Books of the Week - January 7th

Thanks for checking out Books of the Week! There are nine of us and we can't keep up with the many review requests we receive, even though we'd love to read everything sent our way. Therefore, we have decided to give some books their time in the spotlight and introduce you to them through this new blog feature. We will be featuring two books a week. We hope you will take the time to check these books out. (Click the titles to find them on Amazon.) If you read them and want to write a guest blogger review for us, please e-mail us and we'll be glad to work with you!

Authors: We will let you know whether or not we'll be able to review your book upon your request, and hope you'll be interested in this feature as an alternative.


The Tragedy Paper
By Elizabeth LaBan

Tim Macbeth is a seventeen-year-old albino and a recent transfer to the prestigious Irving School, where the motto is “Enter here to be and find a friend.” Tim does not expect to find a friend; all he really wants to do is escape his senior year unnoticed. Despite his efforts to blend into the background, he finds himself falling for the quintessential it-girl Vanessa Sheller, girlfriend of Iriving’s most popular boy. To Tim’s surprise, Vanessa is into him too, but she can kiss her social status good-bye if anyone finds out. Tim and Vanessa begin a clandestine relationship while looming over them is the Tragedy Paper, Irving’s version of a senior year thesis, assigned by the school’s least forgiving teacher, Mr. Simon.

Elizabeth LaBan’s stunning novel unfolds from two alternating viewpoints: Tim, the love-struck new kid, and Duncan, a current senior, who uncovers the truth behind Tim and Vanessa’s story and will consequently produce the greatest Tragedy Paper in Irving’s history.

Elizabeth LaBan can be found on Twitter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bouquet Toss
By Melissa Brown

Ever since Daphne Harper graduated from college, all of her friends have fallen in love, become engaged and walked down the aisle. Be it a blessing or a curse, Daphne (a hopeless romantic and perpetual single girl) catches the bouquet at every single wedding she attends.

Daphne’s love life is a mess. Her first love, Mayson, haunts her heart and keeps her from pursuing happiness with any man who comes along. As she struggles to move on from the one who got away, Daphne wonders if she will ever break her curse and find her happily ever after

Bouquet Toss is $2.99 on Kindle.

Melissa Brown can be found on Facebook  and Twitter.

Book Review: Elasticity

By Melissa Amster

I did not attend my 10 year high school reunion. Don't fall over in shock or anything. I'm actually glad I missed it, considering what I heard about it after the fact. It even took place in the same state where I was living at the time. So I was surprised to read about three women who wanted to go to their high school reunion in a different state from where they were living. Especially since they didn't like most of the people in their school to begin with.

Brooke is a shopaholic who has gone broke supporting her clothing addiction. She's supposed to give a speech at her high school reunion, but what could she possibly say to motivate her past classmates when she can't get her own life together?

Whitney has always been overweight and her lack of confidence about her body could destroy anything good she has going for her, especially her relationship with her boyfriend.

Tripp has been raised to succeed, being the heir to a family fortune. The pressure has gotten to her and OxyContin is the only way to keep her sanity intact, or so she thinks. When an opportunity to detox presents itself in the form of a reunion and a trip back home, will it be worth all the suffering?

All three friends have a month to get their acts together and meet their goals so they can face their high school bullies and let them know that they couldn't be defeated. For Brooke, it's regaining financial stabilty; For Whitney, it's losing weight; For Tripp, it's cleaning a drug addiction out of her system. In the process, they learn more about themselves than they ever thought possible.

Elasticity is Tiffany Romigh's debut novel. When she first presented it to me, I thought it would be like Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. After all, they had even less time to become successful before their reunion. The subject matter definitely enticed me to read it. However, it was a lot darker than this 90s chick flick favorite of mine. Granted, I didn't know how much could be done with only a month before the reunion. I was definitely impressed with these women and their desire to better themselves and was hoping that things would go well for that entire month. Naturally, they each had setbacks and I became frustrated when those happened. It was like reading a friend's diary and wanting things to turn out right for them and then finding out that it was more of a struggle than they expected. I wanted to call each girl and tell them that they needed to get their act together, pronto! Of course, I couldn't do this, so I hoped Tiffany would give them each happy endings, or at least the equivalent of one. After all, this is a fictional novel!

Each woman had underlying issues to overcome before they could even attempt to meet their one-month goal. Brooke's parents clearly favored her sister and made it obvious every time she talked to them. She felt like a failure, even when she thought she had it all together. Whitney's parents didn't talk to her at all, no matter how hard she tried to connect with them. Tripp's father had some high standards for her to achieve. When she started on her drug addiction, she lost the right to even set foot in her childhood home. There was more to their stories than just reaching their goals and it made them more realistic in that way.

The one thing holding this novel back was the wordiness. There were a lot of metaphors and the writing seemed more like it was trying to be poetic than attempting to tell a story. I'd get to a really good part, but it would be weighed down by the language. There was also a lot of psychobabble tossed into the mix. However, I was able to get past this issue to the heart of the story, which is what was most important. What I saw there was three friends who were trying to find their own way and also support each other. Their flaws were on display for all to see and it just made them more likable, even when they were at their weakest moments.

