Book Review: One in a Million

By Sara Steven

Annie Higgins has given up on love: she’s too busy trying to get her tiny business off the ground. Infuriated by the advertising agency across the hall making fun of her job, Annie accepts their crazy challenge – to make a random stranger Instagram-famous in just thirty days.

And even when they choose Dr Samuel Page PhD, historian and hater of social media, as her target, Annie’s determined to win the bet – whether Sam likes it or not.

But getting to know Sam means getting to know more about herself. And before the thirty days are out, Annie has to make a decision about what’s really important… (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

Reminiscent of My Fair Lady and She’s All That, but in reverse, one of the biggest draws to One in a Million is the gradual transformation that happens for Sam, as well an Annie. At first, there’s the expectation of witnessing a geek to chic moment, that Sam will morph into a babelicious swan after spending many years of his life as an introverted ugly duckling. Yet, along for the ride are Annie’s own insecurities and baggage, giving her the opportunity to delve deeper into where’s she’s at in her own life and why she’s not as satisfied as she could be in her relationships.

I appreciated the dialogue between Annie and Sam, and the rest of the supporting characters. It felt natural, like meeting up with my own friends and having various conversations. Annie was sharp-witted and held her own against Sam, who wouldn’t let anything slide. He reminded me of the grumpy neighbor next door, who ultimately has a heart of gold, while Annie reminded me of the plucky heroine who refuses to give up, even when the world as she knows it begins to crumble around her. For all the fun of Million, there were serious undertones that paralleled it. The struggle to make it in an industry that hasn’t been very welcoming to her, not sure if she’ll be able to make rent at any given moment. Or, the fact that her last romantic relationship ended in disaster, feeding into a lot of her insecurities. The struggles are told in such a way that are felt, and recognized, without creating a heavy blanket of despair. It doesn’t deflect from the original goal of Annie winning a challenge, while Sam has his own ulterior motives on why he’d ever agree to the stipulations of the bet.

This was one of those reads where I found it hard to put it down, and stop reading. Mostly because of the chemistry, mostly because I wanted to find out what would happen to Annie and Sam, whether she’d win her bet, whether he’d become the man he eventually discovers he’s wanted to be all along. But the biggest reason would be the old adage, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” The premise of Million is that there is so much more to a person than meets the eye, and while Annie and Sam discover that about each other and about themselves on a personal level, I was along for the discovery, too. A much-deserving five star read, right here.

Thanks to Harper360 for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Lindsey Kelk:

Book Review: What A Girl Wants

By Kathryn Hamilton

Tess Brookes has been in love with the same bloke for 10 years and has a career she loves. Just at the moment it appears she is going to get everything she wanted, Tess is whisked away to Milan with best friend Amy by her side. Suddenly she realizes that she has choices to make, personally and professionally. Will Tess decide what she wants before she loses it all?



I was a little late jumping on the Lindsey Kelk fan train; she had already achieved enormous success with her "I Heart" series before I picked up The Single Girl's To-Do List. Ms. Kelk quickly became one of my favourite authors. She is a talented storyteller with an amazing sense of humour. Her characters are brilliantly written and are always memorable. If you have already read one of her novels, you know you can guarantee strong yet flawed female leads, dashing men, saucy sex scenes, humour that will make you genuinely laugh, and supporting characters that you will love. What A Girl Wants is Ms. Kelk's newest novel, and the second in her series that follows Tess Brookes. It is not necessary to read the first novel (About A Girl) as readers are given enough information to fill in the blanks, but I definitely suggest that you do.

I would be completely surprised if readers aren't hooked by the prologue alone. Tess has found herself in quite the mess (as only she can do) and you want to keep reading to find out how in the world she got herself in the situation. Tess is a magnet for embarrassingly hilarious escapades. She is sassy, smart (most of the time, but we all have those moments, some more than others, where we think "What was I thinking?!"), and incredibly likeable. The love triangle reminds me of the great Pacey/Dawson debate (am I dating myself with that reference?). However, if it were me, there wouldn't be a choice. I am not a Charlie fan (some of his actions are questionable), although I do understand Tess' conflict.

While I enjoyed Tess, for me the best part of the novel is the supporting characters. I LOVE Amy. I can't say enough about this character. She is how I imagine the singer Adele is like in person. She has a mouth like a sailor but it's hard to be offended because of the delightful way the British speak. Al and Kekipi are also fantastic as the voices of reason.

It is a good sign when I can say that the only thing that disappointed me about a novel is that it ended. I love that Ms. Kelk carries her stories over several novels because it gives the characters a real chance to grow in a more organic way. I look forward to seeing where Tess' adventures take her next and what decisions she is going to make. I heart Lindsey Kelk and I know you will too!

Thanks to HarperCollins UK for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Lindsey Kelk:

Cooling off with Lindsey Kelk...plus a book giveaway

Photo by Rachael Wright

We always enjoy having Lindsey Kelk at CLC. From her "I Heart" series to her standalone novels, she epitomizes chick lit in a fun, lighthearted, and humorous way. She's here today to talk about summer with us. Thanks to Harper Fiction (UK), we have TWO e-books of her latest novel, What a Girl Wants (sequel to About a Girl) for some lucky readers anywhere in the world! (UK winners have the option of a print version.)

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

Synopsis of What a Girl Wants:
Tess Brookes was the girl with a plan.

Now she’s the girl with a choice.

Should she stay in London and start her own advertising agency with her best friend and potential boyfriend Charlie? Or should she head to exciting Milan to pursue both a new career as a photographer and a new man, the enigmatic and elusive (and highly irritating) Nick?

For the first time, Tess has to choose between the life she always dreamed of and a future she never imagined possible. With her heart and her head pulling her in different directions, Tess has to make a life-changing decision about "What a Girl Wants." (Courtesy of Lindsey's website.)


Annual summertime tradition: 
Sunburn.

Favorite summertime beverage: 
Pimms

Favorite water activity: 
Does sitting in the ocean and refusing to move count? No? Sigh.

Favorite carnival game: 
Hook a Duck! I used to be pretty good.

Favorite summertime memory from when you were growing up: 
Climbing onto the top of my granddad’s shed with my brother and cousin.

Favorite chick lit novel that takes place in the summer: 
It’s not technically chick lit but Paula Danziger’s Remember Me to Harold Square will always be one of my favourite books, however old I am. It’s about a New York teen’s summer adventure in her own city and it made me fall in love with NYC years before I ever visited.

Thanks to Lindsey for visiting with us and to Harper Fiction for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

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Worldwide. Giveaway ends July 27th at midnight EST.


We may be the last stop on the tour, but stop by the other blogs too!

Home and Away with Lindsey Kelk...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Patafio

This is an exciting day for us! British author Lindsey Kelk, who is best known for the "I Heart" series, is back at CLC to dish about her latest book, About a Girl (reviewed here).

It's hard not to love Lindsey. She's a real "chick lit" gal with a passion for shoes, music, and New York. It's the perfect trifecta for most of us chick lit lovers out there.

We are so happy that she decided to chat with us again and share a little more about herself with all of you through our "Home and Away" Q&A. And thanks to HarperCollins UK, there's one copy of About a Girl for a lucky reader anywhere in the world!

Visit Lindsey at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Home:

If we were to visit you where you currently live, what would you take us to see first?
I live in Park Slope in Brooklyn but I'm a good host, so the first place I'd take you would either be the bagel place, the BBQ place or the 24 hour diner, depending on the time. After that, provided it wasn't three in the morning, we'd got o Prospect Park. It's gorgeous and, in my humble opinion, much nicer than Central Park!

What is your favorite local restaurant?
There are so many! Fletchers for BBQ, Lobo for Mexican and margaritas or Talde for something a bit different.


Tell us one feature that would be a must-have for the house of your dreams?
Big, standalone, cast iron bathtub. Without question.

Away:

What was your favorite city to write about for the "I Heart" series?
Oh that's too hard! I think New York will always win. It's my home. And it wasn't for an "I Heart" but I totally fell in love with Hawaii. I'm desperate to go back.

Where did you go for your last holiday?
My last proper holiday was in California. I went to Coachella music festival and stayed in LA and Palm Springs. I don't think I'll ever be able to camp in a muddy tent ever again, I've been completely spoiled.

During which season do you prefer to travel? Does the season affect where you go? (Like do you ski in winter or go to a warm location instead?)
I love traveling any time but as I'm getting older, I do find myself seeking out the sun in winter and trying to dodge the summer humidity in New York. Last winter I went to Hawaii, Los Angeles and Australia and later this summer, I have a research trip to Italy booked. Currently thinking about January 2014 in LA - there are worse ways to plan, surely?

Thanks to Lindsey for chatting with us and HarperCollins UK for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use the Rafflecopter to enter. If you have questions on how to use it, e-mail us.

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Worldwide. Giveaway ends July 23rd at midnight EST.

Book Review: About a Girl

By Melissa Amster

As you may already know, Hawaii is on my bucket list of places to travel. It looks so beautiful there and I would love to spend a week both exploring and relaxing on the beach. In the meantime, I have Lindsey Kelk to thank for the virtual trip there courtesy of her latest novel, About a Girl.

Tess Brookes had a plan and in a split second, it all fell apart. Jobless and humiliated by the object of her affection, what else is she to do when she picks up a call intended for her flat mate, Vanessa, to do a photo shoot in Hawaii? Soon she is in a tropical paradise, pretending to be Vanessa and psyching herself up for a photo shoot where everything is going wrong. It doesn’t help that the attractive and egotistical journalist is paying special attention to her….or does it? Soon, Tess wonders if it is worth pretending to be someone she is not or if she should just go with the flow and live her life the way Vanessa would.

At first, I thought the story was going to be another version of Original Cyn by Sue Margolis. That story is also about a woman taking on someone else’s identity (of someone she dislikes) for career purposes. Both stories also have feisty girlfriends, gay male friends and attractive potential love interests. However, the similarities end there as About a Girl involves traveling and there are other mishaps involved, including Tess’ lack of self-confidence due to the way her family treats her. You can’t help but want to hug her throughout the story, as she is so vulnerable…even when she’s not trying to be.

If you’re looking for an intense, drama-filled tearjerker, this is not the novel for you. It is an escapist beach read with lots of amazing descriptions, colorful characters and some laugh-out-loud moments. It is entertaining throughout, with some surprises I didn’t see coming at all. (Three cheers for lack of predictability!) While there are some scenes that didn’t really need to be there as they were more “filler” than anything else, the story still flows nicely for the most part. And best of all, it doesn’t tie up neatly in the end, leaving room for a sequel that I suspect will be just as enjoyable!

Naturally, I was casting this movie in my head. Even though most of the characters are supposed to be British, given that Hollywood changes everything to the US (such as Confessions of a Shopaholic and P.S. I Love You), I took some liberties of my own.

Tess: Zooey Deschanel
Vanessa (Tess’ skanky flat mate): Krysten Ritter
Amy (Tess’ best friend): Kate Micucci
Nick (the hot journalist): Josh Lucas or Paul Walker
Paige (the artistic director): Rachel McAdams
Charlie (The object of Tess’ affections): Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Kekipi (Tess’ gay male friend in Hawaii): Alec Mapa

Thanks to HarperCollins UK for the book in exchange for an honest review. They're giving away a copy along with Lindsey's interview.

More by Lindsey Kelk:

Lindsey Kelk is back with a new book to give away!

**Giveaway is now closed**

We are beyond thrilled to have the lovely Lindsey Kelk visiting us twice in one year! Make that twice in half a year! This time, she's sharing her thoughts about how she came up with her new novel, "The Single Girl's To-Do List," which is being released in the UK on Thursday. (We're not even single and we want to see this "list!") She's also giving away one signed (personalized) copy to a lucky winner anywhere in the world!

So, without any further ado...

The Single Girl’s To-Do List

When I sat down to write my first non-“I Heart” novel, I had far too many ideas all fighting to get down on the page. Of course, none of them really made any sense, which was fun. And not at all worrying. The main themes I knew I wanted to get across were things that had been incredibly important to me, friendship and taking chances. And of course, given that I’m a hopeless romantic, I wanted to throw in some lovin’.

To catch you up, The Single Girl’s To-Do List is about Rachel, a make-up artist in London whose long-term boyfriend announces that things are over because she’s not ‘the one’. Immediately, her friends snap into action and put together a list of the ten things single Rachel has to do to get into the swing of her single self.

Despite the title, the hardest part was writing the actual to-do list. I mean, if you could do anything, what would you do? I wanted the challenges to be that...challenges, things that would force Rachael to widen her horizons. And while obviously, yes it’s a book and it’s a total fantasy, but I didn’t want the list to be so fantastical that it wasn’t believable. Which sort of ruled out a lot of fun things that my friends suggested (no, she can’t shag James Franco… no, she can’t win X Factor…). More importantly, as is so often the way when I’m writing, it made me address some issues in my life. Was there anything I hadn’t tried that I had always wanted to do? Any chances I hadn’t taken? Roads not travelled? And as my friends will tell you, I (and more importantly they) went through some pretty prickly moments while I pushed my limits all in the name of research.

