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:

Book Review: All My Restless Life to Live

By Jami Deise

Everyone who knows me – and even some people who don’t – know that I am a huge soap opera fan. When I was in high school in the 1980s, there were 12 soaps on the air and somehow I managed to follow the stories and characters in each one. And although I recently quit watching General Hospital for the fourth time in my life, I still hold the daytime drama genre very close to my heart. So I was very excited to read Dee DeTarsio’s novel, All My Restless Life to Live.

Protagonist Elle Miller is a producer for cable soap I’d Rather Be Loved (IRBL), based in San Diego rather than Los Angeles. However, this book is not a novel version of the movies Tootsie, Soap Dish or Nurse Betty – it does not provide a realistic (albeit funny) look behind the scenes at the making of a daytime soap opera. Elle’s title is producer, but she spends most of her time writing, and is even cajoled into acting at one point. For most readers, these details won’t matter, but for those looking for an accurate behind-the-scenes look at the making of a soap opera, that’s not what this book provides.

What All My Restless Life to Live does provide is a mostly amusing query on what happens after death. Elle’s father died a year ago, and since then Elle’s been holding on to guilt that she wasn’t there. When her computer breaks, Elle asks her mother Irene for her father’s Mac, which Irene has kept as a kind of shrine. Since Elle doesn’t know that Irene dumped her dad’s ashes onto the keyboard, she’s shocked when Irene says no, and eventually performs a switch-a-roo. Soon after, she starts getting messages from her dad on the computer. Is it really him? If so, what is he trying to say? As Elle ponders this dilemma, she also has to deal with problems at her job and her prima donna boss Liam, her attraction to IRBL star Brad, and her new relationship with a doctor – who might be into her or just might be after a prize if he can prove there’s life after death.

All My Restless Life to Live has a lot of funny moments – Elle is a bit of a klutz and is sometimes prone to saying or doing the wrong thing, as many chick lit heroines are. It also has several long conversations about “what happens after you die” between Elle and many different characters, which I started to find tedious. DeTarsio sets up several different plotlines, such as Elle’s mother’s new boyfriend, Elle’s relationship with her best friend Adam, and a set piece at the Daytime Emmys, along with the main thread about her father’s computer. And she does an admirable job in pulling them all together. The novel ends on a sweet, hopeful note.

Overall, All My Restless Life to Live is a fun story with an amusing protagonist. But it’s not the book to give you an inside look behind the scenes at a real daytime soap.

Thanks to BookSparks PR for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Dee DeTarsio:

Home and Away with Cecelia Ahern....plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

We are thrilled and honored to have Cecelia Ahern visiting CLC today. She is one of the authors Melissa P. and I initially bonded about when we reconnected on Facebook back in 2009. Her books are heartfelt, entertaining and quirky. She is best known for P.S. I Love You, which was made into a movie a few years later. Other fabulous works of hers include Rosie Dunne (a.k.a. Love, Rosie), If You Could See Me Now and Thanks for the Memories. Her latest novel, One Hundred Names (reviewed here) is being published in paperback in the UK this week, and I'm sure that it won't be long before it comes to the US.

Cecelia is here today to answer our "Home and Away" questions. I hope you will enjoy her answers as much as we did! I even have one of her books to send to a lucky reader anywhere in the world! (It's a surprise though...)

Visit Cecelia at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Home:

Favorite place you liked to hang out at when you were a kid? 
I used to sit in my wardrobe (Dublin, Ireland) and listen to Michael Jackson's "Bad Album" on a Fisher Price record player. I'd also make up stories in my head so I believe that's the beginning of my storytelling.

If we were to visit you where you currently live, what would you take us to see first? 
I would bring you to Co. Kerry in the South west of Ireland to the Gap of Dunloe and I'd let you sit there and take in the view!

Tell us one feature that would be a must-have for the house of your dreams?
A chef would be ideal!

Away:

Where did you go for your last holiday? 
We stayed on The Palm in Dubai in December and it was beautiful.

Where is the farthest location you've ever traveled to? 
Australia. I've been twice on book tours and I love the country. I think Australians are the most relaxed, friendly people of all. Hobart, Tasmania was my favourite place on my last trip, it's so beautiful.


Do you have a favorite traveling outfit that you bring on every trip? No!

Thanks to Cecelia for visiting with us and to HarperCollins UK for coordinating this interview.

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 21st at midnight EST.

Book Review: One Hundred Names

Journalist Kitty Logan’s career has been destroyed by scandal, and she now faces losing the woman who guided her and taught her everything she knew. At her mentor’s bedside, Kitty asks her – what is the one story she always wanted to write?
The answer lies in a file buried in Constance’s office: a list of one hundred names. There is no synopsis, no explanation, nothing else to explain what the story is or who these people are. The list is simply a mystery.

