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Laura Chapman's Blog, page 15
January 11, 2016
book giveaway!
Looking for a chance to win some books? Thanks to the fabulous Hilary Grossman, I have teamed up with 30 fellow authors to GIVEAWAY 44 books! Half the books are listed here on the blog and all the books as part of a Facebook event - for more chances to win.
So let's have a look at what's up for grabs, shall we?
Could falling in love allow a cold, stubborn, and selfish woman to open her heart back up to her family? Beatrice Buchanan has spent more years than she can remember distancing herself from everyone close to her. She has no relationship with her grandchildren and the only time she speaks to her daughter is during her weekly fifteen-minute commute to the nail salon. When Bea meets Walter on a cruise she realizes there may be more to life than designer clothes and impressing the ladies at her country club. We live our entire lives thinking we know those closest to us. But do we ever really? On the outside, Annabel O'Conner has it all - the perfect husband, two adorable children, and an amazing job. The only thing missing is her mother's love. When Bea begs her daughter to help plan her wedding, Annabel reluctantly agrees. Little does she know the impact of her decision or the surprise that is in store for her! This emotional and honest women's contemporary fiction novel will tug at your heartstrings and the twist ending will shock you.
Available Amazon
, Barnes & Noble - eBook $4.99 Print $14.95
Stacey Ballis cooks up a delicious broth of a novel about a woman whose perfect life falls apart in spectacular fashion--leaving her with a house to restore, an antique cookbook (but no cooking talent), and one very unhappy schnauzer. For fans of Jen Lancaster, Jennifer Weiner, and Emily Giffin. To an outside observer, Anneke Stroudt is a mess—her shirts are stained, her fingernails stubby, her language colorful. But, despite her flaws, Anneke’s life is close to perfect. She has a beautiful historic house to restore and a loving fiancé who cooks like a dream. Until Anneke’s charmed existence falls apart when she loses both her job and her future husband in one terrible day. In need of a new start, she packs up her disgruntled schnauzer and moves into her half-finished home, where she throws her pent-up frustration—and what little savings she has—into finishing the renovation. But at the first step into the house’s overhaul, Anneke is sidetracked when she discovers a mysterious leather-bound book, long hidden away, filled with tempting recipes and steamy secrets from Gemma Ditmore-Smythe, the cook for the house’s original owners. Slowly, with the help of some delicious food and Emma’s life lessons, Anneke begins to realize that, just like a flawless recipe, she’s been waiting for the right ingredients to cook up a perfect life all along… “With the perfect blend of humor and heart, Ballis’s writing is powerfully honest and genuinely hilarious.”--Jen Lancaster
Available Amazon
, Barnes & Noble - eBook $11.99 Print $13.27
If there’s one thing that Bridgette Reynolds has learned recently, it’s that the perfect shoes, the perfect hair, and the perfect dress do not make for the perfect proposal. In fact, sometimes they make for the not-so-perfect breakup. Now, Bridgette must do everything in her power to win Adam back. She knows they are meant to be. And nothing will stand in her way—not her friends, not her grandmother, not even the fact that Adam is now engaged to Serene after a whirlwind romance. Focused on her plan to win Adam back, Bridgette isn’t expecting Ian—her college best friend, her love, her big regret—to come back into her life. They sink back into their comfortable friendship as if no time has passed at all, making Bridgette start to question her feelings for Adam. But Ian has a few secrets of his own . . . secrets that could shatter their friendship once and for all. Bridgette has to make some major decisions—should she speak now? Or forever hold her peace?
Available Amazon
eBook $2.99 Print $13.25
How many faux engagements can one girl have? Hilary learns the hard way more than you can imagine. She has no idea what to do. She's been dating perfect on paper, Marc, for years. He's everything she wants in a man except for one thing. He's beyond afraid of commitment! Tired of waiting for Marc to come to his senses, the couple's friends decide to take matters into their own hands and throw a surprise "engagement" party. Only problem is their meddling has unforeseen consequences... In this real life chick lit story, Hilary Grossman digs deep as she explores the good, the bad, and the frustrating of dating. Dangled Carat is the perfect light hearted, funny, and relatable story for every girl who wondered if she should love him or dump him. Chick lit readers will be hooked!
Available Amazon
eBook $2.99 Print $12.74
Emerson Sinclair, twenty-seven year old hotel heiress, has said yes. With just over a year to plan her extravagant, over the top nuptials to Logan Worthington, it's all hands on deck with the wedding plans. A Sinclair marrying into the Worthington family is the talk of their small New Hampshire town, and ideas include filming the wedding for a TV segment. But as the items get checked off the list, plans start to go ... not as planned.From not getting a designer dress to a selfish bridesmaid and unaccountable best man, Emerson is afraid her wedding will be more a joke than anything. When both her mother and sister seemingly begin to lose interest in her wedding plans in favor of their own personal lives, Emerson fears her big day will turn into the forgotten wedding. With the pressure to pull off a beautiful and elegant event that everyone expects from their respectable families, Emerson starts to forget the reason why she is saying I Do in the first place. Available Amazon
Readers first met sassy Kimberly Long in Blogger Girl, and now the feisty New Yorker is back in a sequel packed with quick wit, friendship, heartache, and, of course, romance. Kim runs the most popular chick lit book blog on the web, loves playing house with her sexy lawyer boyfriend, Nicholas, and is finally pursuing her lifelong dream to become a published author. At first glance, her life is five-pink-champagne-flutes worthy. But is there more to the story than meets the eye? After hearing the phrase “chick lit is dead” more times than she’s read Bridget Jones's Diary, Kim is driven to desperate measures, seeking advice from up-and-coming chick lit author, Hannah Marshak, her high school nemesis and resident “mean girl.” As if Kim doesn't have enough on her plate balancing her secretarial duties with her blog Pastel Is the New Black, shrugging off the growing pile of agent rejections, and keeping her best friend from turning green over Kim’s budding friendship with Hannah, Nicholas is so blinded by his career ambitions, he doesn't see that their home sweet home could use more than a dash of sugar. This is the year when all of Kim's dreams—professional and romantic—are supposed to come true, but will the story have a happily ever after, or will Kim end up unpublished and all alone? This novel can be read as a sequel or as a standalone and is best accompanied by a cocktail, preferably a pink one.
