographer, but it’s hard to take a bad picture when you live in such a beautiful city.  I also do a lot of cross stitch. This year I’m making all my Christmas gifts. I just finished a zombie pillow. 

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

MC: I would pass on the advice I got from an award-winning mystery writer. She told me at one point something in the story you are working on should make you cry. I’ve never forgotten that.  Also invest in a really good chair. Your butt’s going to be sitting in it for awhile. 

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

 

MC: I liked pomegranates before they were “cool”, I hate the thought of running out of ice, I got my first cell phone last year, I’m left-handed, and I carry two gris-gris in my pocket at all times because I’ll take all the luck I can get.

Cover found on Goodreads

Phone Kitten by Marika Christian

In the debut chick lit comedic mystery and thriller, Marika Christian has created an intriguing world in which a young woman takes on two new roles in her life. First, Emily Summers loses her job at a local newspaper after her competitive and underhanded boss steals her writing. Jobless and nearly penniless, Emily capitalizes on another talent – her sexy phone voice – and becomes a phone actress, answering the calls of lonely, desperate and horny men. When one of her regular callers shows up in the paper – murdered – Emily takes on yet another role as a murder detective, using her old editorial skills and calling on her memories of girl sleuths from her youth, a la Nancy Drew. Emily puts herself in harm’s way again and again, meeting with a lot of dark people in shady places. As if Emily doesn’t have enough on her plate, she meets a new guy at school who she’s crushing on hard but she doesn’t want him to find out anything about her new double life; and soon she finds out he's got a secret of his own. Will Emily be able to juggle all the people and craziness in her life and solve the murder?? Find out in this hilarious new mystery thriller from Marika Christian. This was a really good story and I am even more impressed since it was a first novel. The main character was I am eagerly anticipating a sequel to this creative story.                                        3 Stars

A big thanks to Marika Christian and her publisher for sending me a copy of her novel to read and review; and another big thanks to Samantha of Chick Lit Plus for her coordination of the Blog Tour for Phone Kitten. For more stops on the tour, please visit the site at http://chicklitplusblogtours.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/phone-kitten-by-marika-christian/.






Visit Chick Lit Plus
Blog Tours
 for more stops on the
Phone Kitten Tour!!



And if you still haven’t gotten your fill of Marika Christian and Phone Kitten, please log on to Twitter on July 14^th at 8pm CST for a TwitParty hosted in conjunction with Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours. Use #CLPMarika to get involved!!



Let Freedom "Read": Chick Lit on the Fourth of July

            Who doesn’t like FREE?? And what better weekend to get a free book – or even better – a collection of short stories – than the Fourth of July Weekend which is ALL ABOUT BEING FREE!? Sibel Hodge, author of many chick lit novels, all available on Smashwords and Barnes and Nobles as e-books; and now she has offered her latest publication in chick lit, How to Dump Your Boyfriend in the Men’s Room (And Other Short Stories), FREE via Smashwords for ONE WHOLE MONTH.

How to Dump Your Boyfriend in the Men’s Room (And Other Short Stories)

by Sibel Hodge

Welcome to My World...

I'm an author of chick lit romances and mysteries. In my spare time I'm Wonder Woman! My world is sometimes wacky, quirky, and very accident-prone.

This is a collection of five humorous short stories - what I like to call true fiction. Some are true, some are fiction, and some are a mixture of both. I guess you have to decide which is which!

I often get asked if I'm like any of my characters in my novels, and I have to groan and say, yes. When you read these stories you'll realize how, and a lot of them have inspired scenes in my novels, although names have been omitted or changed to protect me against lawsuits!

Are you ready to find out "how to dump your boyfriend in the men's toilets", why "yoga is bad for your house", what the "S-Word has to do with your lady garden", why you need to "follow that goat", and whether "kismet" does really exist?

(Short stories total 6,500 words. Includes bonus material and chapters from my novels, Fourteen Days Later, My Perfect Wedding, The Fashion Police, and Be Careful What You Wish For)

Synopsis found on Goodreads

For your very own copy, go to Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/69497 and enter code: WQ97R.