But before Kitty can talk to her friend, it is too late.

With everything to prove, Kitty is assigned the most important task of her life – to write the story her mentor never had the opportunity to. Kitty has to not only track down and meet the people on the list, but find out what connects them. And, in the process of hearing ordinary people’s stories, she uncovers Constance’s – and starts to understand her own… (Synopsis courtesy of Cecelia Ahern's website.)

Melissa Amster:

As soon as I heard about a new Cecelia Ahern book becoming available, I immediately went on a quest to find it. Thankfully, a friend sent me her copy and I couldn't wait to dig in. After a few surreal stories from Cecelia, One Hundred Names was a refreshing break. It's a more simplistic story in the grand scheme of things, but it flowed along nicely and kept my interest throughout. While it started off a bit slow, it picked up steam in no time, drawing me right into Kitty's world to find the answers she was seeking.

I didn't really know what to expect from this novel and was prepared for it to go in any direction, allowing it to surprise me in many ways. Kitty had some unlikable moments in the beginning, but then I came to realize that she had a good heart and was generally misunderstood.  I enjoyed seeing her find her way back to where she needed to be. I really liked the stories she uncovered and found it interesting to get to know these other characters through glimpses into their lives. At first I thought it would detract from the story, but it actually added more substance.

Overall, One Hundred Names is a sweet story that inspired me to do a project for my personal blog. It's called "52 Stories" and it's been going on for over half a year already. If you're interested in participating, you  know where to find me...


Becky Gulc:

By my own admission I’ve always considered Cecelia Ahern’s books to be growers rather than immediately captivating. Over the years I’ve read pretty much all of her books, my sister is a big fan so I’ve ended up borrowing them after she’s raved about them. For each one (perhaps with the exception of P.S. I Love You, which I instantly loved) I’ve found the ‘magical’ aspect a bit hard-going, difficult to get into at first but each time I’ve ended up loving it by the time I’ve finished and it’s this magical feel that makes Cecelia Ahern’s work unique. I particularly loved The Gift and A Place Called Here. So when I was sent One Hundred Names for review (with its sublime packaging) I was delighted.

Based on the synopsis, I was confident this book would offer the same magical feel of Cecelia’s previous work. The expectation of the ‘mystery’ being unravelled maintained my interest throughout the bulk of the book, this was despite me not really ‘bonding’ with the central character of Kitty that much for the first half of the book at least. She’s not that likable, and as you’re pretty much in her world, this was a shame.

I did enjoy the back stories of the people Kitty meets and the adventures she gets up to in hunting down these mysterious people and, as these evolved, Kitty did become more likeable as she started to show her caring side. The problem I had was that the book just never (for me) delivered on its promise, it was building up to something that for me never occurred and I felt let down by how the ‘mystery’ was tied up. We only actually got to know a handful of the ‘one hundred’ people too; I was sure there would be some clever way of them all being brought in more than actually occurred. If it wasn’t a Cecelia book maybe I wouldn’t have had such high expectations about a fairy tale type ending and maybe I would have been satisfied with it as it was, but as a Cecelia book? I’m afraid if I’m honest I was a little disappointed and found it a bit long-slog for little reward and felt it lacked the charm and escapism of some of her other books. There were signs of this with some of the characters she meets but this didn’t go far enough for me. Everyone’s tastes are different though so I know I may be in a minority here with this viewpoint. Although this wasn’t my favourite I still wouldn’t hesitate to pick up Cecelia’s next novel.

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

More by Cecelia Ahern:

Book Review: Mandatory Release

By Kathryn Hamilton

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to run into that one person you had a devastating crush on in high school? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work in a prison? These two questions would appear to have nothing in common, except that they are the backdrop for Jess Riley’s third novel, Mandatory Release. Graham Finch is a social worker in a medium security prison who spends his nights trying his hand at the world of online dating (which would probably be more successful if he didn’t hide a very big secret from potential partners). Graham’s world gets put on its side when he sees Drew Daniels, the girl he adored in high school, walk into the prison as the newest Special Education teacher. Both are painfully damaged for different reasons. Both are in need of rehabilitation of the heart. Can they be the salvation that the other needs? Will they let their self-imposed barriers get in the way of finding happiness?

One wouldn’t think that the often gritty setting of a prison would be inspiration for a chick-lit novel, but Ms. Riley uses her personal experiences and those of her parents (who met while working at the same prison) to create a unique and intriguing tale of broken people trying to find a way to heal that is thought-provoking and entertaining. One noteworthy aspect of this novel for me is the fact that it is separated into two narration styles: first person in the Graham chapters and third person in the Drew chapters. I know that this is not new in the literary world and is actually utilized frequently; however, I also think it is an interesting choice, particularly to have the male voice in the first person. I will admit that I didn’t know what to make of the alternating narrations and still am not sure I am a fan (I’ll also admit that I’m probably more of a traditionalist than I realized and need to think outside of the box when it comes to writing styles). Does the narration make or break the novel? No, of course it doesn’t. Readers are still aptly able to understand both characters and the circumstances that have brought them to this place in time. This may not have been the case had Ms. Riley only relied on one narration style, and it is essential that both of their stories are told.

How do you sum up Graham? He is brash, bitter and incredibly sarcastic. Although he has every reason to be bitter, I found it difficult to empathize with him, but also appreciated that he had such an in-your-face tell-it-like-it-is attitude. He is not unlikeable as a character though and one of his biggest redeemers is his compassion for the inmates and genuine desire to help these men. I was definitely more drawn to Drew throughout. As readers, we do not find out what happened to Drew that broke her heart so completely until near the end of the novel. Sometimes when there is a delay in discovering this kind of information, it is a let-down once the secret is revealed, but Ms. Riley does not disappoint. I was not expecting the situation that ended Drew’s relationship and it made me wonder how I would have reacted if it had been me in her position.

The prison and the inmates are important characters in the story as well. An underlying theme of the novel is that of underdogs and second chances, and the inmates certainly are the epitome of this. As individuals convicted of crimes, it is often difficult to see beyond the rap sheet; Drew herself struggles with this as she works with the men in the classroom, having read the details of their crimes. Drew does her best to demonstrate respect for the men as individuals and to help them open up doors upon their release so they can make the most of the second chance.

One of my favourite parts of the novel that isn’t actually part of the story is the playlist that Ms. Riley includes at the end. Music is such an integral part of our culture as it shapes so many memories and experiences for people. The description of why each song was included is an added perspective to the story and characters. And yes, I have downloaded many of the songs already.

Mandatory Release is described as a combination of lad lit and chick lit. It has elements of both that balance out and make for a good read that has laughter, romance (including a little sex of course), and great characters. Take a journey with Drew and Graham as they discover that to be truly happy, one must release that which holds you back.

Thanks to BookSparks PR for the book in exchange for an honest review.

You might also enjoy:

Nicky Wells is back for an "Encore"

Hooray! Nicky Wells is here today to celebrate the cover reveal for her third book, Sophie’s Encore. 

Read on for:

The BLURB

The COVER

The EXCERPT

The GIVEAWAY

Here’s your chance to win an advance review copy of Sophie’s Encore OR Rock Star Romance SWAG!

Sophie’s Encore

Her rock star is waiting in the wings, but will he get a second chance?

It’s all change for Sophie Jones—only this time, there is more at stake than just her happiness.

Rock star extraordinaire, Dan Hunter, has been her patient and caring friend through the highs and lows since her wedding day, but now he figures it is time for her to start over. By stealth, the rock singer draws Sophie into the behind-the-scenes work for his band’s latest album. Through the days and weeks spent together at the mixing desk, Sophie discovers whole new horizons for her life, yet before she can even begin to explore them, she faces the very real threat of losing her rock star for good.

Join Sophie and Dan in Sophie’s Encore to find out how their journey will end…

 

 

Cover design: Nicky Wells and Chad Lichtenhan

Cover image: Singer in the darkness © Dmytro Konstantynov | Dreamstime.com

 

Whoa! What do you make of this? And to intrigue you further, Nicky has shared this excerpt of Sophie’s Encore:

Sophie’s Encore: Excerpt

My bedroom door opened slowly and Dan crept in. All thought of sleep forgotten, I flicked the light back on and was met by an astonishing sight. There was Dan, the rock star, legend for his antics on and off stage, clad in a demure pair of checked pajamas with a button-up top and a mismatched, stripy dressing gown. His feet were stuffed into fluffy slippers, and he clutched a bottle and two glasses in his hands.

“Come on,” he whispered. “Dinner is served.”

I giggled and left my bed, grabbing my own stripy dressing gown and a pair of thick socks.

“What are you doing?” I breathed into his ear, but he simply took my hand and pulled me down the dark corridor toward the open-plan lounge.

“Have a seat,” he invited me and gestured at the dining table, which was once again laid, although only for two, complete with candles and napkins.

He set down the bottle and glasses and scurried off to shut the lounge door. While he busied himself in the kitchen, I basked in the heat from the fire which Dan had re-stoked, and observed my rock star with some degree of amusement.

Within a few minutes, he brought a dish of smoked salmon bites to the table, followed by olive bread, a cheese board, various cold meats, olives, pickled anchovies, and prawns with some sort of aioli dip. He popped the cork on the bottle of champagne, poured two glasses, and sat down, satisfied at last.

“Now we can eat,” he announced. “Tapas. What do you think?”

I raised my glass. “Cheers,” I giggled. “So that’s what you meant earlier. I think it’s amazing. It’s like a midnight feast. I’m just waiting for matron to discover us and give us detention. Why all the secrecy?”

Dan speared a prawn and pointed it at me. “Well, for one, as you say, matron will certainly come and give us detention. Peter is very strict on my sleep regimen, you see.” He dipped the prawn into the aioli before popping it into his mouth. The beatific look on his face and his scrunched up eyes suggested he was enjoying this humble treat far more than was warranted.

He swallowed and cleared his throat. “And for another, I’m on a strict diet. Every last bit of cheese gets weighed, the carbohydrates counted, the sugar added up. It’s really tedious.” He grimaced.

I helped myself to some bread and salmon. “Tedious indeed, I can see that. But why? I thought you were supposed to eat lots and get better.” I chewed greedily, my tummy having given an impressive rumble.

Dan speared another prawn and added a mountain of cheese and bread to his place. “Bliss,” he murmured before explaining further. “I’m supposed to eat healthy, not lots. So Peter has taken it upon himself to reform the bad eating habits of a lifetime. Bless him, it’s what he’s paid to do. I’ve been going along with it, and I have to admit, I’m feeling pretty good. But…”

He grinned his school-boy grin, took a big mouthful of food, washed it down with a large gulp of champagne, and finished his thought. “Well, it gets boring. And I wanted to do something special with you. On my own.”

I burst out laughing, but quieted down when I saw the alarm on Dan’s face.

“Sorry,” I whispered.

“Peter’s bedroom is right next door there,” Dan whispered back. “And he’s a light sleeper.” He pointed his finger, and we sat in silence for a minute, straining to hear.

“I think we’re okay,” Dan finally concluded and resumed eating.

I giggled softly. “Naughty, naughty, us.”

“Ha, we’re not naughty yet,” Dan shot back, speaking softly as well. “I was working up to that part.”

He winked, and my heart skipped and jumped. He didn’t mean—he couldn’t mean what I thought he meant?

“What do you mean?” I bumbled, hoping for clarification, but Dan was enjoying himself.

“All in good time,” he teased. “Let’s finish our meal first.”

The Giveaway

Nicky wants to share her excitement about this cover reveal and upcoming release with you! She’s offering a giveaway — Enter for your chance to win:

One of TWO Sophie’s ENCORE Advance Review e-Copies

or

One Sophie’s RUN Mug

or

One Rock Star Romance Trilogy SWAG Pack featuring postcards and bookmarks

ENTER HERE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSES AUGUST 15th AT MIDNIGHT BST.

The small print! Entrants must be aged 18 or over. Giveaway is open internationally. Winners will be drawn via Rafflecopter.

GOOD LUCK!

****STOP PRESS: Nicky's just told me that her first two books, Sophie's Turn and Sophie's Run, are now available on Kindle for only $0.99 (or equivalent) each to celebrate the cover reveal! Hurry ~ limited time only!! Book details below!!!***** 

 

SOPHIE’S ENCORE: coming your way in e-book and paperback editions on SEPTEMBER 5th, 2013!!

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

About Nicky Wells

Nicky Wells is your ultimate rock chick author. Signed to US Publisher, Sapphire Star Publishing, Nicky writes Romance That Rocks Your World, featuring the rock star and the girl next door. Nicky’s books offer glitzy, glamorous contemporary romance with a rock theme ~ imagine Bridget Jones ROCKS Notting Hill!

Like Sophie, her leading lady, Nicky loves listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, she’s a wife, mother, occasional knitter, and regular contributor to The Midweek Drive show on Lincoln’s Siren 107.3 FM. Rock on!

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Loveahappyending.com Lifestyle | Romantic Novelists’ Association | Sapphire Star Publishing | Amazon | Goodreads

Find Nicky’s Rock Star Romance Trilogy here:

Part 1~Sophie’s Turn: So the rock star wants to marry her, but she’s already engaged…

AMAZON.CO.UK | AMAZON.COM| BARNES & NOBLE

Part 2~Sophie’s Run: Her famous star remains her rock while life takes her on a little detour…

AMAZON.CO.UK | AMAZON.COM | BARNES & NOBLE