What's in the mail...plus a giveaway

Melissa A:

Lake Como by Anita Hughes from St. Martin's Press

The Chocolate Touch by Laura Florand from Kensington (Another novel from the "Amour Et Chocolat" series, The Chocolate Rose, is 99 cents for Kindle through 5/26)

Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren from Gallery Books (Simon and Schuster)




Amy:

The Tao of Martha by Jen Lancaster from Penguin Group (Tracey also got this)

The Smart One by Jennifer Close from Knopf Publishing Group

Time Flies by Claire Cook from Simon and Schuster

Domestic Affairs by Bridget Siegel from Chick Lit is Not Dead (won from giveaway)
 


Miriam:

Changing Lanes by Kathleen Long from Media Connect





Gail: 

What She Left Us by/from Stephanie Elliot (e-book)

The Banks of Certain Rivers by Jon Harrison from Catherine McKenzie (e-book)



Becky:

The Affair by Gill Paul  from Avon Romance

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman  from Transworld

Country Loving by Cathy Woodman  from Randomhouse

Wish You Were Here by Victoria Connelly  from Avon Romance

In Her Shadow by Louise Douglas from Transworld

Me and Mr Jones by Lucy Diamond from PanMacmillan

Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher from Penguin Group UK

Save the Date by Allie Spencer  from Arrow Pulications

You and I by Emily Gillmor Murphy from Transworld

Tidal by Amanda Hocking  from PanMacmillan

Mateship with Birds by Carrie Tiffany  from Picador



What could be in YOUR mail:

Alison Caiola is sharing FIVE copies of The Seeds of a Daisy with some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

The Seeds of a Daisy is a 2013 "Indie Excellence Award for Chick Lit" Finalist.

From the outside looking in, Lily Lockwood, popular star of the hit TV show St. Joe’s, has it all. Recently nominated for an Emmy, her star is definitely on the rise. She shares her gorgeous Malibu beachfront home with her even more gorgeous actor boyfriend. Perfect, right? Not so much! Within a matter of just a few days, it all falls apart. The wind is knocked out of her when she finds out that her boyfriend, on location shooting a western, is riding horses all day and his curvy co-star all night. Before Lily can catch her breath, she gets word that her mother, best-selling author Daisy Lockwood, is in intensive care after a near-fatal accident. Lily flies across the country to be by her side. The girl, who has a hard time deciding if her Chai Latte should be Grande or Venti, is now faced with making crucial life and death decisions. While rifling through Daisy’s papers, she comes across shocking information about her mother that threatens to shake her very foundation. Lily embarks on a journey of self-discovery and closure as she seeks to unlock the mysteries of her mother’s past. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.com)

How to win:
Since this novel is about a TV show, tell us your favorite movie based on a TV series.

One entry per person.

Please include your e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win. Entries without contact information will NOT be counted.

Giveaway ends May 30th at midnight EST.

Book Review: The Mermaid of Brooklyn

Jenny Lipkin is the mother of two young girls and struggling to get through each day, weighted down by post-partum depression and the many demands of her daughters. When her husband disappears after saying he's going to the store, she reaches her wit's end and makes a decision that changes her life forever. When a new friend rescues her from this decision, she also manages to change Jenny's life in ways she never thought possible, allowing her to see success, love, motherhood and relationships in a new light.


Melissa Amster:
The Mermaid of Brooklyn is Amy Shearn's second novel and it definitely shows. Her writing is strong and polished throughout. The dialogue is realistic and even caustic at times. Jenny doesn't mince words, but I wish she had used less of the "G" word that I'm so uncomfortable reading in novels or even using in real life. The descriptions are fantastic, making me feel like I'm right there, in the moment. I could feel the summer heat on a sticky 90 degree day and smell the various baby scents, barbecues, etc. I could even hear everyone's voice in my head as I was reading it. Everything was easy to visualize, as well. However, there was such an abundance of description that it weighed the story down at times. The many pages of introspection added to this weight. Once the story picked up some steam, it moved along nicely.

Jenny's new friend sounded like a Jewish grandmother at times, calling her "bubbeleh" and saying that Jenny didn't know from hardship. While I loved how she helped Jenny embolden herself, I also didn't agree with something Jenny did under her influence. There was a point in the novel where Amy Shearn could have added in a really cool twist, given how surreal the story was already turning out. However, she didn't and the story stayed on its natural course. Even so, I liked that she tried to stay realistic aside from the one surreal aspect. In the meantime, there were some aspects I really enjoyed as Jenny started coming into her own. I don't want to spoil anything though. Her older daughter reminded me of my kids and it was nice to see that I'm not the only mom who gets frustrated and doesn't always know how to handle a tantrum that gets out of control. I liked realistic aspects such as this one.

While The Mermaid of Brooklyn definitely fits into the chick lit genre, this has a different feel from the novels to which I usually tend to flock. It's very well written and worth checking out, but I wouldn't put it in the same category as a "beach read."


Marlene Engel:
Something I learned early in life is that you can never judge a book by its cover. That couldn’t be more true than with this book. At first glance one might think that this would be a light, fluffy read. I saw the mermaid cloud on the cover and my mind automatically made me think "This is going to be a cute book, like The Little Mermaid." This book, and especially the mermaid, couldn’t be further from the one depicted in The Little Mermaid. Most of us hear the word mermaid and think of a beautiful aquatic creature that’s part human and part fish. Usually with long, flowing hair and a beautiful voice. The mermaid in this book is much more dark and is referred to as a "rusalka." For those who aren’t familiar, a rusalka is a female ghost or mermaid like demon that lives in the water. In Slavic mythology, rusalka were fish-women who lived at the bottom of rivers. In the middle of the night, they would walk out to the bank and dance in meadows. If they saw handsome men, they would fascinate them with songs and dancing, mesmerize them, then lead them away to the river floor to their death.

The book is based around Jenny, a mother to two young daughters whose having a difficult time raising the children on her own. She is married; her husband called one night on his way home from work saying he was stopping at the store, but never came home. Although I have never dealt with Jenny’s exact circumstances, I can relate to raising two young children on my own. I was once a single mom and know the struggles of being at your wit’s end and just wishing you had someone to share the burden with.

The Mermaid of Brooklyn is a raw look at motherhood at the brink of a breakdown. Although it’s a fairly dark story, it has its humorous parts as well. I enjoyed Jenny and her mother-in-law’s characters. I felt they were very relatable. The mermaid, or rusalka, gave the book a mysterious feel and made it unlike any book I’ve ever read. Although I don’t tend to read dark books, I found this one to be interesting. It’s not a book for everyone, but if you’re looking for a twist to the usual chick lit novel, this may be the one for you. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others.

Marlene Engel is a stay at home mom who runs a home daycare. She lives in Clifton Park, New York with her husband and three year-old daughter. She also has three older boys who live away from home while attending college. She is an adoptive/foster parent and an advocate for the special needs population. In her spare time she enjoys reading and getting together with her book club.

Thanks to BookSparks PR and Touchstone for the books in exchange for an honest review.

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Spending "Midnight in Paris" with Isabelle LaFleche...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Patafio

Isabelle Lafleche, author of J'adore New York, is joining us for the second time with her latest novel, J'adore Paris (reviewed here). If the sequel is anywhere near as good as the first (which I'm sure it is), this will be yet another read that's impossible to put down!

Isabelle worked as a corporate attorney in New York, Toronto, and Montreal before becoming a best selling author and is able to portray the corporate law life as well as intertwining fashion into her books.

It's a real treat to have Isabelle back at CLC and we look forward to seeing what she has planned for the future!

A big "thank you" to Isabelle for taking the time to answer our movie casting question and we hope you enjoy seeing her choices! She also has TWO copies of J'Adore Paris for some lucky readers in the US and/or Canada!

You can find Isabelle at her blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Cast for J'adore Paris (can also be used for J'adore New York)

CATHERINE LAMBERT
My first choice would be Marion Cotillard. Not only is she a model and spokesperson for Christian Dior, the fashion house portrayed in the novel, she’s extremely classy, gorgeous and talented (Have you seen her portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose? Hel-looooo). My second choice would be Zooey Deschanel. She’s witty and really lovely; I think she would also make a great Catherine Lambert.

RIKASH
My dear friend Yanic Truesdale who played in the Gilmore Girls would make the perfect Rikash. He’s very funny, stylish and over-the-top fabulous.

ANTOINE
Jean Dujardin would be perfect. He’s got some major French charm and charisma. I could also see Ryan Reynolds in this role. Who wouldn’t?

JEFFREY
Hugh Jackman. Um, just because.

BONNIE CLARK
I would love to see Catherine Zeta-Jones play Bonnie. She’s stunning, has a commanding screen presence and knows how to play a badass. Oh yeah.

Thanks to Isabelle for sharing her dream cast for her "J'adore" series and her book with our readers.


How to win J'adore Paris:
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your Facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: What is your favorite movie that takes place in a country overseas?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
5. Follow us on Twitter and/or Pinterest.
6. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends May 29th at midnight EST.

Book Review: J'Adore Paris

By Melissa Amster

My sister recently went on a trip to Paris and I saw a Facebook status update from her that said "J'adore Paris." Seeing it through her eyes (and amazing photos), as well as on the pages of Isabelle Lafleche's latest novel, makes me feel the same way.

After her harried schedule as a lawyer in New York, Catherine Lambert is back in Paris, living with her boyfriend and ready to kick back in high fashion, working for Christian Dior. However, her new job isn't as plush as she was hoping, as one of her first assignments involves staking out and entrapping counterfeiters. Soon Catherine is in over her head and her safety and integrity become compromised by people who don't want her in their "business." Will Catherine and her loyal assistant, Rikash, manage successfully to outsmart even the most dangerous counterfeiting criminals?

It has been a while since I read J'adore New York. I think it was back in 2011 when I was still working off of very little sleep. However, I remember loving that novel and couldn't wait to dive right in to J'adore Paris and catch up with Catherine, Rikash and others from J'ANY. Once I did, I realized how much I forgot from one novel to the next. I wish there had been more background or a refresher given at the beginning so readers like myself, who were coming back into the story after reading billions of books in between that time, could remember what was going on and where we last left off. There were little nuggets of information provided throughout the story, but I really needed more. Having said that, once I was able to enjoy it for its own merit, I really got into the story and had a hard time putting it down. There was a lot of adventure and suspense throughout the novel. I was definitely nervous for Catherine, as she was placed in some risky situations. In the meantime, Isabelle Lafleche never left us wanting for fashion and location descriptions. She painted Paris in a beautiful light, making me want to see it for myself in person. While I was craving some answers, the ending felt a bit rushed as things seemed to fit things too nicely together. However, Isabelle still left some questions unanswered, making me believe that there will be a third part to this series.

Overall, J'adore Paris was entertaining and kept me on my toes. In honor of such a fun story, I want to share some photos of Paris that were taken by my sister, Beth Silverman, on her recent trip. Hopefully they'll set the mood for when you read this novel.

Thanks to HarperCollins Canada for the book in exchange for an honest review. Isabelle is doing a giveaway along with her visit.

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Chick Lit Cheerleader: A new kind of "Dirty Dancing"

Introduction by Melissa Amster

Every time I hear Bruno Mars' latest song, "When I Was Your Man," I always think of a chick lit novel and how I can picture it playing in the background while a guy is realizing that he screwed things up with the girl he loves and she has moved on. I could see it being a good fit for Jason from Charlotte Street (by Danny Wallace) or even for Ryan from The Week Before the Wedding (by Beth Kendrick).

Ever since I started CLC, I have been associating music with chick lit. Back in the summer of 2010, "The Only Exception" by Paramore always gave off a chick lit feel. Then there was Adele's latest CD, 21. The following summer, I listened to The Band Perry's debut album often and all the songs made me think of chick lit. Since that time, a song will come along every now and then to remind me of a novel I had read recently. It's interesting to read about what authors think should be on the soundtrack of their novel. Therefore, I thought it would also be fun to ask an author what they would want as the soundtrack of a novel that was written by someone else. Perhaps their favorite novel? That's what brings me to our Chick Lit Cheerleader, Jen Tucker, and her post for this month...

(Please note that this post contains potential spoilers for the novel.)

Dancing Naked in Dixie....Doesn’t that title just stir up a whole lot of interesting mental imagery? Heh-heh.

I was challenged by Chick Lit Central to choose a novel I loved, and give it a soundtrack if it were to shine on the silver screen. Not a piece of cake to select only one since I love so many books written by a plethora of gifted writers. Last summer, I read Dancing Naked in Dixie by Lauren Clark. How much did I love it? So much so, that I think I emailed and tweeted Lauren after consuming every other page her novel. It’s absolutely gush worthy. I’m thankful that I ended up with a dear friend in Lauren out of my exuberance, and not a place on her stalker list. Her writing is so picturesque, that it’s not a stretch for me to craft a soundtrack playlist that compliments her story. Charge up those iPods, ‘cause here we go!

"Killin’ Kind" by Shelby Lynn
Julia is the city girl transplanted in a small town that is next to last on her list of “must sees” before she croaks. In fact, she’d rather dance naked than cover this historic town on assignment for the travel magazine she writes for. The last thing she needs or wants is a romance with a guy who isn’t a part of her run around world. Yet, love seems to find us when we least expect it, doesn’t it? Julia…you’ve just found that killin’ kind of love, girl.

"Stars" by Simply Red
I understand the dilemma of falling for someone when you least expect it. That’s the story of my real-life romance with my husband, Mike. Julia’s in a relationship that’s going nowhere fast. Shug also has someone in his life he’s committed to, and God bless her pea pickin’ heart, she’s just not the nicest of southern belles. When love burns brightly between Julia and Shug, the one place they find solace is in each other’s arms.

"Wide Open Spaces" by The Dixie Chicks
Julia is dealing with some serious stuff personally and professionally. Exploring the globe has always been her gig as a writer. Stepping out of her father’s shadow professionally, and also distancing herself from him emotionally, has been a huge part of why she wants a “get away” writing career. Until Eufaula, Alabama came along, I think Julia was looking for meaning in her life in wide open spaces that never completely satisfied her soul.

"Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses?" by U2
Julia is so busy chasing the stories that come her way; living a life of chaos and disarray in the thick of it. With her recent articles less than stellar, she needs to rein it in professionally and strike gold with this next article. Being in Eufaula has made her stop the insanity wheel, and for once in her life, calmed her down long enough to smell the sweet tea and roses. Can you really take the wild horses out of a manic girl like Julia? Maybe she’s found the right place, the right man, and the right time in her life to make that happen.

"Turn Me On" by Nora Jones and Jamie Cullum
“Turn me on” moments are strong throughout the storyline between Julia and Shug. With this steamy duet playing in the background, the sparks definitely would feed the flame between these two characters that readers want more of. Trust me, I’ve already twisted Lauren’s arm to write a sequel so we can find out what transpires with these love birds from different zip codes. All I can offer Lauren’s legion of fans is you better "Stay Tuned."  Man—that was totally corny, wasn’t it?

Jen Tucker is the author of the funny and true stories, The Day I Wore My Panties Inside Out and The Day I Lost My Shaker of Salt. In September 2012, she had her children's book, Little Pumpkin published as an e-book. She also blogs monthly for Survival for Blondes. She currently lives in Indiana with her husband, three kids and two dogs. You can find her at Twitter, Facebook, her blog and on her website. And in case you missed them. check out her previous Chick Lit Cheerleader posts here.

Life's a Beach and Princeton Library is living proof!

By Amy Bromberg

I’m SO excited to share some great news! Not sure if any of you have seen my tweets and Facebook posts about how Chick Lit Central is partnering up with the Princeton Public Library in hosting Beach Reads “Girls’ Night Out” on Friday June 7th at 6:30pm. This event will be the kick-off to their adult summer reading program that the library runs ever year. Summer is nearly here and it is time to start planning the list of what you plan to read. This event will definitely help you get your summer beach read list ready. A panel of authors, which I will be moderating, will talk about their latest books and share what they have on their summer readings lists.

