Book Review: The Blasphemy Box

By Jami Deise

As I mentioned in my review of Sophie King’s Divorce for Beginners (now titled Falling in Love Again), divorce rates for first marriages peaked at 40 percent in 1980 and have been declining ever since. But it is still a popular topic among writers and readers of women’s fiction. In fact, The Blasphemy Box is the second book I read in a single week that featured a middle-aged woman who was dumped by her cheating husband in favor of his pregnant girlfriend. Clearly, this particular plot is a horror movie for those of us who are getting older, perhaps have put on a few pounds, and maybe have given up our careers rather than hand over our entire salary to day cares and nannies. But the ubiquity of the topic requires the writer to go beyond the usual clichés to give the reader a unique experience. While The Blasphemy Box is well-written, I’m not sure that author Mandy Behbehani achieves that goal.

The box in question is a wooden box that sits on Maddy’s kitchen table in San Francisco, California. Put there by her husband Steven, she’s required to deposit a quarter every time she swears. Since Steven announces he’s leaving in the beginning of the book, Maddy has quite a few reasons to swear. She has three children, a back-burnered career as a journalism, and 30 extra pounds around the middle. As soon as he leaves, Steve fights her about the house and the amount of money he’s required to pay for Maddy and the children. Although at first nearly paralyzed by grief, Maddy soon takes action, starting a blog about the divorce process and going to the gym. Eventually, she even tries dating.

The only aspect of the story that I found original was that Maddy is from England. She moved to the United States to be with Steven, and her parents and best friend Suzy came over as well. If Behbehani had spent more time, say, on the different between divorce in the U.S. and the U.K. – assuming there is one – the book might have been able to stand out more. I also felt the ending was too happy.

While The Blasphemy Box does not stand out from other women’s fiction novels on divorce, it is a fast, engaging, well-written read. And it serves as an important reminder to those of us who abandoned our careers to concentrate on our children – one day we too may be abandoned.

Thanks to Mandy Behbehani for the book in exchange for an honest review.

You might also enjoy:

Book Review: The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Café

By Melissa Amster

The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Café caught my eye when I was browsing on Goodreads and I knew we had to feature both the book and author at Chick Lit Central, as a result. I'm so glad we did for a couple of reasons...one is that it reunited me with a classmate from high school (a nice woman who also loves books) and the other is that it was a fantastic story from beginning to end!

Ellen has it made, living in Manhattan and engaged to a high society politician. When her grandmother's dying wish is for Ellen to deliver a letter to the boy she once loved, Ellen drops everything and drives to Beacon, Maine to track down this mysterious man. Her plan is to give him the letter and be on her way, but plans never work out quite the way we want them to. After almost drowning and being rescued by the local carpenter, she becomes a small-town celebrity. This quickly gets in the way of Ellen discreetly finding out about her grandmother's past, especially when the carpenter keeps showing up when Ellen least expects it. She soon begins to realize that a one night visit to Beacon will not be enough for her to learn about her grandmother...and herself.

I was excited to read this novel after finding out that one of our readers who won it couldn't put it down. I probably wouldn't have put it down either, but life gets in the way (such as preparing for the Jewish holiday season; of course I bought a blueberry pie, as the book was commanding me have a slice...or two).

The descriptions were fantastic and made me feel like I was personally visiting Beacon. I could visualize the people and settings and my senses of taste and smell were tantalized. The details enhanced the story even further. There was also a lot of humor throughout the story, especially surrounding Ellen's 15 minutes of small town fame. Combine that with a captivating dialogue and strongly developed characters and you have a story worth sharing and recommending to everyone you know.

On a personal level, the setting reminded me of when my husband and I took a road trip to Door County, Wisconsin, nine years ago. The inn where Ellen stays made me think of the inn where we stayed at the time. I also loved Ellen's taste in music, as I find myself listening to similar music most of the time. I could see us taking a road trip together with Ella Fitzgerald's lovely voice coming out of the stereo speakers. Of course, we'd both be singing along! Learning about Ellen's grandmother's past was interesting and had a mystery feel to it. I was just as eager as Ellen was to find answers and it made me think about how much I don't know about my grandmothers.

The only things that didn't work for me so well, but didn't take away from my enjoyment, were the title and the level of risk for Ellen. The title is interesting and with the cover image, I was definitely curious to know more. However, the reason for the title seems to be more in the background. The café existed at one time, but it serves more as a symbol, and even that is not as apparent. As for Ellen's level of risk, I felt like whatever she did with her life, she had no chance of being hurt (emotionally). I don't want to say anything more, as to not spoil the story though.

I absolutely loved The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Café from start to finish and eagerly anticipate Mary Simses writing another novel. In the meantime, I am already casting the movie version in my head.

Ellen: Kristina Apgar (I know she's younger than Ellen is supposed to be, but I feel like age wasn't such an issue that Ellen would necessarily HAVE to be in her 30s. I kept picturing Kristina in my head as I was reading it.)
Hayden: Armie Hammer (The age thing for Ellen also applies to Hayden.)
Roy: Jeffrey Dean Morgan (I know his age is going in the opposite direction, but I just picture him as Roy anyway.)
Paula (owner of the inn where Ellen stays): Edie McClurg

Thanks to Hachette Book Group for the book in exchange for an honest review.


You might also enjoy:

Tawna Fenske knows how to be prepared....plus a special giveaway

We first met Tawna Fenske through the Debutante Ball in 2011, when she was in the same "class" as Sarah Jio and Eleanor Brown. Her debut novel, Making Waves, involved a revenge-fueled diamond heist in the Caribbean with a crew more suited to the boardroom than the poop deck, and a quirky blond stowaway who’s got a few big secrets.

She's back this time around with a new caper, this time involving lingerie! In The Great Panty Caper, Shultz sisters JJ and Lori have to find the person who stole a pair of panties that were a prototype for Lori's new fashion product. If you can't get enough of the Shultz sisters after reading this novella, check out Tawna's latest novel, Getting Dumped.

That's not all...Coliloquy is giving readers a chance to interact during The Great Panty Caper, as you have the opportunity to help Lori and JJ make some important decisions. You also can help name the dating "Emergency Kit" mentioned in the excerpt below. And best of all, they have one "Emergency Kit" for a lucky US reader!

To learn more about Tawna, visit her website and follow her on Twitter.

Excerpt from The Great Panty Caper:

Sisters JJ and Lori Shultz are headed to Seattle with JJ’s beloved feline friend, Blue Cat, in the backseat...

Lori glanced over her shoulder into the backseat. “At least Blue Cat had his nuts cut off. That makes him a superior male traveling companion. Can you maybe keep him from sleeping on my clothes this time?”

“Blue Cat doesn’t sleep on your clothes.”

Lori snorted. “He always sleeps on my clothes.”

“Well maybe if you kept them in the closet instead of on the floor of the hotel room, you wouldn’t need to wrongly accuse my cat.”

Lori gave another dramatic sigh as she merged the car into the right lane. “I need to spread them out so I know what to wear. I’m nervous about this trade show. I’m debuting some new handbags and a new spin-off product, and I need to look good.”

“You always look good,” I insisted. “You’re the hottest handbag designer in the business, and you’re beautiful and smart, too.”

“Thank you.” Lori nodded once, smiling at the ego boost as she put on her blinker and took the exit toward downtown Seattle. “But I'm debuting my new product at the booth tomorrow, and I still haven’t named it.”

“Tell me again what’s in it.”

“It’s a discreet pouch containing all the things a lady might wish to have in her handbag during an unexpected romantic tryst,” she intoned, reciting her marketing copy from memory. “A small vial of tinted lip gloss, a fresh pair of panties, a packet of makeup remover, a mini toothbrush that’s preloaded with paste, two ibuprofen, a pouch for cab fare, and a breath mint.”

“You went with both the toothbrush and the breath mint?”

She scrunched up her face. “Nothing makes you feel more like a hoochie than morning mouth.”

“You should definitely put that in your marketing copy.”

“Come on, JJ, help me out. I need a name for the kit.”

“Hoochie Helper?” I suggested. “Ho on the Go? Skank Rescue Kit? A Hussy’s Best Friend? The One-Night-Stand Wonder?”

Lori laughed and shook her head. “That’s horrible. You worked in marketing for a bajillion years. That’s the best you’ve got?”

“Hey, there’s a reason I don’t work in marketing anymore.”

The reason wasn’t so much a lack of talent as it was a corporate layoff that got me repositioned to a job driving heavy equipment at the county landfill. I far preferred my new method of shoveling garbage, and barely minded the switch from pencil skirts and heels to work boots and a hard hat.

A pink hard hat, I should add.

“I’m testing out the panties right now,” Lori told me.

“Define testing.”

“Wearing. I’m trying to figure out whether it makes more sense to include a thong, a bikini, or a g-string, and I’m experimenting with the stitching and design and the best spot for my special handmade label.”

“What are you testing right now?”

“My top pick. The thong with the label on the hip. I only made one, but I’m thinking we have a winner.”

Giveaway Details:

Thanks to Coliloquy, one lucky US reader will receive a special edition "Emergency Kit," including: tinted lipgloss, breath mints, advil, make-up remover, mini-toothbrush, extra pair of panties, and a small pouch for cab fare.

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

US only. Giveaway ends October 22nd at midnight EST.

Book Review: Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures

By Becky Gulc

Earlier this year I chose Emma Straub’s Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures as one of my holiday reads. Here is the synopsis:

‘The enchanting story of a midwestern girl who escapes a family tragedy and is remade as a movie star during Hollywood’s golden age.

In 1920, Elsa Emerson, the youngest and blondest of three sisters, is born in idyllic Door County, Wisconsin. Her family owns the Cherry County Playhouse, and more than anything, Elsa relishes appearing onstage, where she soaks up the approval of her father and the embrace of the audience. But when tragedy strikes her family, her acting becomes more than a child¹s game of pretend.

While still in her teens, Elsa marries and flees to Los Angeles. There she is discovered by Irving Green, one of the most powerful executives in Hollywood, who refashions her as a serious, exotic brunette and renames her Laura Lamont. Irving becomes Laura’s great love; she becomes an Academy Award¬-winning actress—and a genuine movie star. Laura experiences all the glamour and extravagance of the heady pinnacle of stardom in the studio-system era, but ultimately her story is a timeless one of a woman trying to balance career, family, and personal happiness, all while remaining true to herself.’ (Synopsis courtesy of Emma Straub's website).

I like to mix up my holiday reads so thought this book would offer something different to the more traditional ‘chick lit’ I had in my suitcase. I’d been drawn to the cover a good while before reading this, it seemed to ooze sophistication and I’ve had my stages of reading numerous biographies about Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland so it was appealing in that respect, but as I’m not necessarily drawn to fictional books set in the past I was also intrigued to see whether I would actually take to this novel or not.

I was drawn in. I loved this book; it was everything I hoped it would be and more. Whilst my pre-conception was that ‘Laura’ may have been a bit of a diva and unlikable, she was actually far from it; incredibly likable and I felt real empathy for her as we were taken through her life’s journey with her, starting with her childhood. No, she’s not without her flaws, and I don’t think you’d expect to read a novel about a fictional star without those flaws, but the flaws were true to the character and what she goes through. These flaws aren’t over-hyped which I maybe thought they would be. In this sense it was pleasing to feel this empathy with the character right through to the end of the novel.

Whilst there is a little glimpse into the glamour and film industry in this Hollywood era, the book is much more concerned with the day-to-day life of Elsa/Laura at home. There are some very dark moments that I didn’t always expect. Maybe I’m a bit strange but I enjoyed these dark moments the most as it was these that offered us real insight into the ‘normality’ of a star’s life, including what happens when a star begins to dwindle in popularity as well as how they cope with the losses in life that everyone goes through. I’m sure I found the ‘Hollywood’ star of days gone by much more intriguing than I would have done if the main character was a modern-day celebrity, the setting of the golden age of Hollywood worked for me, I could picture the Hollywood scene and Laura’s homes so vividly in my mind.

Whilst I’ve seen that some readers have been analysing the characters to see if they reflect real-life Hollywood stars, I didn’t find myself doing this. Given hindsight, reading what other people say about this is quite interesting, so those interested in Hollywood history may well enjoy this.

Overall I’d recommend that anyone spends some time getting to know Laura Lamont; a thoroughly enjoyable read.

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

You might also enjoy:

Book Review & Giveaway: Grounded

By Gail Allison

**Giveaway is now closed**

When flight attendant Annie Taylor is shaken out of her persistently on-the-go lifestyle due to a takeover at the airline she works at, she doesn’t really know where to turn. Gone is the jet-set routine that went hand-in-hand with layovers in Rome and stops in Hawaii. As quickly as her job has been snatched out from under her (although her boss promises to try and find a place for her in the newly reorganized company), she also loses her boyfriend. In a blur of emotion and uncertainty, Annie bolts from the city to her grandmother’s farm in Kentucky, where she is met with the business end of a shotgun. After her grandmother realizes that it’s Annie who has come sneaking into the house in the middle of the night, they set aside the reunion for the next morning.

 Fast forward a few days, and Annie sees nothing about the farm that’s worth keeping. It’s a money-losing proposition, and she tries to persuade her grandmother to see things her way, but Beulah refuses to budge. And as she starts learning more about the farm, and the family history behind it, Annie realizes that her grandmother might be right. With a dash of romance added to this novel that’s based in real human emotion, Grounded offers what so few novels do: real, homegrown advice, and characters that stay in your heart and your mind long after you’ve put it down. I was stunned to realize that this was Ms. Correll’s debut novel, and I can’t help but hope for a follow-up.

The writing in this novel was spot-on. The language never felt overblown or too flowery, but instead was realistic, resulting in good dialogue and believable situations. Ms. Correll’s use of descriptions was also absolutely bang-on, and never felt forced or ridiculous. The descriptions are woven so well into the story that without even realizing it, the reader all of a sudden knows how to can green beans, how to plant a garden so that not everything comes up at once, and how to serve up a good country dinner. Annie is never overbearing, and as she slowly becomes the country girl that she once was you really get to see her blossom in a way you just know she never had the chance to in the city.

Jake (Annie’s childhood friend) comes back to the farm as well, all grown up, and considering leaving his corporate lifestyle to get back to his roots and try his hand at farming. He has a girlfriend in tow, and I love the fact that his commitment, his loyalty, and his “good-guy” personality run so deep that he doesn’t take one look at Annie and forget all about his current sweetheart. (Seriously…any time I read a book and the love interest does this, I have to wonder how deep any of their feelings really go.) Jake is a wonderful foil to Annie’s initial character as he understands the city and how the corporate world works, but also sees the value in getting back to the land.

I honestly cannot say enough about Grounded. I absolutely adored this book. It’s already in the re-read pile! It was written from the heart and right from the get-go, you can tell. It pulls you in and makes you feel involved in the story in a way that not many novels do any more. My fingers are permanently crossed in the hopes of a follow-up novel. Even if it’s not a sequel to Grounded, I will definitely be first in line to grab Ms. Correll’s next offering. Well thought-out, and well written, Grounded was everything I look for in a book. I’ve recommended it to friends and family, and will be lending my copy out all over the place. This book is amazing, and you won’t regret picking it up.

