Winners of "Simply Irresistible"

To find the winners, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Jill Shalvis to pick the winning numbers.

I used random.org, lol. #54, 14, and 32.

Hello to you all, and thanks so much for participating and commenting! Happy Reading! Best, Jill Shalvis

Congrats to Estrella05azul, Sarah and Jeryl!

Thanks again to everyone for participating and to Jill for the interview and giveaway!

Don't forget to enter our latest giveaway:
"The Transformation of Things" by Jillian Cantor
US/Canada only
Ends November 8th at 6 pm EST

Jillian Cantor is thankful...and she has a book to give away!

**Giveaway is now closed**


Jillian Cantor was born and raised in suburban Philadelphia and now lives in Arizona with her husband, two kids and four cats. She is the author of two young adult novels, as well as her first adult novel, "The Transformation of Things," which is now being sold in book stores. She also has a blog, in which she focuses on being positive and optimistic, even during challenging times.
Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, we've decided to ask Jillian for what she is most thankful. We found her list to be very candid and entertaining and we hope you will agree once you read it too. She also has one signed copy of "The Transformation of Things" to give away to a lucky reader in the US or Canada.

1. My family: I feel so thankful for each one of my family members individually that they each deserve their own spot on this list. (But that also feels like cheating!). I know I’m incredibly lucky to have an amazing husband who is also my best friend, two sweet little boys, parents who always encouraged me to follow my dreams, and a sister who subjected me to years of torture as a kid (and thus good writing material now) but who has grown into one of my best friends.
2. The Internet: I live across the country from my extended family and a lot of my friends, so I am always thankful for things like e-mail, Facebook, and Flip video sharing which make it easy to keep in touch.
3. My laptop: Since I’m a writer, this one probably requires no explanation! But I used to only have a desktop, and I didn’t realize how freeing it was to be able to write anywhere, until I got my laptop about six months ago. Also, this makes it a lot easier to get work done/check e-mail while simultaneously doing things like making school lunches and doing laundry.
4. My agent: I am eternally thankful for my agent, Jessica Regel. Writing is such a tenuous and sometimes scary profession, that I am always so thankful to have her in my corner. Also, because she reads endless drafts of my work, replies to my endless e-mails, and always, always is super positive and brilliant in the process. Did I mention she’s awesome?
5. My cats: I’ve got four of them, so go ahead and call me a crazy cat lady! But I get lonely when I go away and don’t have anyone to curl up on my lap at night. Plus, they always keep me entertained with their endless mischief.
6. Books: This should probably also go without saying, but I feel I need to say it anyway. I’m thankful for books that gave me countless hours of entertainment as a child (and adult), and for always inspiring me to want to write.
7. Trader Joe's: I’m obsessed. When my husband and I were discussing cities we might want to move, my requirement was that there must be a Trader Joes nearby. They have the best food, and even their Fearless Flyer is entertaining to read!

Special thanks to Jillian Cantor for sharing her "thankful list" and offering the book for our giveaway.


How to win "The Transformation of Things":
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: If you had to move to a new town, what store or restaurant (or any other favorite hangout) would be a requirement in order for you to want to live there?
2. Please tell us: What keeps you positive or optimistic during times of stress?
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.)

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Monday, November 8th, at 6 pm EST.

Don't forget to check out Jillian Cantors's bucket list at Chick Lit is Not Dead, as well.

Book Review: A Vintage Affair

By Melissa Amster

When I first received and read a summary of "A Vintage Affair," I didn't know if it was a story that would interest me. Maybe I was just distracted at the time because I picked it up again last week and it sounded incredibly interesting. As soon as I opened the book, I was completely drawn in to the world of Phoebe Swift and all the people who became a part of her life.

After working auctions for Sotheby's, Phoebe Swift decides to open her own vintage clothing shop following a tragic incident with her best friend. In doing so, she inadvertently makes good things happen for the people who come into her store and buy the clothing. She also meets an elderly woman with a story that affects her deeply. To top things off, she even has two suitors vying for her affections.

With "A Vintage Affair," Isabel Wolff has written a beautiful and touching story. I fell in love with it after a couple of chapters and was recommending it to my friends and fellow chick lit lovers early on, not knowing that it would get even better. It reminded me of "Winter Garden" (by Kristin Hannah) in a way, which is a good thing, but it also had its own life outside of the historical references and flashbacks to the past. I have only one completely minor criticism, which is that Ms. Wolff should translate any statements made in a foreign language, as I felt I was missing out on bits and pieces of the story by not knowing French. However, the way the French was incorporated in the story added to its overall genuine feel and didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a wonderful and memorable novel to read and I look forward to reading other novels from Ms. Wolff in the future.

Winner of "The Love Goddess' Cooking School"

To pick the winner, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Melissa Senate to pick the winning number. Here was her response:

I am randomly picking #1, even though that seems odd!

Thank you so much for entering the giveaway contest for "The Love Goddess' Cooking School." You've made my launch week all the more exciting! I've loved reading your comments about your favorite cooking rituals! If you read The Love Goddess' Cooking School, I hope you enjoy it--and I'd love to hear what you think afterward.

Thank you again and Happy Halloween!

xoxo Melissa Senate

Congrats to Jonita!

Thanks again for all your participation and to Melissa Senate for the interview and giveaway.

Don't forget to enter our giveaway for "Simply Irresistible" by Jill Shalvis. (US only. Ends Monday at 6 pm EST.)

What we've been up to this fall

Melissa P:
Hey fellow Chick Lit lovers! I hope everyone has been having a fun and productive fall season so far. It has definitely been a busy and exciting time for me and I thought I would share what I have been up to with all of you.

My husband and I decided to go back east for our vacation this year to spend time with his siblings. We rented a beach house and spent an amazing 10 days in Boston, Cape Cod, and Nantucket. We almost had to cancel at the last minute because of hurricane Earl, but luck was on our side and we had gorgeous weather the entire vacation! Just days after we returned home to Arizona, we became an auntie and uncle for the 3rd time. My nephew Dylan was born September 18th and is the sweetest baby I have ever laid eyes on.

October has been so fun so far! My cousin Sam came from Cincinnati to celebrate my birthday with me and we had an absolute blast. We shopped, danced, got pedicures, went to the casino, and drank plenty of champagne. :) I was sad to see her go, but hopefully I will get to Cincinnati soon. Just 10 days after Sam left our aunt Rose came down from Cincy to visit as well. I guess that is a perk of living in sunny Arizona, lots of company all year long! Next up, my cousin Jessica from Cincinnati will be here in early December.
Last night, my family and I attended an annual Halloween party. We all went as characters from "Peter Pan." I hope all of you that celebrate Halloween had a fun and safe weekend. Save me some candy!
So that’s a little bit of what I’ve been up to out here in the desert. Thanks so much for supporting our site and we always welcome comments and suggestions!
Melissa P xo

Melissa A:
Hello everyone! Hope you are all doing well and having a nice fall. I absolutely love this season. Especially when the trees change color and the leaves crunch under my feet. I'd love it more if there were a little bite in the air though. I haven't worn a sweater other than on the camping trip (more on that later). It's been unseasonably warm in Maryland! Anyway, things have been insanely busy for me these past couple of months. And I have a feeling it’s only going to get busier over the months ahead.
September was a whirlwind of cooking and having guests over. The month started with a visit from my parents and sister (from Illinois) and my older son’s fifth birthday party. Then we were swept up with the High Holidays. The first week was Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. My parents stayed to celebrate with us and we hosted a couple of meals for friends in the neighborhood. Then, while Melissa P was holding her new nephew for the first time, I was fasting all day in observance of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. I didn’t make it the whole day through, but it probably didn’t help that I was reading “Good Enough to Eat” by Stacey Ballis at the time.

The next day, my husband put up our Sukkah and my sons and I decorated it on the inside. Sukkot came in with a crazy rain and wind storm and then excessive amounts of heat the whole weekend. Since we ate outside, we didn’t have much air conditioning. We did get to enjoy a barbecue in our Sukkah with some friends between the holidays. Then we had some friends in from NJ to visit for Shemini Atzeret (eighth day of Sukkot) and Simchat Torah (the day we bring the Torah back to the beginning). Before we knew it, October had arrived!
We spent the second weekend in October on a camping trip with some cousins. It was fun, but I think we’ll get a cabin instead of a tent, if we ever do it again. The boys had a blast though. They loved helping my husband make a fire. Thankfully, the rest of the month has been low key on the weekends. We went pumpkin picking one Sunday and I went to a spa for a whole day the following Sunday. Today, I took my sons trick-or-treating at a mall. It was fun, but got pretty crowded after a while. My older son dressed as Thomas the Tank Engine and my younger son refused to put on a costume but still liked getting candy.

The big news in my life right now is that I’m expecting a baby in late February (b’shaah tovah). I have not found out the gender yet and don’t plan to until it arrives. I love the element of surprise. For those of you who are wondering, "b'shaah tovah" means "in good time." Usually, people say this to a pregnant woman instead of "congrats," as to not jinx the pregnancy. I say it for myself for the same reasons.
Anyway, I've enjoyed getting to know some of you better and hope to get to know even more of you in the coming months! Feel free to e-mail me anytime!
~Melissa A

Interview with Jill Shalvis and book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Jill Shalvis is the author of over four dozen romance novels and has just started a new series (Lucky Harbor) with "Simply Irresistible." We got an opportunity to learn more about Jill and found that she has a great sense of humor and is very easygoing. With Halloween coming up, we even asked her some holiday-themed questions and enjoyed her answers to those, as well. (After all, who isn't a "ho" for Jill's favorite treat?)

After you read what she has to say here, check out her blog for more insight into what makes her tick. She also has three copies of "Simply Irresistable" to give away to some lucky US readers.

MP: What is your usual writing routine?JS: I try to write while the kids are in school or at practice but to be honest I'm not very good at routines. I can write anywhere, in the carpool lane, on my deck supervising the trampoline play outside, or while watching one of my kids' games -- though I don't recommend that because inevitably someone will want to read my screen and if it's one of THOSE scenes, it can be very embarassing!!!

MP: How did you celebrate when your first book was published?JS: Wrote another. :)

MP: Do you ever suffer from Writer's Block? If you do, how do you remedy it?JS: Yes, I suffer. But I tie that bitchy muse up and crack the whip. Or ... I eat cookies. My favorite is plotting with my eyes closed (aka: taking a nap ...) My point is, I just keep at it and work thru it. But there's usually lots of whining involved.

MP: How do you like to spend your time when you aren't writing?JS: READING! And hiking. And READING. And eating ...

MP: Can you tell us a little bit about how the "Lucky Harbor" Series came to be and what is it about?
JS: When I started this series about three estranged sisters who get stuck together running a beach resort, I decided I was out of my mind. I don’t have sisters. I have a brother, and we like each other just fine. Then at the dinner table that very night, my three teenage heathens started bickering and fighting, and I just stared at them in awe and wonder.
I had my fodder! “Keep fighting,” I told them -- much to their utter shock, since I’ve spent the past fifteen years begging them to get along.
After that night, it was a piece of cake to write the sisters — Maddie, Tara, and Chloe — their claws barely sheathed, with resentment and affection vying for space.
So then all that I had left to do was find the three sexy guys who could handle them.
It just so happened that, at the time, my neighbor was having an addition put on her house. For six glorious weeks, there were a bunch of guys hanging off the roof and the walls, in perfect line of sight of my office.
Which is really my deck. It’s a wonder I got any work done at all.
So I sat in the sun and wrote while in the background cute, young, sweaty guys hammered, and sawed, and in general, made my day.
And on some days, they even took off their shirts. Those were my favorite days of all. But I digress …
I was working very hard, planning out conflicts and plot pacing and trying to nail down my hero. And given what I was looking at for inspiration, it shouldn’t be any surprise at all that the hero for this first book in the Lucky Harbor series, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, turned out to be a master carpenter.
And a very sexy one at that.
I’m actually writing book two right now. I keep going out on the deck, sitting and patiently waiting, but my neighbor hasn’t hired any more sexy carpenters. Darn it.
Perhaps I need a new addition myself!

MA: Being a mother, where did you find the time to write over 4 dozen romance novels?
JS: Ha. Very carefully. There's the hours during school, when they're with friends, and ... drops head in shame ... I've been known to work while trying to watch their basketball games. Don't judge me. :)

MA: If "Simply Irresistible" were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
JS: Don't ask me this! :) It's too painful. The characters are so real in my head, and so ... mine ... that I can never cast my own books. No one is ever quite right. Is that awful?

MA: What do you like best about living by Lake Tahoe?
JS: Well it's not the bears, coyotes and raccoons, oh my. But definitely the scenery. And the change of pace from being a city girl turned mountain mama.

MA: What was the best Halloween costume you ever wore (or that one of your kids wore)?
JS: Well one year the girls all went as adorable little precious fairies ... and about an hour before we were going to go trick or treating it started snowing. Like two feet of snow. So we were all adorable little precious fairies, in full snow, thick gear from head to toe. Which meant we were fairies turned Michelin Men.

MA: What is your favorite kind of Halloween candy?
JS: Candy corn!! I'm a 'ho for candy corn.

Special thanks to Jill Shalvis for her entertaining answers to our questions and for offering the books for the giveaway!

How to win "Simply Irresistible":
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 was the best Halloween costume you've ever worn?
2. Please tell us: What is your favorite Halloween candy?
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.)

US only. Giveaway ends Monday, November 1st, at 6 pm EST.

Winners of "Life After Yes" (giveaway, part 2)

To find the winners, we assigned everyone numbers by the order in which the entries came in (we only had one entry per person, as we didn't include bonuses this time) and used the Custom Random Number Generator. It chose numbers 11 and 15.

Congrats to Wanda and Julie(t) (Coberly) Farmer!

Thanks to everyone for participating and to Aidan for the books to give away!

Don't forget to enter our current giveaway:

"The Love Goddess' Cooking School" by Melissa Senate
US/Canada only
Ends Thursday at midnight EST