My to-do list included but was not limited to dying my hair red, road tripping to Toronto, leaving my fulltime job to write, pole dancing in Las Vegas, running across the street in bare feet, a swimming costume and a card to tell a boy who mattered how I really felt, getting my tarot cards read, getting a new tattoo, buying some very expensive shoes and well, generally grabbing hold of every opportunity that came my way. The result was a new hair colour, a few of tears, a lot of laughter, a couple of extra dollars (from the pole dancing), a broken heart, a complete emotional breakdown at Niagara Falls watching the fireworks while wearing a feathered head dress and at the end of it all and at the end of it, one book.
And while my story didn’t necessarily have what people would call a traditional happy ending, it did remind me of what’s important in life – friendship and taking chances. I gave myself the most exciting six months and besides, I’ve started a new book now. Who knows what will happen this time around…

Special thanks to Lindsey for making us laugh again and for sharing her book for our giveaway!

If you like what you've read today, ask her to be friends on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. You can also check out her BeautyMecca blog for some fun beauty tips!

How to win "The Single Girl's To-Do List":

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.)

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What is on your "bucket list"?
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. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.)Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

Giveaway ends June 13th at midnight EST.

More by Lindsey Kelk:

Book of the day: "I Heart New York"

In honor of International Chick Lit Month and our one year blogoversary, we're bringing you a book a day (and then some). If you've read the book and want to comment on this post with your thoughts, please do. If you haven't read it yet, we hope you'll take interest in it after hearing our thoughts. To make this fun, anyone who comments on any of these posts has a chance to be entered in a drawing for a special prize. The more posts you comment on, the more chances to win! (See here for contest details.)

"I Heart New York" by Lindsey Kelk:

When you're running away from a broken heart, there's only one place to go...Adjusting tiaras at the foot of the aisle, Angela and her best friend prepare for the wedding of the year. But events don't go as planned. And when a girl is in possession of a crumpled bridesmaid dress - and can't go home - New York (for the very first time) seems like an excellent idea. Angela's new friend Jenny Lopez gives Angela a whirlwind tour of the city that never sleeps, and a makeover. Who hasn't dreamed of starting afresh with a sassy New York wardrobe, a new haircut and a trip to the make-up counter? Before she knows it, the new Angela is getting over her broken heart by having dinner with two different boys. And, best of all, she gets to write about it in her fabulous new blog. But it's one thing telling readers all about your romantic dilemmas. It's another trying to figure them out for yourself! (Summary courtesy of Goodreads.)

Melissa P:
I heart Lindsey Kelk and I heart this book. It was fun, light, and inspiring.

Melissa A:

A cute story that I enjoyed reading. See my review for more details.

More by Lindsey Kelk:

Why we "Heart" Lindsey Kelk...plus a book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Lindsey Kelk is from the UK but lives in NY. She is the author of the well known "I Heart..." series. She keeps a list of fun facts about herself on her website, so if you want to know what movie terrifies her or what household chore she finds weirdly relaxing, stop over and check it out. She even shares a list of her favorite songs there. If you like what you see there, ask her to be friends on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. You can also read her BeautyMecca blog if you so feel inclined.

To start off the month of "hearts," we thought she'd be the perfect interview guest. She has even offered to give away two signed copies of "I Heart New York" (reviewed here) to some lucky readers anywhere in the world. If you haven't read this book yet, you'll definitely want to!

MP: What inspired you to write the "I Heart" series?
LK: I've always written, ever since I was very young, but IHNY was the first real project I managed to finish. I suppose it was just a fantasy really. I was bored with my job and my relationship but couldn't really see a way out. New York was on my mind as I'd just come back from a holiday there and so, Boxing Day 2006, I just started writing. Once I'd finished, I knew I wanted to see more of Angela and Alex and I Heart Hollywood and Paris just popped into my head. I hate getting to the end of a book and leaving the characters behind. I don't know what I'll do once I finish I Heart London.

MP: How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?
LK: I watch too much TV. Seriously, I'll watch anything. Me and my roommate did. 9 hour Lifetime Movie Network marathon last week. I love watching bands, hanging out in little Williamsburg bars, napping... And putting on make up. I love putting on make up. Weird, I know.

