Guest Book Review: Christmas Lights

By Allie Smith

The novella, Christmas Lights, by Christine Pisera Naman, is collection of holiday themed vignettes. It is a quick and sweet read that will stir emotions in any reader. It’s also a gentle reminder that the holidays are a time to reaffirm our faith and to reconnect with family. As I read, I found myself counting my blessings and remembering that each of us has our struggles, even at Christmas time.

The book is divided into chapters, each one devoted to a woman and her personal conflict. Each woman is in a different period of life, from teenager to septuagenarian, and they are all interconnected. Although it’s not revealed till the end of this fictional tale, it’s pretty easy to figure out it’s the story of a mother and her six daughters, one Christmas Eve night.

We meet the women individually and get a glimpse into her life at the moment she’s preparing for the family’s Christmas Eve gathering. Each meeting  is brief, but you will undoubtedly feel a connection with at least one of the characters. Many life milestones, good and bad, are covered: caring for a sick spouse, first love, marital issues, loneliness, grief, new motherhood, cancer and infertility. As women, we’ve all felt the feeling of new love, heartbreak, loneliness, grief, fear of illness, and as we age, the joys and sorrows of marriage, motherhood and aging. Universal themes abound in this book.

The thread that is woven through each story, both holding these women literally together as individuals, and to each other, is their faith. They believe in God and look to Him daily for guidance, comfort or to offer gratitude. God has given each of them strength to deal with their individual life’s sorrows. Each of the sisters learned the true power of faith by watching their mother, Katherine, live her life.

At the end of the book, the sisters and their mother come together for Christmas Eve dinner. I loved that each year, before any other family arrived, mother and daughters got an hour alone together to reminisce about what made them happy that year and what they had accomplished. During that hour, we the readers, come to understand how strong their bond is to each other and how deeply they love one another.

My one complaint about the book was that it was all very tidy. All the sister’s prayers were answered conveniently on Christmas Eve. It’s an extraordinarily lovely thought, but sadly, it was too much of a coincidence that all their various prayers were answered on Christmas Eve. Oh, but I wish how that were true in real life! But for the sake of a Christmas story, I was able to put my skepticism aside.

I think this book would make a great Christmas gift, especially for someone who may be suffering with difficulties and would appreciate the message to never lose faith. The reverent prose of the writing is very soothing and comforting. I think the book could offer solace to those who need it at Christmas.

Thanks to Random House and the Albee Agency for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Allie Smith, a former CPA who five years into her career decided that she hated working with numbers and willingly gave it all up to be a stay-at-home mom, lives in suburban Atlanta with her husband and four children. In between carpool, play dates and refereeing the kids, she loves to read and write. The mother of a child with autism, she is currently working on a memoir of their journey.

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Guest Book Review: A Gift from Tiffany's

By Miriam Plotinsky

Several years ago, I went to a screening of Sweet Home Alabama with a group of friends. In one of the film’s early scenes, when Reese Witherspoon’s dashing beau surprises her with a trip to Tiffany’s to choose any ring she wants, the theater (packed with women) erupted in sighs of ecstasy. Until that moment, I never realized how strong the power of Tiffany’s could be, how that distinctive shade of blue could wreak joyful havoc on the female soul.

Melissa Hill examines the peculiar obsession with that one jewelry store in her latest novel, A Gift from Tiffany’s. The book is well-timed, coinciding with the materialistic holiday season, and the plot obligingly begins on Christmas Eve. In the hustle and bustle of last-minute shopping, an improbable accident causes a mix-up of no small proportion when Ethan Greene, an earnest, stiff Londoner loses the engagement ring he just bought from Tiffany’s as it gets switched with a charm bracelet (also Tiffany’s) belonging to an accident victim named Gary Knowles. After Ethan provides first aid and goes about his business, he discovers that the ring is missing. Then, a self-absorbed yet confused Gary discovers that he is now in possession of the ring, and he decides to pretend it was his all along, leading to endless and increasingly tiresome attempts on Ethan’s part to get back his property.

Once the accident occurs to set the book’s plot in motion, its continuance depends on the audience believing that Ethan is too meek to fight more actively for his wildly expensive ring because of the sympathy he holds for Gary’s dynamic fiancée, Rachel. To further complicate matters, Hill throws in a number of sympathetic supporting characters, from Ethan’s too-cute-to-be-true eight year-old daughter, Daisy (whose now dead mother once told her that Tiffany’s is “magic,” in Disneyesque style) to Rachel’s protective best friend, Terri, who becomes an increasingly prominent character as the book progresses. While Ethan’s girlfriend Vanessa also figures largely into the plot, her personality doesn’t fully form until the last pages of the book.

A Gift from Tiffany’s is a pleasant read, but there are a few things about it that might give the reader pause. For one, even though portions of the book take place in America, Hill has a hard time replicating American dialect, even going so far as to refer to one character as possessing a strong New Jersey accent when she sounds folksy enough to hail from more Southern regions of the country. The other Americans in the book speak in strange, stilted ways that don’t sound quite authentic. Aside from that, Hill uses the term “shyster” in one of the dialogue exchanges between two characters who are supposed to be admirable people. Perhaps in Ireland that term is not construed as offensive, but here in America, it is derogatory.

Women who worship at the altar of Tiffany’s will enjoy its significant role in the book and appreciate the scenes that involve the store or its products. In addition, Rachel and Terri run a restaurant, so sugar or carb addicts will especially like the scenes that describe Terri’s unparalleled sourdough, or Rachel’s cookie-baking finesse. A Gift from Tiffany’s has plenty of crowd-pleasing fodder in it to keep readers interested; however, the forced nature of many of its plot points make it a little too easy to put down if a real gift from Tiffany’s, or a plate of holiday cookies, happens to be beckoning from the next room over.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Miriam Plotinsky is an English and creative writing teacher. She lives in the DC/Metro area with her husband and three kids, who occasionally give her the time she needs to write and eat sushi. 

More by Melissa Hill:

Samantha March has your ticket to holiday fun...plus a book giveaway

 **Giveaway is now closed**

Today we welcome Samatha March and her second novel The Green Ticket. Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up-to-date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and celebrity related. In 2011, she launched her independent publishing company Marching Ink and her debut novel Destined to Fail. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers.

You can find Samantha on Facebook, Twitter, at Chick Lit Plus (her blog), Goodreads and her website. 

Thanks to Samantha we have TWO e-copies of The Green Ticket to give away to some lucky readers anywhere in the world.

How did you get into the world of blogging and eventually create Chick Lit Plus? And then what made you decide to become a writer?
They are all connected actually. When I finally decided to do something about my writing (being an author was a goal I gave myself at age nine) I followed my mom’s advice: It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. I thought making some connections in the industry would be valuable, so I decided to start a book blog. Chick Lit Plus was started in October 2009, and I definitely made some great connections! I had a great support group around me that was full of encouragement, advice, and plenty of authors to bounce questions off of when I finally finished my debut DESTINED TO FAIL. My road would have been a lot longer and more challenging if I didn’t have CLP, and I firmly believe that.

Where do you get your ideas from for your novels?
From real life. DESTINED TO FAIL was slightly based on my life, and THE GREEN TICKET has elements from my life, friends’ life, and acquaintances stories that I’ve heard. I love being in places where I can just listen – from a friend’s house to the hairdressers. You never know what you’ll hear and how you can turn that into a novel.

If The Green Ticket were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Fun! For Alex, I would say Emma Stone – as a red head of course! I think Julianne Hough would make a cute Lila. For Hannah, maybe one of the Fanning sisters. It would be fun to see Alyson Hannigan as Allie. And if he was an actor, I would have to Tim Tebow would make a mighty fan Henry ;)

Can you share any writing advice?
The biggest one is just to write – everyday if you can. And that doesn’t have to be for a book. Write in a journal, write a blog post, write an email!

How do you celebrate the holidays? Any family traditions?
Our holiday’s can be a bit tricky, as I live in Iowa with my fiancé and my family is stationed in North Carolina. If it works out (ie – plane tickets aren’t crazy expensive) we travel there for a few days, but usually we celebrate with my fiancé’s family, who also lives in Iowa. My favorite tradition that we started is find the pickle – love the name! My mother-in-law hides a pickle ornament in the Christmas tree, and us six kids have to search for it. The one who finds it wins a prize. I won last year, and received a candy dish with a big ole bag of jelly beans in it!

What is your favorite thing to eat during the holiday season?
Everything? I love turkey and I am really getting into cheesecake lately!

What is your favorite holiday movie?
ELF!

Do you have any new year's resolutions? If so can you share two?
Ooh, let’s see. My first will be to eat better. We are planning on buying a house next year and hopefully it will have a nice big kitchen so I can enjoy cooking meals. Another would be to make sure I get “Samantha time.” Running a business on top of working a full-time job can be stressful, and I want to make sure I get enough time to just relax once it a while.

Thanks to Samantha for chatting with us and sharing her book with our readers.

How to win The Green Ticket:
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.) 

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite thing to eat during the holiday season?
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 December 26th at midnight EST

Chick Lit is Not Dead is also doing a giveaway for this novel. (Ends 12/23.)

Belinda Jones takes us to a winter wonderland...plus a book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Is there anything more cozy than hugging a cute dog outside on a snowy day? If not, then Belinda Jones surely has it made! And better yet, her birthday is tomorrow! She's here today to talk about her latest novel, Winter Wonderland (reviewed here), which takes place at the winter carnival in Quebec.

Belinda is the author of 11 chick lit novels and is researching her 12th (if you like cake, you'll want to read it when it's published)! She was born in the UK but has lived on the west coast of the US for a few years and now resides on the east coast! Given she's such a traveler, she even has a Travel Club on Facebook! You can also find her at her website and on Twitter.

She's here to keep the holiday mood going strong and has
THREE books to share with some lucky readers! (Two paperbacks, worldwide and one e-book, US only.)


How did you decide to write chick lit?
It wasn't the most direct route! I worked for women's magazines for ten years before I ever had a notion about writing a book and then it wasn't chick lit I had in mind but a travel memoir - specifically ON THE ROAD TO MR RIGHT - A Search For The American Dream Guy. The agent I pitched it to basically said, 'Thanks but no thanks!' and 'How about chick lit?' I told her that I wouldn't know where to begin, I'd only ever written factual-but-funny journalism, nothing creative since school. But she was insistent and I had to admit that I did have a passion for romantic comedies so I fictionalised a series of escapades with my best friend in Vegas and that became DIVAS LAS VEGAS - A Tale of Love, Friendship & Sequinned Underpants! I had no idea what a blast it would be to come up with characters and get them into all sorts of pickles and heart-soaring scenarios! It's been a revelation! (And after I had written 3 novels, Random House agreed to publish ON THE ROAD TO MR RIGHT and it became my first Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller, all thanks to my chick lit readers!)


Advice to future writers?
I think the most important thing is to really lose yourself in the story, totally submerge and surrender! This is so hard with the 'real world' always niggling and tugging at you, so many distractions! So I think a few sacrifices have to be made along the way, from a time point of view as much as anything. There will rarely be the 'perfect' moment to write. You might have to let your chores mount up for a couple of weeks, disengage from Social Media and basically become a temporary hermit! I always let my friends know 'I'm going under!' and not to expect to hear from me for a while. Winter Wonderland was the quickest book I've ever written because I moved to Virginia (my husband is in the US Navy) and I didn't know a soul! It sounds a bit lonesome but as a writer you have lots of imaginary friends to keep you company!!


How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
I'm a go with the flow kinda gal! Sometimes I wish I could be clean and methodical in my approach because it's quite a messy, anxiety-inducing business for me in the beginning. But I'm on my 12th book now so it's time I came to terms with the 'fumbling in the dark' aspect of my writing! One of the greatest pleasures for me is when the characters take over and I just type what they tell me!


If Winter Wonderland were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Jacques the dog-sledder with the bi-coloured Husky eyes is easy - I had Nick Wechsler (aka Jack from Revenge) in mind as I was writing every scene! He just seemed to be the perfect combination of ruggedly tousled and a quality heart! I could see Canadian hottie Ryan Reynolds playing the mischievous Malhomme - I think he'd make a dashing playboy with just the right amount of knowing humour! His missus Blake Lively certainly has the hair and model looks to play tour guide Annique. But as for the leading lady Krista... I would love to go with Emily Blunt - she'd be great at the physical comedy as well as the close-up emotional stuff - loved her tender moments in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen! I was having a little cry as I wrote a few particular lines and I can just see her eyes welling up now...!!


What is your idea of a "winter wonderland?"
In a word, Quebec! It's basically already a fairy-tale kingdom inside a snowglobe and then you add the Winter Carnival attractions - Ice Palaces, snow-sculpting, sleigh rides, dog-sledding, tobogganing and some mad sport called ski-joring which involves a skiier being dragged around a slalom track by a man on horseback! I didn't try that but I did enjoy the Maple Taffy experience - molten maple syrup is poured onto fresh snow and you roll your stick in it to create a gloopy golden lollypop! Delicious!


What is your favorite thing to eat during the holiday season?
My thoughts immediately go to my Auntie Gilly's festive spread - she always has the works: Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, brandy butter, Yule log, big tin of Quality Street chocolates... but it's the mince pies I miss most of all now I live in the US. (Mincemeat is sweet, not an animal product, honestly you'd love it..!) I did find an imported box last year though. It's just the jolly relatives that are missing now!


What is your favorite holiday themed TV program/movie? (Or holiday episode of a TV series.)
My favourite Christmas movie is It's A Wonderful Life. I first watched this lovely film about ten years ago while sitting in a hot-tub in a converted train caboose in a US trailer park town about 2.5 hours hours from San Francisco! My friend Emily and I were so freaked out to discover we were vacationing in the Meth Capital of Northern California (research for the aforementioned ON THE ROAD TO MR RIGHT book!) we wanted to lose ourselves in a heart-warming family tale and this was one of the DVD options at the B&B. I was surprised how deep the movie gets! It really makes you think about the impact of your life on others and certainly makes you extremely grateful for what you have right now!


What is your favorite New Year's Eve memory?
I actually met my husband on New Year's Eve four years ago at a Los Angeles bar called The Dresden - you may know it from the movie Swingers, it's very retro-kitsch with lounge singers crooning Fly Me To The Moon et al. I've probably only been out on NYE three times in my life but my best friend Sam was visiting so we went along for a few Kir Royales and ended up having one of the best night's of our life, lasting all the way until 10pm on New Year's Day! One of the freakiest things is that I was wearing a silver ring that had a heart and a key charm on it and it broke while I was talking to Jonathan - and he literally ended up holding the key to my heart!

Thanks to Belinda for a lovely chat and for sharing her book with our readers!


How to win Winter Wonderland:
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.) Also, please indicate which country you are located in. If you are in the USA and do not indicate, you will NOT be eligible for the e-book.


Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What is your idea of a winter wonderland?
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.

Paperbacks-worldwide; e-book-US only. Giveaway ends December 25th at midnight EST. 

Book Review: Winter Wonderland

By Becky Gulc

I adore the festive season and, let’s face it, we’ve been unable to escape the fact that Christmas is on its way. Whilst I have been waiting patiently to begin my Christmassy books for review until a bit closer the holiday, Winter Wonderland by Belinda Jones seemed a great option to bridge the gap when I read it back in November. This is a book which isn’t actually about Christmas, but has a definite festive feel about it.

I love the cover, it conveys the story and feel of the book well and I imagine it could appeal to a wider audience than previous covers for Belinda’s books. I would definitely be drawn to this book if I hadn’t been lucky enough to have it sent for review.

The book tells the story of recently divorced Krista, a travel journalist, who along with her best friend Laurie, runs Va-Va-Vacation, an online travel planner, which on this occasion sees Krista reporting on Quebec’s Winter Carnival. Whilst Krista usually plans thoroughly before any trip, a last-minute switch means this is one trip she is ill prepared for. What transpires is a trip which surprises Krista on many fronts. From staying at the ‘Hotel de Glace’ through to husky-dog sledding and being propositioned by the supposed snowman ambassador for the carnival, Bonhomme, Krista experiences this carnival to full effect!
 
I felt completely immersed in this book and felt like I was truly transported to this "Winter Wonderland." There is a ‘dear reader’ message at the start of the book which is a nice touch and sets the scene, preparing you for the cosiness you’re about to experience! I warmed to Krista immediately; the story is in first person viewpoint. There are some very funny opening chapters about her experiences at the Hotel de Glace, haven’t we all imagined what it would be like to stay at an ice hotel?! Wonder no more.

I thought the pace was very quick initially and it suited the story as Krista has so much to cram into her short trip! This slowed down about half way through then picked up speed again towards the end, I thought this balance was just right. Although I enjoyed the humour in the book, I started to wonder whether it would become a bit too much, like it was trying a bit too hard– but this wasn’t an issue. Whilst the humour is maintained throughout, there is greater depth developed to the character’s stories as it progresses. Whilst the story centres on Krista, there is plenty of activity and intrigue regarding the supporting characters brought into the mix (the rugged and mysterious Jacques, the changeable and mysterious Malhomme).

What I enjoyed most was the feeling of being transported to this "Winter Wonderland" and experiencing all the fun things Krista gets up to on her trip, pure wintry escapism. I’d never heard of the winter carnival before reading this book and it’s been great to look online at the pictures of the places used as inspiration for this book since finishing it, including seeing what Bonhomme himself looks like! The fact that the images I had in my head match what the real Hotel de Glace looks like for example is testament to the writing, if anyone wants a peep there is a great virtual tour here. Belinda notes the actor who inspired the character of Jacques, I hadn’t heard of him, but looking at him I can see why, a perfect fit and swoon! I also love it when characters feature in different books so I was pleased to find out that Krista’s best friend Laurie will be the central character in Belinda’s next novel, The Travelling Tea Shop.

If you love winter and the festive period I think this is the perfect book to get you in the mood! I’m going Christmas shopping now, in my snugly boots, gloves, hat and scarf...goodbye.

Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for the book in exchange for an honest review. Belinda has some copies to give away during her interview!

More by Belinda Jones:

Marian Vere sings some holiday tunes

Interview and introduction by Tracey Meyers

Sometimes the path we think life will lead us upon isn't where it takes us at all.  Just like for the main character of her debut novel, Once Upon A Second Chance, life has not taken Marian Vere where she thought it would.
 
After earning her degree in one area of study, she decided she wanted to write for a living, so this Chicagoland resident threw caution to the wind and began writing her first novel.

Please give a warm Chick Lit Central welcome to Marian Vere.

You can find Marian at her website and Twitter.

You earned your degree in Vocal Music Performance, but decided to pursue writing instead. Do you still sing for fun?
No, I don’t sing any more—unless we are talking about in the car. I actually started school as a flute major, but due to health issues, I had to change to singing to finish my degree. The writing didn’t start until several years later when I got the idea for Once Upon a Second Chance. I thought it was a good idea, and had always liked writing in school, so I decided to go for it.

What song is your favorite to hear and/or sing during the holidays?
"Carol of the Bells" has always been my favorite.

When I think of the wintertime and the holiday season the first thing that pops into my mind is:
Buying presents. I love shopping for other people, and love planning out all my husband’s gifts. He really is a big kid.

How large are your holiday celebrations?
Not very. My husband’s parents live in Florida, and my family is in Pennsylvania, so usually it is just my husband, our two kids, and my sister-in-law.

My favorite wintertime carb is:
I didn’t know they broke carbs into seasons… I eat all carbs, all year round, but I guess the holiday celebrations give me more of an excuse lessens the guilt.

Which book do you feel captures the essence of the holidays the most?
A Christmas Carol. I think that book and the era defines how everyone thinks of the holidays in one way or another, whether they know it or not. Let’s run a test, shall we? Picture classic Christmas Carolers: Do you see fur muffs, and long capes, and top hats? There you go.

What was your family's reaction when you told them you wanted to write?
They didn’t really have one. My husband was supportive, but I didn’t really tell anyone else until the book was about finished. At that point it wasn’t, “I’m going to write,” it was “I’ve been writing.”

Your book, Once Upon A Second Chance, is influenced by Jane Austen's book Persuasion. What influence has Jane Austen's writing had on you as a writer and a person?
Okay, I’m going to admit something… I’m not really a Jane Austen fan. Persuasion is one of my all-time favorite books, but other than that, not really all that crazy about her work. It is all masterfully done, and I have nothing but respect for her, after all, she basically single handedly created the genre of romance and women’s fiction, which is incredible. She was the very first chick-lit author, who paved the way for everyone else… but let’s be honest; she is very hard to read. Honestly, most people who say they love Jane Austen really only love the essence of her stories which they have seen in movie renditions, as very few people out there have actually read her work, and for the most part I can’t blame them. It’s hard stuff. But no matter how you feel about her work, or what way you have experienced it, there is no denying that she is one of the people who has made the publishing and writing industries what they are.

Thanks to Marian for visiting with us today. We wish her all the best with her debut novel!

Winners of "All the Lonely People"

To find our winners, we assigned a number to each entry (from only the entries with contact info) and asked random.org to choose TWO numbers (one for e-book and one for paperback).

Congrats to:

85-susieqlaw (paperback)
94-Mary Preston (e-book)

Here is a message from Jess Riley:
Thank you so much to everyone who entered the drawing for the paperback and e-copy of All the Lonely People, and congratulations to the winners! I sincerely hope you enjoy the story. It’s been nearly five years since I’ve released a book, so in some ways, I felt like a nervous “debut author” all over again; I truly appreciate your interest and participation (especially if you’ve never heard of me!)I have lots of fun projects on deck, and I’d love to have you along for the ride. And thank you as well to the generous, gracious, and incredibly supportive team at Chick Lit Central for squeezing me in during the busy holiday season. You all devote a great deal of time and energy to celebrating authors and books, and your hard work does not go unappreciated!! 

Thanks again, everyone.  Happy holidays, and a wonderful 2013 to you all!

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 the craziest thing that happened to you during the holidays.
Thanks to Jess for a wonderful 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.