If you're looking for a novel that's a bit off the beaten path (as in, it is different from the common themes that come up in chick lit), look no further than Elasticity.

Thanks to Tiffany for the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

You might also enjoy:

What's In The Mail

Melissa A:

A Passionate Love Affair With a Total Stranger by Lucy Robinson from Penguin UK

The Good Daughter by Jane Porter from BookSparks PR (Amy also got this from Jane)




Tales from the Heart by Sophie King (e-book from Amazon; free at time of purchase)




Life from Scratch by Melissa Ford (e-book from Amazon; free at time of purchase)




Amy:

Rita Hayworth's Shoes and The Girl, the Gold Tooth, and Everything by Francine LaSala from Diversion Books

Book Review: Legally Wed

By Cindy Roesel

Don’t think I’m giving the ending away when I tell you they live happily ever after in Ciara O’Neill’s debut novel, Legally Wed. I mean come on, that’s the title, so it shouldn’t be a surprise, but there’s a lot of book to get through between the beginning and the end and I have to tell you it’s going to be a delightful read.  Ms. Ciara O’Neill has created two of the most likeable characters in Mia Lombard and Max Dylan that I almost couldn’t stand how much I enjoyed spending time with them and I believe you, her new readers will, too.

Mia and Max both work in London for a British finance company. Max is one of the head honchos and he’s American and Mia is an executive, as well, but she’s a local Brit. They don’t know each other much outside of work, but that changes dramatically and we quickly realize that they’ve been very much aware of the other for some time.

Mia has four fair-skinned, light-haired Italian sisters that make her, the darker one, feel like a chunky, lumpy frump. One of her sisters is getting married at a posh country estate and Max is unknowingly on the premises as a guest. There he sees Mia unexpectedly, out of office attire all glamorous and is immediately attracted to her curves and beauty. He ends up meeting her entire family, one thing leads to another, kisses are exchanged and he woos her into feeling like an elegant lady, very different from the office!

Back in London things proceed to get really complicated, which makes for a really good story. Will they or won’t they lose their biggest account? Will the head of the company’s work Visa suddenly be denied and his butt shipped back to New York? And then there is the unexpected reappearance of an ex from the past who is determined to mess things up. "I dos" are done, but will a farce of marriage lead to an unexpected downfall?

At the same time, feel free to pull up a chair and watch Mia and her Mom rearrange furniture and work on Mia’s fixer-upper in what could be called the British televisions version of HGTV's Remodels which has so much work left to be done because she’s always at the office.

Sound complicated? Perhaps in a less skillful author’s hands. Ciara O’Neill manages to pull it all together and make for a wonderful ending. I’m actually surprised this is her debut novel. I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. She certainly has enough material her for a sequel.

Thanks to Ciara for the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

You might also enjoy:

Winners of "Elasticity"

To find our winners, we assigned a number to each entry (from only the entries with contact info) and asked random.org to choose FIVE numbers.

Congrats to....

9 - susieqlaw
49 - Jackie
60 - Linda Kish
67 - bn100
77 - Jilleen

Here is a message from Tiffany Romigh:

Dearest Winners of Elasticity,

There are times in life, when it’s almost impossible to explain how much you appreciate someone’s help, interest, investment, or chance on you. This is one of those times.

Writing a book is a strange endeavor, filled with all sorts of twists and turns and doubt. Moments when you want to tear your hair out. Quit. Run to Mexico and open a cantina instead.

The reason I didn’t, when those moments struck?

You.

Knowing that someone, someone great and curious and intelligent, like you, may be out there to share something with. Thank you for being there, for making the investment of your time to enter and win and read. I can’t wait to see what you think.

Love,
Tiffany Romigh

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks to everyone for participating and telling us how you rang in 2013. Hope you're having a great New Year so far!

Thanks to Tiffany for a fantastic interview and for sharing her book with our winners.

Check out our latest giveaways and also enter ones from other blogs and websites on our giveaways page.

Talli Roland talks cuteness...plus a book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Today we welcome back the lovely Talli Rolland, and her latest novel, The Pollyanna Plan.  As we all (hopefully) know, Talli writes fun, romantic fiction. Born and raised in Canada, Talli now lives in London, where she savours the great cultural life (coffee and wine). Despite training as a journalist, Talli soon found she preferred making up her own stories--complete with happy endings. Talli's debut novel, The Hating Game, was short-listed for Best Romantic Read at the UK's Festival of Romance, while her second, Watching Willow Watts, was selected as an Amazon Customer Favorite. Her novels have also been chosen as top books of the year by industry review websites and have been bestsellers in Britain and the United States.

Talli took time out of her newly busy schedule as a first time mom (!!!) to answer some of our questions. We're doing an animal and pet theme this month and she had some fun things to say on the topic!

Thanks to Talli we have TWO e-copies of The Pollyanna Plan to give to some lucky readers anywhere in the world. (If you can't wait till a winner is chosen, it's currently $1.99 for Kindle!)

You can find Talli at her website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Favorite animal from a TV show:

Wow, tough one! I'm going to have to say the Littlest Hobo. He's a dog in a Canadian TV series who doesn't have a home, but who makes new friends every episode and helps them out of a dangerous situation along the way. Then, he moves on! It breaks my heart every time  he takes to the road at the end of each program. 

 

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

I'm not sure I can pinpoint one (cop out, I know!), but every time I receive an email from a reader, it reminds me how wonderful being a writer actually is. There's nothing scarier than baring your soul each time you publish, and to know your efforts have been appreciated really can't be beaten.

 

Favorite zoo animal: 

I love koala bears! The way they hug the trees and their fuzzy little bodies are so endearing.

 

How do you react to a negative review?

One word: wine. Or whine! Seriously, though, I grizzle a bit to my husband, then move on. It's taken me a while to grow a tough skin, but now I realise it's impossible to please everyone. Some people will like my books, and some won't. I'll write for those who do!

 

Funniest/cutest thing you've seen an animal do:

My cat used to curl up in the sink. For some reason, I found this beyond cute! Until I needed to brush my teeth...
 

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read The Pollyanna Plan.

The Pollyanna Plan is an uplifting novel without being too kitsch (I hope!), and drives home the point that despite the potential for hurt and pain, it's worth living life to the fullest.

  

Favorite animal from a commercial:

There's a type of loo roll (toilet paper) here in the UK called Andrex, and their commercials feature legions of cute fuzzy puppies! Makes me go gooey every time. 

What do you think the key is to a successful chicklit novel? Lots of sexiness? A studly hero? Plenty of angst? (or others)

I think a successful chick lit novel has a heroine who faces challenges, makes wrong decisions and faces obstacles, but by the end of the book is stronger because of them. A little romance and a hunky hero always help, but for me the heroine needs to learn and grow on her own, not because a man has swept her off her stilettos.

Special thanks to Talli for answering our questions, even with an adorable little distraction (and we don't mean a pet this time) and for sharing her latest novel with our readers!
 

How to win The Pollyanna Plan:
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. Since The Pollyanna Plan is about thinking positively, please tell us: What is something you really like about any kind of animal?
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.

Giveaway ends January 9th at midnight EST

Guest Book Review & Giveaway: The Boy Next Door

By Jilleen Hays

**Giveaway is now closed**

Sometimes, love is closer than you think.

Did you ever have a crush on the boy next door? I sure did! From 3rd – 5th grade I was “in love” with Ricky, whose grandmother lived next door. My BFF (we didn’t call it that in the “old days”), Janine, lived one block over and she was “in love” with my next door neighbor, Jimmy! Jimmy and Ricky were best buddies and all four of us were in the same class too!

What great memories I have of “spying” on the boys and doing all sorts of “crazy-kid” things to get their attention. Then the day came that Ricky moved away….breaking my heart. Believe it or not, we ended up going to the same University, but there was no “spark” left when we bumped into each other!

I was thrilled to have the chance to review The Boy Next Door by Annabelle Costa. In The Boy Next Door, Tasha has always able to count on Jason through middle school, high school, bad dates, and an ill-advised punk phase. Since the day he moved in next door, he’s gone from the weird kid in a wheelchair to Tasha’s most trusted friend. But lives change and the friends are going in different directions. When Jason and Tasha rekindle their friendship, sparks fly. After years of being a wild soul, now the ex-lead of a band turned music teacher is just looking for a relationship to last.

When none other than Jason introduces her to a man who can give her what she wants, Tasha is on the verge of throwing passion and love away just so she can forget her troubled past and settle down. But Jason isn’t ready to give her up just yet.

I really enjoyed The Boy Next Door. It was a quick, but a predictable read. I loved the characters….Tasha, Jason, Melissa and Larry! They seemed very relatable. The story starts when Jason moves in next door to Tasha in middle school and quickly moves through to present day. Jason sets up Tasha with Larry, his co-worker, on her 32nd birthday. He is a bore, but Tasha tries to overlook it. Jason has been dating Melissa for a while and she doesn’t care for the friendship between Jason and Tasha. She also works with Larry and Jason.

When Tasha goes back to Philadelphia for a family funeral, Jason drives her. It is a road trip she won't forget for many reasons, trips down memory lane and a fight with her sister. Sparks fly between the two sisters causing an explosion of emotions. When they arrive back in NYC, Tasha discovers other sparks flew while she was away! What starts well, ends well!

If you are looking for a quick and fun read, I recommend The Boy Next Door and don’t let the YA cover fool you….it is not for a YA audience!!

 Also, thanks to Dev Love Press, LLC for the book in exchange for an honest review. They also have a copy to give away to one lucky reader anywhere in the world!

How to win a paperback copy of The Boy Next Door: 
Please tell us, which crush of yours stands out the most?  (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 January 7th at midnight EST.

Jilleen Hays is the owner of Seaside Book Nook blog, Corporate Controller for a Health System in NY, adjunct accounting instructor at SUNY, wife and mother of three (one son and twin daughters). When she isn’t working, running to her kids’ sporting events or teaching at the university, she is reading. 

You might also enjoy: