Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The Green Ticket Blog Tour

The Green Ticket was a highly enjoyable book with a well thought out plot and very approachable and believable characters. I liked a lot how the main character had lived a somewhat difficult life but through perseverance and support from good friends and her sister, she was becoming a successful young woman.
The story flowed well however at times it would skip a period of time and sort of resume what had happened instead of just continuing along which I personally would have preferred.

All in all, another great book by Samantha March - I am eagerly awaiting for her next one!


Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up to date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and celebrity related. In 2011 she launched her independent publishing company Marching Ink and her debut novel Destined to Fail. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers.

Connect with Samantha!


Buy the Book!
Amazon: Print or eBook
Barnes and Noble: eBook
Kobo: eBook
Marching Ink: Print


Monday, December 17, 2012

Sparkle Blog Tour






I really loved this book because although a lot of the ideas within were ones that I ultimately knew already and have embraced in my life, it's always helpful to get a reminder of things, especially in today's hectic world. A way to focus on things. Although I can't really subscribe to the champagne notion inside, I definitely agree that SOMETHING to make everything feel special or some kind of reward of sorts would be a great idea for motivation.é

I think this is a great little book that I will recommend to a lot of people I know because it has a lot of basic truths that are very helpful in daily life.



Cara Alwill Leyba is a best selling author, and certified life and wellness coach from New York City who empowers women to live their most effervescent lives and celebrate themselves. She encourages women to indulge in the things that make them happy, and swears that every woman can live a "champagne life," no matter how busy she is or how tight her budget.

Her blog, The Champagne Diet, boasts a following of thousands of loyal readers and has been featured in Glamour, Shape, Cafe Mom, Daily Mail UK, MSN Australia, AOL UK Lifestyle, and a host of other publications worldwide. Cara's writing has been featured in The Huffington Post, xJane, Mind Body Green, MTV News, and many other sites.
Cara regularly appears on the “Ask Dr. Fritz” radio show on WWRL New York, where she helps host Dr. Fritz answer questions from callers about love, career, family, relationships and more. She also hosts her own lifestyle and wellness show, "Uncork Your Best Self" on Blog Talk Radio.

Cara's first book, SPARKLE, became an immediate #1 bestseller on Amazon in both the Happiness and Self-Esteem categories upon hours of its release. She celebrated the release of her book with a book signing in New York City this past fall.

When she’s not popping bubbly, blogging, or working with her coaching clients, Cara spends her days leading a digital advertising team at MTV Networks. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and dog-child. For more on Cara visit www.LiveCreateSparkle.com

Connect with Cara!




Cara's website: www.LiveCreateSparkle.com
Cara's blog: www.TheChampagneDiet.com
Want to learn how to sparkle? Join Cara's "Sparkling Start" workshop next month and kick off 2013 in glittering, shimmering style! http://www.livecreatesparkle.com/group-workshops.html 
 
Buy the Book!

Amazon


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Holiday Treats for Chick Lit Lovers!





In the spirit of coming together for the holidays, eight popular Chick Lit authors
are "partying it up" with a shared promotion for book lovers! That means eight
fun and fizzy e-books, each priced at $3.99 or less, that are packed with
plenty of laughs and romance to keep you entertained on those long winter
nights! And if you'd like to gift one of these books to a Chick Lit fan, we've got
you covered with your choice of paperbacks!

Which books are featured in this festive promo?

Finding Lucas by Samantha Stroh Bailey - Daytime talk show producer Jamie
Ross is beyond fed up with her toxic bad boy turned metrosexual boyfriend.
Spurred on by her gang of quirky friends, she goes on a hilarious, at-times
disastrous, and totally life-changing hunt to track down the "one who got
away." But are some loves best left behind? E-book and paperback available on
Amazon.

In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister - Handling the problems of hysterical
hypochondriacs, lovelorn neurotics, and compulsive man whores is all in a
day's work for super-shrink Pilar Alvarez. But can she deal with her crazy
Cuban family, a trio of unsuitable suitors, and a threat to her practice without
ending up on the couch herself? E-book available on Amazon and Barnes &
Noble; paperback available on Amazon.