Thanks to Angela Correll for the book in exchange for an honest review. She has TWO copies for some lucky readers in the US and/or Canada.

How to win:
In regards to the title of this novel, tell us about a time you were grounded as a kid/teenager. What was it for and how long did it last?

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.

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends October 21st at midnight EST.

You might also enjoy:

Books to "Fall" in love with...plus a giveaway!

By Cindy Roesel

**Giveaway is now closed**

Reading this Fall is very exciting. I’ve found several books I want to share with you which include compelling women characters I hope you will put on your “to be read list.”

In The Affairs of Others by Amy Grace Loyd (Picador), prudent Celia loses her husband and then buys a Brooklyn brownstone hoping it’ll bring order to her life. She chooses tenants with the expectations to create a neatly compartmentalized existence. When one tenant moves out and another in without being properly vetted, the harmony of the building and people living there is disrupted. “Women say sorry too often. We say it when it’s not ours to say.” Expect quite a few unexpected surprises. Amy Grace Lloyd’s debut novel is a “literary peep show.”

Aimee Bender is back with a collection of short stories in The Color Master (Doubleday). Her reputation for creating well-written surreal and bizarre dreamy tales about strange magical worlds (like in her previous novel, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake) will only be reinforced. This is a collection of fifteen fresh new stories. It’s not chick-lit. It’s dark, wicked and will challenge you as a reader.

And if you enjoy well-written short stories that explore relationships, you’ll want to read and study The Hypothetical Girl (Other Press). What I love about this collection is all the characters are pretty normal except for the ones who aren’t, because they are all desperate to find love. Stop. Pause and take a moment. We’ve all been there. That’s why I wrote pretty normal. You can be pretty normal and behave completely abnormal in a relationship or in the pursuit of it. All of the relationships are pursed in the landscape of current social media. Author Elizabeth Cohen teaches at State University New York, Plattsburgh.

Forget a glass of wine or a chocolate bar! I’m hooking myself up to a sauvignon blanc IV and buying a case of Halloween candy, heavy on the snickers. At nearly 800-pages, on October 22nd Donna Tartt’s new tome, The Goldfinch (Little, Brown) is being released and I’m ready to settle in. You either love reading her or not. I do. This time 13-year Theo Decker and his mother are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when a bomb explodes killing mother and leaving Theo an orphan. It’s a mystery spanning the globe centered on the real Dutch Master Painting, "The Goldfinch" by Carel Fabritius.

In Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Knopf), by the one and only Helen Fielding, a lot has changed since we last read about Bridget 14-plus years ago. In addition to some new things like Twitter, texting, on-line dating on the current landscape, some have stayed the same...like booze. But will she be married? Single? The book comes out tomorrow! Until then, check out an excerpt in the October “Vogue.” It tells you A LOT! I’m not going to spill any beans because I’ll have LOTS of you texting me nasty emails! But let me tell you there are LOTS of changes in Bridget’s life … and let me say, some for the good! Chick Lit Central is giving away a copy to a lucky US reader, so be sure to enter to win it right here!

For the first time in any of our lifetimes, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah fall on the same day – Thursday, November 28th. And it is currently being called THANKSGIVUKKAH. To celebrate the spirit of the upcoming winter holidays, some of our favorite chick-lit authors are putting together six tales of Christmas cheer titled Merry and Bright. It’s a collection of short stories, edited by Lucie Simone, that will be out next month and the authors featured include:

• Isabella Louise Anderson
• Cindy Arora
• Laura Chapman
• Lauren Clark
• Libby Mercer
• Nancy Scrofano

Looking forward to lots of additional reviews and giveaways right here on Chick Lit Central. There's never a shortage from new authors and novels for lucky members to win. Enjoy the Fall season and wearing your autumn wardrobe.

Thanks to Knopf for sharing a copy of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy with one lucky US reader.

How to win:
Aside from any spoilers you've heard, tell us something you predict will happen to/for Bridget this time around. (Or share a favorite memory from one of the first two books.)

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.

US only. Giveaway ends October 20th at midnight EST.

Double Feature Review: Across the pond

By Melissa Amster

Since this blog is US-based, the UK is across the pond for us. This past summer, I read two enjoyable chick lit novels written by British authors. Also, oddly enough, I could see Rebel Wilson playing the lead character if either book were made into a movie.

Kismetology by Jaimie Admans

Finding the perfect man isn't easy. Especially when it's for your mother...

Mackenzie Atkinson's mother has meddled in her love life once too often and something has to be done. Mackenzie decides to turn the tables and find love for her lonely mother.
Her lonely and very fussy mother.

Surely finding an older gentleman looking for love won't be that hard, right?

Wrong.

If you've ever thought that boys grow up, here's the problem: They don't. Ever. And Mackenzie is about to learn that the hard way....

Faced with a useless boyfriend, dressed up dogs, men who shouldn't be allowed out in public and men who make reptiles seem like attractive company - will she ever find the perfect man for her neurotic mother? (Synopsis adapted from Goodreads.)

Kismetology was a cute novel with a clever concept. Usually the mothers are the ones trying to set up their children on dates, but this time the tables are turned. I found myself laughing out loud at Eleanor's quirkiness and all the crazy guys Mac meets in her attempts to find her the right match. The story was interesting and I wanted to see what would happen, as there was a lot of build-up throughout. I like what Mac learned about herself along the way, as well. The only things that didn't work as well for me was some of the dialogue and Eleanor's age. There were times Mac would either argue with Eleanor or Dan (her boyfriend) and the dialogue would go in an endless loop for several pages. I also was thrown off when I found out Eleanor was just about 50. She seemed too quirky and set in her ways to be that young and also be the mother of an adult only 20 years her junior. I was expecting her to be closer to 70. Overall, Kismetology was a light and entertaining read.

Movie cast suggestions:
Mackenzie: Rebel Wilson
Eleanor (Mac's mum): Jennifer Saunders
Dan: Max Thieriot

Excess All Areas by Mandy Baggot

When the going gets tough Freya Johnson gets going!

Humiliated by her boyfriend the day she turns thirty, Freya boards a last minute flight to Corfu to visit her best friend Emma. Little does she know - this holiday will change her life forever.

Enter Hollywood film star Nicholas Kaden, whose entourage is stirring up the village of Kassiopi while filming his new movie. He’s hot, he’s unexpectedly different, but is he for real?

Caught up in a media frenzy, feeling unwelcome and uncomfortable in Nicholas’ movie world, Freya battles with the ghosts of her past and the uncertainty of her future. Can she help Emma, keep her own big secret and find out what Nicholas is hiding, before she feels the urge to run away again? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

A while back, I read Knowing Me, Knowing You and was very impressed with Mandy's writing style. Then I read another book of hers that wasn't my cup of tea (but I heard others liked that one). However, I decided to give her writing another chance and I'm so glad I did. Excess All Areas is on the same impressiveness level as KMKY, if not better! It was cute and funny throughout. I loved Freya's candor and the way she didn't put up with people who tried to push her around. The armchair adventure aspect was also a treat, as I have never been to Greece. I still felt like I could picture it as though I'd been there 100 times, through Mandy's great use of description. The only thing that didn't work so well was Freya overreacting to Russell's humiliation in the beginning. I felt she should have just confronted him and still run off afterward. It wasn't like he thought he was doing something wrong on purpose at the time. Excess All Areas is a delightful read, especially when you are in the mood to be swept away on a vacation with a side of romance. I just found out that Public Property is the sequel, so I definitely look forward to reading that too!

Movie cast suggestions:
Freya: Rebel Wilson
Nicholas: Josh Duhamel
Russell: Jackson Rathbone
Emma: Romola Garai
Mrs. Petroholis: Lainie Kazan

You might also enjoy: