Keep Calm and Carry a Big Drink - Review & Giveaway

Review by Marlene Engel

Best friends, Mel, Nic and Seema know that they will always be there for one another.  But as Nic and Seema settle down and start having families of their own, Mel begins to question her future.  Recently single and on the verge of potentially being laid off, Mel wants what her friends have.  Nic is married with a new baby, Seema is a newlywed and Mel … well, she’s having sex with Seema’s brother, Jay.  Not quite sure what to think about that situation, Mel figures that she’ll just go with the flow and see where it takes her.  After all, she has had a crush on Jay for practically half of her life. 

But when Mel decides to fly halfway across the world to be with Jay in Paris, she starts to wonder if she’s making the right decision.  It seems everywhere they go, they bump into a woman from Jay’s past.  Some happy to see Jay and some … well, not so much!  Mel starts to think that she’ll end up being just another number on Jay’s speed dial.  More confused than ever, Mel knows that she needs to get out of Paris but isn’t quite sure if she wants to go back home yet.  Take a trip with Mel as she tries to figure out what she wants out of life and possibly find someone to share it with.

The thing I love the most about reading Kim Gruenenfelder’s books is that they never disappoint in the area of humor.  My favorite type of book is one that has me laughing out loud and keeps my interest from the first page to the last.  This book did just that.  The author has a way of taking a fun story and brilliantly swirling in humor in just the right spots.  She also has a way of making the characters feel so real.  Mel, Nic and Seema have such a bond, that you wish you could be the fourth best friend in their group.  I can’t praise the author enough for her amazing writing style and her ability to draw me in and keep my attention throughout the book.  Once again, the author writes a book worthy of five stars and one that I would definitely recommend to others!

Purchase book at:

Amazon * Barnes&Noble

Kim Gruenenfelder lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son, and continues to avoid anything even remotely resembling a real job. Her acclaimed debut novel, A Total Waste of Makeup, has been published in six languages and eight international editions to date. In addition to her three published novels, A Total Waste of Makeup, Misery Loves Cabernet and There’s Cake In My Future, she has written feature films, episodic teleplays and two stage plays. Her next novel, Keep Calm and Carry a Big Drink, the sequel to “Cake,” is slated for a Dec. 24, 2013 release date.

Connect with Kim at:

Facebook * Twitter * Website

St. Martin’s Press has generously offered to giveaway two print copies of Keep Calm and Carry a Big Drink to two lucky U.S residents.  You can also go to our sister blog, Chick Lit Central, to check out their interview with Kim Gruenenfelder and enter to win one of two print copies there too (courtesy of St. Martin's Press)!

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The Holiday Survival Guide - Promo Blitz

The Holiday Survival Guide

By Jane O’Reilly

Publisher Harlequin Escape

Release 1^st January 2014

Witty, clever, and sharp. It's going to be the holiday from hell...and that's just how Erica wants it.

When tabloid journalist Erica Parker is forced to take a holiday, she's determined to make it the most miserable holiday she possibly can, but not even her impressive imaginative powers could have come up with sharing a tent with survival expert Nathan Wilde.

Nathan was a married man with a successful TV show before Erica got to work on his life. Now the hottest man she’s ever met is single, furious, and he’s got her alone in the wilderness for three long days…

Goodreads Praise for Once A Bad Girl : “Once A Bad Girl is an amazing debut by author Jane O’Reilly. It is actually hard to believe that it is a debut novel. The interlaced humour and sensuality in this story sucked me in from the start and held me captive throughout...”

Jane O‘Reilly writes for both Escape and Carina UK. The Holiday Survival Guide is her third title with Escape.

Perfect for fans of Victoria Dahl

About the Author

Jane O’Reilly started writing as an antidote to kids’ TV when her youngest child was a baby. Her first novel was set in her old school and involved a ghost and lots of death. It’s unpublished, which is probably for the best. Then she discovered contemporary romance, and that, as they say, was that. She lives near London with her husband and two children. Find her at www.janeoreilly.com, on Twitter as @janeoreilly, Facebook or email her at jane@janeoreilly.com

The Charity Giveaway is Almost Over! There's Still Time To Enter!

There is only a few more days to enter the 

CHARITY GIVEAWAY TO BENEFIT VICTIMS OF TYPHOON HAIYAN.

Click the link HERE for all of the prize pack info!  There are one of a kind prize packs of books, signed books, author swag and Skype chats!  It's a dollar per entry and the giveaway is open internationally.  

Here are the current entries:

1-50 Melody Simons

51-60 Samantha R

61-70 Janine Rowe

71-120 Bonnie Karoly

121-145 Judith Harder

146-170 Jackie Bouchard

171-220 Kimberly Field

221-245 Melinda Garza

246-345 John Bonanno

346-545 Samantha Reng

546-555 Lydia Laceby

556-565 Heather Cathrall

566-665 Loni Hart-Prock

666-765 Chrissy Wolfe

766-775 Janine Rowe

776-785 Trisha Hudson

786-800 Rhonda Brittingham

The giveaway ends Tuesday at Midnight and the winners will be posted on Wednesday!

A HUGE Thank You to all of the authors and publishers who have donated items!  Your generosity has been AMAZING.  To those who have donated to enter the giveaway, Thank You!  100% of donations go directly to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan and your donation is tax deductible!

The Legend of Ranger - Q&A and Giveaway

I don’t typically have children’s books on my blog, but since it’s almost Christmas and I am the Book “Mama” I thought it would be a fun change.  Not to mention, the author donates all proceeds from the book to benefit children battling cancer.

About the book:

In The Legend of Ranger, Alan Salisbury's words and Roberta Baird's whimsical artwork create the magic of the Christmas season with the tale of a young reindeer named Ranger who has a big dream--to be part of the reindeer team that pulls Santa's big sleigh. Ranger searches all over Santaland for someone who can teach him the secret of flying, but everyone he asks, including the oldest and wisest elves, Mrs. Claus, and even his brother Rudolph, gives him the same advice: ''The secret lies within.'' Determined to fulfill his dream, Ranger must figure out the secret for himself. An emergency trip to Krystalwite to help the sick reindeer at the North Pole offers Ranger the opportunity to play a part in saving Christmas and, along the way, learn what it is that lies within. The Legend of Ranger contains a heartening and inspirational message about the power of believing in yourself no matter what challenges lie ahead.

Q&A With the Author

When did you know that you wanted to become an author?

I've done a fair amount of writing in the past, all of it technical or management oriented. Outside of that, I had written a few songs for glee club performance, but nothing else. I never really thought about fiction of any kind until an idea for a Christmas story began percolating in my mind several years ago.  Each holiday season I'd think about it and then get caught up in other things.  Finally in 2011 I promised myself I would take a crack at it and sat down at the keyboard.  I had the general idea in mind, but not what I considered an interesting plot that would hold children's attention.  The final ingredients came to me during a few long walks.....my muse was at work....and I completed the first draft.  I sat down with family and grandchildren and read it aloud to them.  It worked, and they encouraged me to try to get it published.

What made you not only decide to write a children’s book, but a Christmas themed book?

I think I answered that above.

From a mother who lost a child to cancer, I love that you are donating the proceeds of this book to a children’s cancer charity.  What made you decide to do this?

My family and I have had a very close friendship with the family of one of my West Point classmates.  Our kids grew up together and we spent many summer vacations sharing a house at the beach.  Antonia Giallourakis and my wife, Florence, were extremely close friends.  Antonia was an art teacher in the local (Shrewsbury, NJ) school system.  When she, herself, was stricken with Cancer, she developed an innovative and effective art therapy program for kids with cancer.  After she lost her own battle with the disease, her family started a foundation to carry on her work.  This past year, they folded their foundation into Mass General Hospital for Children by establishing an art therapy endowment in Antonia's name. So I put the book project together with our desire to contribute to her endowment....a perfect opportunity to match my creative interests and philanthropic interests.

What is next for you?  Can we expect another book in the future?  If so, will it be another children’s book?
I have a second book in the outline stage now.  It's also a children's book of sorts, but aimed more at the middle school age range.  And this may also have some adult appeal from a satirical perspective.  I won't say more about it just yet.  However, I do have a couple of ideas for a follow-on Ranger book which may mature first.  As an aside, I have been developing a new board game with a totally different theme as well.  Here, too, Ranger has intervened and I have a Ranger game completely outlined which may be on the horizon for 2014.  I can't completely predict which direction my muse will take me in fulfilling these projects.  But I can assure you that any and all of these will be to benefit a selected charity.  All things Ranger will go towards Antonia's endowment.  I have other charities in mind for the other projects.

“My message is if you believe in yourself, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish,” says Dr. Alan Salisbury. And Salisbury’s is indeed proof of the limitless possibilities of positive thinking. From an illustrious 30-year military career, in which he pioneered the use of computers on the battlefield and earned the rank of Major General, to a highly successful 12-year tenure in executive roles in the field of IT, to a full schedule as an independent consultant, Salisbury’s life has been defined by the axiom that self-belief equals achievement.

When a few business ventures yielded a windfall of good fortune, Salisbury decided to direct his profits to the best investment of all: Giving back. Inspired by his military career, he founded the Code of Support Foundation dedicated to supporting troops, veterans and military families and motivating Americans to serve in their own way to keep the nation strong. On another level, capitalizing on his own creative interests, he established Opus One Studios as a uniquely structured venture to benefit some of his favorite charities.

Salisbury’s integrity and determination have paid off in many ways, and now that he can share his good fortune both as an inspiration and a monetary supporter, he’s overjoyed. “Giving back is very important,” he says reflectively. “It’s been wonderful to be able to make a difference. It’s actually been more satisfying than anything else in my professional life.”

Connect with the author at:

Facebook * Twitter * Youtube * Website

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Divided - Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

SYNOPSIS

Alani LaBelle has it all. A great job, amazing friends, and a loving fiancé. Traveling to Las Vegas for her bachelorette party, she never expects to come across someone who rocks her world the way Ryan Kraft does. Though they only share a few hours together, the connection she feels with him is undeniable. Thinking that her feelings for him may be old feet she brushes it off and attempts to focus on her fiancé and their impending nuptials.

Heartbroken by her fiancé only days before their wedding, she finds herself needing to escape, needing to hide from reality. Though Alani knows that Ryan lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota, she never thought their paths would cross again while she is there.

Their friendship changes to something more with a good night kiss. Needing to be with Ryan, she leaves her old life in New Jersey behind and moves halfway across the country. As they journey together in a new relationship Alani has to adapt to life in a new city, new job, as well as dealing with Ryan's ex-girlfriend Stephanie, who is waiting for the perfect moment to get Ryan back.

But will her fiancé let Alani walk away from him without a fight? Will Alani's love for Ryan be enough for her to stay with him through turmoil? Or will Stephanie’s secret tear them apart?

Review by Marlene Engel

Alani and her girlfriends were in Las Vegas celebrating her last days of being single.  With a crown on her head and wearing a sash that read “Bride To Be”, they were going to make her bachelorette party a night to remember.  While throwing back shots of tequila and dancing at Pure (one of Las Vegas’ premier night clubs) a group of guys celebrating a bachelor party started mingling with the ladies.  One guy in particular caught the attention of Alani.  Although she knew that she was only weeks away from getting married to Marco, Alani could not deny that this man, Ryan, had something about him.  He was not only the hottest guy in the club, there was an undeniable connection that drew her to him (and him to her).  Knowing that she would be devoting her life to her soon to be husband, she felt that some innocent flirting wouldn’t hurt anyone.  She knew that he would be heading back to North Dakota and her back to New York the next day.  After all, she was in Sin City and what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas … or does it?

Back in Brooklyn Alani tries putting thoughts of Ryan to the back of her mind and focus on the wedding.  It’s the day before their ceremony and Alani decides to surprise Marco at his work with lunch.  They agreed to meet that evening at the rehearsal dinner, but Alani was anxious to see him.  But when she gets to his office, she gets a surprise of her own.  She finds Marco and his secretary being intimate in his office. 

After calling off the wedding, Alani needs to go somewhere to clear her mind.  A place in the middle of nowhere.  The first place that came to mind was North Dakota.  Although she knew that Ryan lived there, that wasn’t her reason for choosing it.  But when she’s there, and bumps into Ryan, the connection that she originally felt when they first met returns.  But just because you run away from your problems doesn’t mean that they go away.  Alani finds herself dealing with a whole new set of issues.  How will she handle them?  And who will stick by her through it all?

Divided is author Livia Jamerlan’s debut novel.  I felt that it was well written, had a great story and was full of relatable characters.  This book takes you through so many emotions.  You will feel the bond of friendships, the pain of betrayal, the heat of passion and the joy of love.  Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  I would definitely recommend it to others and can’t wait to see what Livia has in store for us in the future.  

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon U.S * Amazon UK * Amazon Canada * Amazon AU

EXCERPT

“Ally baby please. I fucked up but please, I can do better. Please forgive me.”  He begged

“Marco, there is nothing between us anymore.  I’m done.  We are done.  Shouldn’t you be off with Trish somewhere?” Her name was like bile in my mouth.

“Ally it’s not like that with her, I was just scared.” I raised my hand to stop him; I didn’t want to go through this with him all over again.