The panel includes:
1. Author Priscille Sibley will discuss her debut The Promise of Stardust.
2. Novelist Christina Baker Kline will talk about her latest novel Orphan Train.
3. New York Times bestselling author Pamela Redmond will discuss her latest novel The Possibility of You.
4. TV writer and former TIME magazine staff writer Lisa Takeuchi Cullen will discuss her second book and first novel Pastors’ Wives.
5. Talking about her fifth novel, The Widow Waltz, will be author Sally Koslow.
6. Bestselling authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (“The Nanny Diaries”) will discuss their latest novel Between You And Me.
7. Author Beatriz Williams will be talking about A Hundred Summers which will be released on May 30th.

Following the panelists’ discussions of their books and recommendations for summer “must reads,” the authors will sign their books that may be purchased at a Labyrinth Books booth at the event. Of course there will be yummy refreshments including cupcakes, sorbet and so much more! There will also be baskets including copies of the books along with some beach items will be raffled off during the event.

Thanks to the library we have TWO awesome giveaways to share with you. For those who unfortunately won’t be able to make it (if you don’t live local, etc.) you can enter to win two books of your choice signed by the authors, which will be mailed to the winner after the event (US only). For any of you who are thinking about coming, you can enter to win reserved front row seats for you and two friends on the night of the event, plus a book of your choice to be signed that night. You may enter one giveaway or the other. Just leave a comment saying which giveaway you want to enter.

For more information check out the event’s Pinterest board and the information about the event on the library’s website. For any and all additional information please feel free to call (609.924.9529 x220) or email Janie L Hermann.

How to enter the giveaways:
Please comment below and say which giveaway you're entering. (If you're able to attend the event, you may enter both.) Giveaways are:

• TWO books of your choice from the list above (anyone from the US may enter)
• Reserved front row seats to the event for yourself and two friends, plus ONE book of choice (for the winner only) to be signed that night. (Only enter if you are planning to attend)

Please include your e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win. Entries without contact information will NOT be counted.

Both giveaways end May 29th at midnight EST.

Amy Sue Nathan shows us "The Glass House"...plus a book giveaway

Amy Sue Nathan’s debut novel, The Glass Wives (reviewed here), was recently published by St. Martin’s Press. Her stories and essays have appeared in The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times online, The Washington Post online, The Huffington Post, Chicago Parent, Grey Sparrow Journal, Rose and Thorn Journal, Scribblers On The Roof, The Verb, Hospital Drive Journal and The Stone Hobo. In 2011 she launched the popular Women’s Fiction Writers blog. She is also a freelance fiction editor. Amy lives and writes near Chicago and is the mom of a son in college, a daughter in high school, and two rambunctious rescued dogs.

Today, Amy is sharing her casting choices for The Glass Wives. She informed us that she also shared these choices at My Book, The Movie. If conceptualizing novels as movies is your thing, definitely check that site out. There are other chick lit novels featured there, as well. We want to thank her for telling us about this blog! (Time for a new addiction, anyone?!?)

You can find Amy at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, we have FIVE copies of The Glass Wives for some lucky US readers!

CASTING CALL FOR THE GLASS WIVES

When I was writing The Glass Wives I pictured only two characters and to be honest, each were amalgamations of these celebrities and other people (some real, some imagined). First, there's Andie MacDowell as the protagonist’s best friend Laney, because they both have long curly hair, and George Clooney as Sandy, because it’s easy to picture George Clooney for any reason. Really I needed a handsome guy who saw fifty in his rearview mirror.

But the main characters, Evie and Nicole, those images came to me after the book was finished and I was onto writing the next, and only randomly as I saw different actors in movies or on TV. I see Sandra Bullock as Evie and Drew Barrymore as Nicole. Bullock has the serious/comedic quality I think Evie possesses, and after I saw an interview with Barrymore as a new mom, I knew that she would be perfect for Nicole.

I see Diane Lane as Beth, and it’s her voice and demeanor that cinched that for me. Now if I could only get any of them to agree with me!

I didn't focus on who was who or even what the characters looked like at all. To me, they're just themselves!

Thanks to Amy for sharing her casting choices with us. Seeing how much Amy Bromberg loved her book, we hope it will make it to the big screen sometime soon. Thanks also to St. Martin's Press for sharing The Glass Wives with our readers.

How to win The Glass Wives:
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your Facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: What is your favorite family from a movie?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
5. Follow us on Twitter and/or Pinterest.
6. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

US only. Giveaway ends May 28th at midnight EST.