Sibel Hodge first two book series Fourteen Days Later, My Perfect Wedding, were described as a cross between Bridget Jones and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The Fashion Police and Be Careful What You Wish For have been likened to the popular Stephanie Plum bounty hunter adventure series, with Sibel Hodge’s on femme fatale, Amber Fox. Having taken on many varied roles throughout her life already, I imagine Sibel Hodge has an almost limitless pool of resources to pull fromo when creating her characters and stories. Her biography on http://www.sibelhodge.com/ lists her career accomplishments as including being a qualified personal trainer and sports and massage therapist; she works as a freelance writer on fitness and sports topics; and finally, prior to this writing/fitness role, she worked at the Hertfordshire Constabulary!

You may have noticed her e-books on Goodreads or at the Giveaways page during International Chick Lit Month with their eye catching, beautiful, unique and colorful images (see throughout post); so what are you waiting for!? Go out and get her latest at Smashwords! FREE!

Happy Fourth of July, Everyone!

For more of the free deets go to the post on Sibel Hodge’s Blog:

http://www.sibelhodge.com/my-blog/how-to-dump-your-boyfriend-in-the-men-s-room-and-other-short-stories-free-

Or for more of the musings of Sibel Hodge, please visit her website at: http://www.sibelhodge.com/

Star Book Review: Confessions of a Call Center Gal by Lisa Lim

I was very excited to read the new release and debut from Lisa Lim, Confessions of a Call Center Gal. Having worked on a community phone line for a corporation with a large customer base for the past 5 year, I could relate to the setting of the novel and the job of the main character.

Madison (Maddy) Lee is just out of college and living in Pocatello, Idaho. With the economy in shambles and everyone fighting for jobs, she and her best friend Karsynn (Kars) have had no luck finding a job. When an advertisement comes out for phone service work at Lightning Speed Calling Center, the two girls jump at the opportunity and both are hired.

The working conditions at the Lightning Speed Call Center in Idaho are trying, to say the least. First, Maddy and Kars must undergo a month long training program in order to become qualified to assist customers calling in about everything from billing questions to Internet connection problems. At the training, they meet Mika, a gorgeous Russian about their same age, who becomes Maddy’s major crush. Unfortunately, Mika is already tied to the gorgeous Bulgarian, Ingeborg, who is just too nice to hate and they, too, quickly become friends. After the four friends complete training, they have a little graduation ceremony and are ready to begin work.

Work at the Lightning Speed Call Center is definitely not your typical office job. The callers seem to be a breed all their own. One such character calls in to seek assistance with his Internet service and instead of directly asking for help, he spells everything out – literally. Other callers are so irate by the time they get through to Maddy that they are not even willing to go through the mandated verification process and a manager must get involved. Other callers are more chipper, more upbeat and in general, nice to deal with, but they are almost completely computer illiterate, making for a challenging exchange. All in all, Maddy must learn to deal with a difficult boss, frustrated customers and of course, the normal day-to-day, life stuff, relationship issues, and family drama.

Confessions of a Call Center Gal was a fun chick lit book that I would categorize as part of a subgenre of “working girl” books, as it mainly focused on Maddy’s job  and the rest of the story, characters, relationships and events revolved around it. Aside from her job, however, prevalent themes include friendship, love and growing up. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has worked in any customer service field before. I think you’ll really get a kick out of some of the incidents and humor. Also, I’d recommend it to anyone not in the customer service industry because I think they will get a taste for how it is on the other side of the phone.   

3 STARS

**Thank you so much to Lisa Lim who provided me with a review e-copy of Confessions of a Call Center Gal. I really appreciated the opportunity and hope to read more books by her in the future. For more information on Lisa Lim, her books, love of Anthropologie or just find out what else she’s been up to, visit her blog, http://confessionsofacallcentergal.blogspot.com/, where you will find all things loved by her, from fashion to food, fiction and more!**