“Stop. Just Stop. There is nothing between us anymore Marco, please just leave.” I swallowed back any tears that were threating to show. Stepping back I closed the door and leaned my back on it, slowly sliding down to the ground. Inhaling deep I tried to calm my nerves and heard the flower arrangement being placed on the ground as Marco spoke.

“I know you can still hear me Ally, and I want you to know that I’ll never give up on us. Never! You hear me? I fucked up. I know I did but I love you.” As the tears dripped from my eyes I wiped them away as quickly as I could. I wasn’t crying because I was sad. I was just so tired of repeating the past five years in my head and seeing it end like this.

“Marco, please just leave me alone.” I shouted from behind the door

“I’ll always fight for you. I’ll find a way to make you mine again. Mark my words Alani, you will spend the rest of your life with me.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Livia Jamerlan is a hopeless romantic she is always looking for her next love story to pop in her head. Though Livia kept a journal throughout her early life, she never thought about pursuing a career in writing, she always used it as form of therapy, pouring her heart out into words. It wasn’t until a story developed in her head that she decided that maybe she could write a book. At first it was just an escape from reality but now she use it as a power to put all her feelings, hopes, and fears on paper. Deciding it was time to tell her story she began to write, with each passing day the story grew, characters we formed, and what seemed like a hobby at first has now become a passion for Livia.

When Livia is not writing she is spending time with her husband and their two dogs, she might also be curled up with a new book, or she is out traveling the country to support indie authors at their book signings.

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR

Facebook * Website * Twitter * Goodreads * Email

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Modogamous - Book Tour & Giveaway

Kate Adams has it all figured out. Five years out of college, she’s got a steady job, a home she loves in the big city, and good friends who always keep her laughing:  her stylish but nosy roommate Evette, happily-married Cecie, and of course, good old Mitch, her seriously cute co-worker who’s been stuck in the Friend Zone since the day they met.

Everything is going just fine—until the night Kate crosses the line with Mitch, and the boundaries between friendship and love begin to blur. Things get even more complicated when hunky JP enters the scene. What’s a girl to do? Add to the mix a spunky little pug Kate never expected to fall for, and her neatly-ordered life is starting to look more like a dog’s dinner.  Maybe her roommate has the right idea after all:  forget the men, and stick with a canine companion instead.

It’s time for Kate to figure out what she really wants in life. But can she dig her way out of the mess she’s created before she ends up permanently in the doghouse?

·                   Amazon

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Karen E. Martin, M.Ed. is a full-time freelance writer/editor. She has been in the publishing business since 2004, working on books and publications for major and independent publishers, universities, businesses, and private individuals. Prior to entering the field of publishing, Ms. Martin worked as a Senior EFL Fellow (English as a Foreign Language) for the U.S. Department of State in Romania, a Junior EFL Fellow for the U.S. Department of State in Jordan, and a teacher-trainer for the U.S Peace Corps in Mauritania, Jordan, Romania, and Morocco. Ms. Martin served as a Peace Corps volunteer for two years, teaching English in the Errachidia Province of Morocco. This is Ms. Martin’s first novel.

You can contact the author on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, GoodReads, and on her blog about writing, publishing, and literature. 

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The Man of Her Dreams - Review & Giveaway

Review by Darcey Pickett

This novel takes us to one of my favorite places, Ireland, where we meet Piper McKenzie; she is beautiful, young and rich.  Her family legacy is held within the wealthy McKenzie Leisure.  Piper works with her father learning the family business, as she hopes to take over for him one day.

The path to success does not come easy, Piper is working to establish her place in the family business, she is learning the trade, even conducting business deals for her father, a very powerful, hardworking man who is not quite ready to let go of the reigns to his children.  This will prove to be a bad decision on his part. 

Piper seems to have it all; we see that there is more than meets the eye with her marriage, her relationship with her brother and the family business.  Piper is a strong, devoted woman and that shines throughout the story. 

Piper is sent to Spain to broker her first deal for the family business; this is a place she has been before.  Rich with history and beauty the town of Marbella is where she finally becomes the person she wants to be.  Can she truly find happiness on what could have been that many years ago?

I found this book to be a quick read, which caused me to finish my tasks at hand so I could dive back in.  Ms. McCabe has a talent for drawing a reader in and holding on tight.  I felt a strong connection to Piper, as she is a devoted mother, wife and daughter.  The challenges she faces throughout the book only prove what type of woman she strives to be.  If you are looking for a well-paced, warm, delightful read, I highly recommend The Man of Her Dreams!

Purchase the book at

Amazon

Kate McCabe is a popular Irish romance writer whose books include Book Club and Magnolia Park.

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