MP: What is your ultimate guilty pleasure?
LK: For shame, WWE. It's my soap opera. I can't explain it but bloody hell, I love those oily giants. I could put you in a Sharpshooter as soon as look at you.


MP: What beauty product(s) do you always have on hand and cannot live without?
LK: I'm a beauty obsessor (and blogger!) so there are a few. I love Elemis skincare and Bliss Lemon + Sage body stuff. Make-up wise it's Max Factor Lashfinity, Dior Lipglow and L'Oreal True Match powder. And I'm never without a spritz of Coco Mademoiselle

MP: What is the most valuable piece of advice you have been given in regards to writing?
LK: Just to never give up. There are lots of people out there to be cynical. Just keep going and don't be too critical of what you're doing until you have a finished first draft. I'm so bad at going over and over the same chapter a million times. It's taken a lot of training to teach myself how to stop doing that.

MA: What city do you "heart" the most?
LK: It's got to be New York. I've been here 18 months now and it feels like home. I miss London and I Love Paris but New York is where I belong. It's such an amazing city, full of wonderful people. I've made a family here and I'd miss them as much as my real family if I had to leave.

MA: How are you similar to or different from Angela?
LK: We're pretty similar but mostly in the bad ways! I'm clumsy, get myself into ridiculous situations and am partial to a band boy but she's much braver than me. I'm a Libra, I like to keep the peace. And I've never punched a girl out. In the beginning we were much more similar but Angela is her own person now.

Writing Angela has definitely helped me learn how to take more chances. My next book is all about taking risks and finding new experiences - I think I actually ended up identifying with that character a lot more closely in the end.

MA: If your "I Heart" series could be made into a movie, who would star in the lead roles?
LK: I get asked this all the time and I really struggle to choose! I can't imagine anyone playing the character because they're so real in my head but if I had to pick... I love Emily Blunt so she would be amazing. As for the boys, this is sheer casting couch but maybe Jackson Rathbone (from Twilight) and James Franco? He did General Hospital, why not IHNY?


MA: What is your favorite Disney movie? (I'm listening to my kids watch one now so that's on the top of my mind.)
LK: I LOVE Disney. The Little Mermaid. No question. I know every word.


MA: What celebrities did you crush on when you were a kid?
LK: I'm terrible for a crush, honestly I have to have someone to moon after or I'm miserable. It started with Joey from NKOTB, then Mark Owen, then Declan Donelly, a bit of a Hollywood break for Christian Slater, Jared Leto and Stephen Dorff and then musicians once I was a teenager. And um, I don't suppose I ever grew out of that one...

Special thanks to Lindsey for answering our questions and for contributing the books for the giveaway.


How to win "I Heart New York":
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 if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: What city do you "heart" the most?
2. Please tell us: What is your guilty pleasure?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Giveaway ends Sunday, February 6th at midnight EST. After you watch the "Glee" Superbowl episode, make sure to enter if you haven't by then!

Book Review: I Heart New York

I do not "heart" New York, having lived by the "Big Apple" for two and a half years. However, I really enjoyed seeing it through the eyes of Angela Clark, a girl who runs away from her home in London after catching her fiancé cheating on her at her best friend's wedding.

Lindsey Kelk takes her readers on Angela's adventures throughout New York City in the first book of what looks to be a fun and entertaining series. After Angela arrives in NYC, heartbroken and unsure of what she wants, she spends a few nights at a hotel and becomes best friends with the concierge, who helps her acclimate to her new environment. She then meets two guys and starts blogging about her dates for a magazine. Meanwhile, she continues to figure out where her place is in life and where she should live in order to be happy.

I enjoyed this story, as it was light, entertaining and very feminine. It was like a night on the town with a new girl friend. I felt it was the perfect escape from work, motherhood and all the other things in life that can be overwhelming at times. It fed some self-indulgent fantasies and I found it ultimately satisfying to live vicariously through Angela. It made me want to tell everyone who has had a bad breakup, or even a bad day, to escape to another city and start over fresh! To top it off, there were some nice "romantic" scenes that left me blushing!

The only criticism I had was that Ms. Kelk's editor did not pay much attention to spelling and grammatical errors before sending this off to be published. (Lindsey, if you need a new editor in the future, please contact me!) Overall, I had fun reading this novel and look forward to reading "I Heart Hollywood" and "I Heart Paris." I just hope one day that Angela will "heart" Washington DC! (I'd be glad to give Ms. Kelk a tour if she needs inspiration!)