What the Dog Ate by Jackie Bouchard - Discovering what her dog ate
turns Maggie Baxter’s world upside down. With her chocolate Lab, Kona, as
her guide, can Maggie forego her overly analytical ways to find a new life
filled with tail-wagging joy? E-book available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
and iTunes; paperback available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The Girl, the Gold Tooth, & Everything by Francine LaSala - Suburban
housewife Mina, beaten-down and struggling with amnesia, starts getting her
memory and her mojo back. But she soon learns everything has a price in this
fast-paced, richly layered, and darkly humorous satire! E-book and paperback
available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Breaking the Rules by Cat Lavoie - When Roxy Rule shares a passionate kiss
with her lifelong best friend, she must come to terms with her feelings for
him while dealing with two sisters in full crisis mode, a boss who makes her
want to stab herself with a letter opener and a fiancé who can't wait to walk
down the aisle. Can she keep it together--or will she break under the pressure?
E-book available on Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble; paperback available on
Amazon.

Fashioning a Romance by Libby Mercer - Devastatingly handsome and
deliciously weird, John Harrington is the man of Caitlyn Taylor's dreams…
and her nightmares. She has no use for a womanizer like him, and dodges his

advances like a pro. But when they end up in Paris together, Caitlyn feels her
resolve begin to slip. How will she ever be able to resist the irresistible in the
most romantic city in the world? E-book available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
and Kobo.

A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr - Jane Frank is newly single after nine
years and looking for a second chance at love. But when she dives head first
into the NYC dating scene and finds it infested with flakes who are interested
today and gone tomorrow, it may be time for Jane to turn the tables! E-
book available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes; paperback available on
Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Picture Perfect by Lucie Simone - Lauren Tate's perfectly planned life quickly
unravels at the seams when a smear campaign threatens her career as a top
TV executive, but she learns just how cutthroat showbiz can truly be when
the hottest scandal in Tinsel Town turns deadly and the Hollywood hunk
who's stolen her heart goes missing. E-book available on Amazon; paperback
available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Pass the Hot Stuff Book Review


Pass the Hot Stuff was a very enjoyable book of a woman in a period of her life that was marked by a lot of change. And who cannot identify with that? I really loved getting to know all of the characters in the book as I found them very personable and realistic. It was almost like hearing the story of what happened to a friend.
This is an incredible debut novel by a talented writer and I loved how she made the New Orleans area come alive to me. It has long been a place that I have been interested in but I don't know much about it, sadly. I am very happy to say that I know a little bit more now.
The story kept its pace going strong and kept me captivated. I really enjoyed it and think that it is a great lighter type of read though still with a lot of meat on the bone.


Dana Page was raised in Memphis, Tennessee.  Born just down the road from Memphis in Helena, Arkansas, she considers the Mississippi River Delta her own personal inspiration. Having earned a degree in journalism from Texas A&M University, she has utilized her writing skills in varied areas - small-town politics, human interest stories and writing an entertainment column, to name a few. To support her writing habit, she has worked an odd job or two.  Don't ask her about delivering singing telegrams; some things are best forgotten.  Pass the Hot Stuff is Dana’s debut novel.

Connect with Dana!





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Monday, October 15, 2012

Sugarfiend Review


Sugarfiend was a captivating book about someone who was a complete mess. It really was entertaining to listen to the trials and tribulations of Estelle. It really seems like anything that can go wrong does. Couple that with some good old fashioned bad choice making, it really was an amusing book that also made me shudder at times.

But never fear, redemption does exist! Lessons learned and crisis averted. I liked this book a lot because it was very descriptive, easy to read and I just kept hoping something good would happen to Estelle! I am sure if you give this book a try, you will also be rooting for her!


Caroline Burau is a blogger, two-time author, and a 911 dispatcher. Her first book, Answering 911: Life in the Hot Seat was aReader's Digest Editor's Choice and a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award.

When she's not writing or obsessing about writing, she's spending her royalties on yoga classes, strappy sport tops, and used books. She lives with her husband, two geriatric cats, and an excitable yellow lab in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Connect with Caroline!

http://www.carolineburau.com/

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Monday, October 8, 2012

Picture Perfect Review


Picture Perfect was one of those perfect type of books where everything just flowed so naturally that it was almost impossible to put down and I often didn't! I don't really know much about the scene in L.A. but I'm fairly sure that Lucie Simone portrayed it pretty accurately which gave an interesting look into the cutthroat world that it is.
The main character was so realistic and very human so it was easy to get to like her and empathize with her. I didn't find myself identifying with the actual situations she was in but I definitely identified with the emotions she was feeling which is a great sign of the authors abilities.
I definitely liked this book a lot and am looking forward to sharing this author with friends!


Lucie Simone has a passion for travel, yoga, and writing. She has a degree in Journalism, a Master of Fine Arts in Television Production, and is a certified yoga teacher registered with Yoga Alliance. Her love of comedy (and living under the delusion that she might one day be an actress) resulted in a stint studying improvisation, which, ironically enough, taught her to be a better writer.

Her short story, A Taste of Italy, won the New York Book Festival competition for best ebook and is a bestseller at Amazon UK. The release of her debut novel, Hollywood Ending, a romantic comedy about life in Hollywood for the not-so-rich-and-famous, marked the launch of her small press, Simon & Fig, which publishes Chick Lit, Lad Lit and Women’s Fiction exclusively.

Lucie lives, loves and writes in the City of Angels, but considers New York City her second home and visits as often as her bank account will allow.  

Connect with Lucie!





Monday, October 1, 2012

Last Minute Love Review


Ever since I read 'Year of the Chick', I have been a huge Romi Moondi fan so I absolutely jumped at the chance to review this book! And of course, I wasn't disappointed.

As in the first book, I just could not put this one down. I loved, loved, LOVED it! I sped through reading the book and hearing of the latest adventures of Romi in such little time that I was almost disappointed I had not made myself savor it more slowly. This book is just so enjoyable and so easy to read plus the character speaks to you, no matter what your ethnic background that it was impossible to do that.

I am so looking forward to the third book coming out next year and hope that Ms. Moondi has plans for more after that!


I am Canadian, and here are some strange personal facts:

-I wore denim-top-to-bottom in high school (there is a direct inverse relationship between how much denim I wore and how few tongues were launched down my throat at school dances...or anywhere in high school at all).
-A homeless lady in New York once told me "You're just a bitch on vacation with no money!"
-I always hated those insufferable couples who would cuddle and make out on the subway...until I became half of one. But now I'm back to being none of one so I hate them again.

The thing I love most in the world is writing. When I first started publishing on Amazon it was my "crazy" humour side ("The Book of Awful," and "NOT Love Poems For Real Life"). Since then, everything has focused on my "Year of the Chick" series, because it's the most important thing to me in the world right now. I guess that would tend to happen, when your writing is inspired by real life, including all the satisfaction and risks that come from that.

My "Year of the Chick" series can be described as "edgy rom-com," which helps me account for the blunt conversations and mortifying family moments in the book ;-).
Book 3 in the "Year of the Chick" series will be written and released in 2013; until then I have some adventures to go on!
 

Connect with Romi!



Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/RomiMoondi
Twitter: http:///www.twitter.com/romimoondi
Blog: http://romimoondi.wordpress.com


Buy the Book!


Last-Minute Love (on Amazon): http://www.amazon.com/Last-Minute-Love-Year-Chick-ebook/dp/B0089IG9BY/ref=la_B005W65KWK_1_3_title_0_main?ie=UTF8&qid=1347224655&sr=1-3
Last-Minute Love (on B&N): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-minute-love-romi-moondi/1111816576?ean=2940033288311
(Also available for Kobo and iTunes!)


Additional note: "Year of the Chick" which is book one in the series, is available for free at all e-tailers!




Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Finding Lucas Review


I loved absolutely EVERYTHING about this book. I literally devoured it in one sitting. I can't believe that this is a first attempt by a new author - where has she been hiding all this time?

The characters were likable, believable and endearing. I could often see myself in a lot of similar situations or could at least understand where the character was coming from, even if I had never been in that exact situation myself.

I was extremely happy that this book was not predictable though I suspected at the beginning that it might be. It was anything but formulaic and it definitely kept me entertained, hooked and longing for more!

Please please please go out and read this book - you won't regret it!


Samantha Stroh Bailey has been a writer ever since she could pick up a pen. In fact, she even sent her first manuscript, Freddy the Flame, to publishers when she was ten years old. Sadly, it was rejected, but a lifelong passion to write was born.

After 15 years of teaching ESL to adults, including at the University of Toronto, she decided to live her dreams of being a fulltime writer and editor. Now the owner of Perfect Pen Communications, she not only gets to write novels, but also writes and edits for magazines, websites, businesses, students and other writers.
Her work has appeared in Now Magazine, The Village Post, Oxford University Press, Abilities Magazine, on Mommyish.com and many other publications. Samantha also has a Master of Education in Applied Linguistics. 

She lives in Toronto with her husband and two children. Finding Lucas is her first novel.

Connect with Samantha!


Twitter: @perfectpen





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Monday, September 24, 2012

Don't Let Me Go Book Review


Another fantastic book by a wonderful author! I literally read this book in one sitting and I guess it was a blessing that I had a bout of insomnia last week so I could do so. I had a lot of trouble imagining putting this book down even to go to the bathroom so I just didn't.
I have been acquainted with this author's work for a long time having read some of her previous books and it was great to see that she has kept up the amazing quality of her tales and maintained also that wonderfully human side to things that just doesn't really exist in very many places.
I loved the fact that an unlikely "community" of people banded together to help one child. It was a heartwarming tale and one that I would like to think could possibly exist in this world. The characters were complex and you really got to know them and feel for them as they all had their trials and troubles.
I can't wait for the next book of Catherine's and feel so blessed to have been able to enjoy her talent once again.


Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of 18 published and forthcoming books.
Her newest releases are When You Were Older,  Don’t Let Me GoJumpstart the World , When I Found You and Second Hand Heart. Forthcoming is Walk Me Home (Transworld UK, Spring 2012). 

Other newer novels are Becoming ChloeLove in the Present TenseThe Year of My Miraculous ReappearanceChasing Windmills  The Day I Killed James, and Diary of a Witness
Both Becoming Chloe and Jumpstart the World were included on the ALA’s Rainbow List.  Jumpstart the World was chosen as a finalist for two Lambda Literary Awards, received a third place Rainbow Award for Young Adult/Coming of Age Fiction and a tie for first place in Bisexual/Transgender Fiction. Love in the Present Tense enjoyed bestseller status in the UK, where it broke the top ten, spent five weeks on the national bestseller list, was reviewed on a major TV book club, and shortlisted for a Best Read of the Year Award at the British Book Awards.

Older works include the story collection Earthquake Weather, and the novels Funerals for HorsesPay it ForwardElectric God, and Walter’s Purple Heart

Pay It Forward was adapted into a major motion picture starring Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt, chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than 23 languages for distribution in over 30 countries.  The mass market paperback was released in October 2000 by Pocket Books and quickly became a national bestseller.  It is still in print, and was rereleased in a trade paperback edition in April of 2010.

More than 50 of her short stories have been published in The Antioch Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, The Sun and many other journals, and in the anthologies Santa Barbara Stories  and California Shorts and the bestselling anthology Dog is my Co-Pilot. Her stories have been honored in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest and the Tobias Wolff Award and nominated for Best American Short Stories, the O'Henry Award, and the Pushcart Prize.  Three have been cited in Best American Short Stories.

She is founder and former president (2000-2009) of the Pay It Forward Foundation. As a professional public speaker she has addressed the National Conference on Education, twice spoken at Cornell University, met with Americorps members at the White House and shared a dais with Bill Clinton.

 Connect with Catherine!
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cryanhyde/


  Buy the Book!




Monday, September 17, 2012

The Undiscovered Novelist Book Review


The Undiscovered Novelist was a short novella about two women's lives and how they related to each other. The characters seemed quite realistic while some plot points seemed to be very conveniently working out. However, I did enjoy this book as it was exactly the right length for the story it wanted to tell and the author definitely has a talent in telling stories that will captivate the reader.


Sarah Bridgeton never thought she would become a novelist. She has always loved books, but in college she majored in Economics. After college, she held a variety of jobs in the insurance and health care industries. She left the workforce to be a stay-at-home mom when her daughter was born. When her daughter started preschool, she decided to write a novel.
She currently resides in Tampa with her husband, daughter, and two cats. When she’s not reading, writing, or taking care of her family, she likes to exercise.
 Connect with Sarah!



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Monday, September 10, 2012

Free Gift With Purchase Book Review


What a great little book. And I only call it little because I was able to race through it in a few hours this past Saturday night. Perhaps it's actually not so little but really just that amazing that I couldn't put it down and read my heart out. 
I loved everything about this book. The characters seemed utterly approachable and normal. They had issues and worries like everyone else (or maybe even more) and there was a lot of witty repartee that I truly enjoyed.
I'd definitely recommend this book and the loveable characters to everyone and I'm definitely going to be checking out Jackie's other books asap.


Jackie Pilossoph is also the author of Jackpot! and Hook, Line and Sink Him. She is a freelance corporate and newspaper reporter, and columnist for the Pioneer Press. Pilossoph holds a masters degree in communication from Boston University, and is currently working on her fourth novel.

Connect with Jackie!


my website and blog: www.jackiepilossoph.net


twitter: @pilossophsbooks

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Monday, September 3, 2012

Rum Punch Regrets Book Review


Rum Punch Regrets was a book that I really enjoyed. I picked it up yesterday and couldn't put it down. I hadn't read the first book in the series, and to be honest I wouldn't have known it was a sequel which is a testament, in my opinion, on the strength of the authors' writing.
This was a great sunny summer day read and it made me long to go to an island paradise and perhaps go through a major life change like Abby. The writing was fast paced and kept my interest the entire time so I'd definitely say pick it up today!


Anne Kemp is the author behind the Abby George Series, which includes her debut novella, All Fruits Ripe, and first novel, Rum Punch Regrets, which is available in print and as an eBookShe is also the columnist behind “Anne In Progress,” which appears monthly in the Frederick News-Post, a newspaper in the DC-Metro area. As a blogger, she was nominated for a 2012 Bloggers Choice Award for Best Humor Blog, and is known for penning “The Ultimate Late Bloomer.”

Follow her on Twitter, @MissAnneKemp, or join her fans on Facebook for fun contests and giveaways. You can always find her at her website: www.annekemp.com.

A portion of Anne's proceeds are donated to Lupus LA.




Saturday, September 1, 2012

Show Biz Book Review


This book was a great look into the inside of the world of Broadway and since I've long loved the musical genre (probably due to watching lots of Sound of Music type movies as a child), I found this an incredible read. Plus I do love New York so it was just a book that called to me and made me very happy to be spending time to read it. Everything about it was very compelling to me and if you're a fan of Broadway and/or New York, you'll probably love it as well!

Ruby Preston is an up and coming Broadway producer currently working on several new musicals on the Great White Way. She couldn’t be more thrilled to be living her dreams in the Times Square trenches of Manhattan. Ruby loves hearing from readers and Broadway fans so feel free to drop her note via email ruby (@) rubypreston (dot) com or twitter @Broadwayruby.

Connect with Ruby!
My website: www.rubypreston.com
My publisher Dress Circle Publishing: www.dresscirclepublishing.com
Twitter @BroadwayRuby

Buy the Book!
http://www.amazon.com/Showbiz-A-Novel-ebook/dp/B007V59IZU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344990438&sr=8-2&keywords=showbiz+a+novel
And on Barnes & Noble's Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/showbiz-a-novel-ruby-preston/1110479015?ean=2940033232789
And on iTunes. 



Ripple The Twine Review


An interesting departure from the usual chick lit fare, I enjoyed the fact that this book might appeal to both men and women since it was written as chick lit but with a sports theme. Definitely a unique perspective in a previously unexplored type of novel, I think that Jenn has a hit on her hands!

I loved the close friendships between the characters and feel that this book was fantastic. It was definitely a book that I had trouble putting down and I'd do everything to create time to continue reading it. 


enn Flynn-Shon is an Author, born and raised in the Boston, Massachusetts area but currently living and working in Phoenix, Arizona. She quite happily lives, child-free, with her husband in the Valley of the Sun. She is an avid recycler, upcycler, and refuser of superfluous things. Love of sports is a cultural experience, an almost mandated way of life for most Bostonians, and Jenn is no exception to that rule. Jenn loves to travel, read, spend time with family and friends, and blog. "Ripple the Twine" is her first fiction novel. 

Connect with Jenn!




Monday, August 20, 2012

Viewer Discretion Advised Review


Viewer Discretion Advised was a fast paced book that kept my interest and made me feel like I got an insider's perspective on the media world. I really enjoyed that the author has experience in this field, so it gave the story more credibility as I know she knew what she was talking about.
It was a story that showed the cutthroat side of things and also talked about the personal lives of the characters and how their work affected them. I often wondered how much was based on Cindy's actual personal experiences or just things she had seen happen to others.
I truly enjoyed this book and am very much looking forward to the next one she will write!


CINDY ROESEL is an Emmy Award winning television broadcast journalist. After working for twenty years in newsrooms filled with ambitious backbiting adrenalin junkies, she's turning her experiences into novels.  Cindy lives in Miami with her shih tzu, Sassy.

Connect with Cindy!







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 B&N.com