From Book 1: Sydney Bennett had spent her life in pursuit of perfection. She planned, weighed her options and made careful choices based on calculated outcomes. Through all of her efforts, she had come pretty close to perfection, if she didn’t say so herself. She had fled the cold winters in New York for sunny California, found a job that she loved and lived in the same town as her sister, and best friend, Kate. The one area of perfection that had always eluded her was her love life. No matter how hard she tried, she always ended up with a broken heart. After a particularly traumatic breakup, Sydney vowed that she was done with love.
Just as Sydney threw herself into her new plan to forget about men, a handsome Frenchman tossed all of her intentions out the window as he swept her off of her feet. Louis Durand had lived a life filled with excitement and adventure. He was impetuous, intelligent and incredibly charming. So naturally, he scared Sydney half to death. From the moment they met, Louis and Sydney’s romance progressed at warp speed. Sydney did her best not to run, but her deep rooted relationship anxiety threatened to provide an easy exit. When Louis mentioned marriage before Sydney even knew his favorite color, she was more than tempted to reach for her running shoes. Will she be able to put her fears aside to follow her heart? The one thing that Sydney will learn is that sometimes perfection comes with a twist...
Available Amazon
eBook $6.97
When Harper Duquaine’s no-nonsense approach to work unintentionally ruffles the wrong feathers at her new job, she joins her co-workers’ fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way). Embroiled in a world of lineups, stats, and trades, Harper’s quest to make nice topples when her competitive streak emerges. And her promise to herself that she’ll be a strong, independent woman and leave the drama and heartache behind is seriously tested when she catches the attention of her two biggest competitors: J.J., a local celebrity determined to win a fantasy championship, and Brook, the mild-mannered coach who seems too good to be true. Both threaten her resolve to remain single… and, more importantly, her chances at winning the prize pool. With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.
Available Amazon
You know what they say about best-laid plans… After a disastrous thirty-first birthday party where she gets stood-up by a man she isn’t supposed to be dating, Peri McKenna decides it’s time to change what hasn’t been working—which is pretty much everything. Her love life is going nowhere fast, she’s bored to tears by a job that makes her the office pariah, and the lifelong junk food addiction that used to be somewhat quirky is now positively problematic. To top it all off, her newly-purchased home is falling apart and wishful thinking hasn’t done much to fix the leaky roof. It’s time be an adult now that she’s officially ‘thirty-something.’ But when the first step of Peri’s self-improvement plan backfires, she starts to wonder if change might be overrated. Enter Milo Preston, an up-and-coming chef who’s in town to take over a local restaurant. When Peri and Milo begin working together, she finds it hard to ignore his easy charm and captivating emerald-green eyes. Since Milo is her best friend’s estranged brother, Peri has to keep reminding herself that he is completely off-limits. As they grow closer, Milo introduces Peri to new foods, the joy (and pain) of jogging, and makes her think her luck might finally be turning. But when the past catches up with them, Peri finds herself back at square one. Will she be able to sort herself out—or will the roof cave in on her once and for all?
Available Amazon
Award-winning author Rachel Thompson courageously confronts the topics of sexual abuse and suicide, love and healing, in her second nonfiction book of prose: Broken Places. The sequel to Rachel’s first nonfiction book, Broken Pieces, Rachel bares her soul in essays, poems and prose, addressing life’s most difficult topics with honesty. As you follow one woman’s journey through the dark and into the light, you will find yourself forever changed. Rachel’s first book in this series, Broken Pieces, has been a #1 best seller on Amazon (eBooks) on Women’s Poetry and Abuse. Please note: this book discusses serious topics, and is intended for mature audiences only. Broken Pieces is an award winning book about relationships, a study of women, and a book with heart. Vastly different in tone from her previous essay collections A Walk In The Snark and The Mancode: Exposed, Broken Pieces is a collection of pieces inspired by life: love, loss, abuse, trust, grief, and ultimately, love again. While still non-fiction, best-selling Broken Pieces is not humor at all. In Thompson’s most intensive work to date, she opens her soul and invites the reader in for a visit. Thompson goes into those long buried rooms we lock up deep inside and shares a bit of her soul. Broken Pieces is vulnerable, raw honesty, and no-holds barred.
Available Amazon
Hannah Rogers is lost: cynical, insecure, and withdrawn. Skeletons forged through a bad breakup that should have been a marriage proposal. Now four years later, Hannah follows her dead-end job to the big city where her only hope is to survive the next eight months as her flirtatious boss’s personal assistant. The last thing her predictable life needs is to collide with the boy responsible for breaking her heart, or the twist of fate that sends a sexy new neighbor to awaken feelings she’s long since put to bed. Alex Sorrento doesn’t have any room in his life for another pet project. He’s already put aside his career and his personal dreams to follow his half-sister Mackenzie to the big city. Lost in the guilt over the events that nearly took her life, he feels he owes her that much. When Mackenzie befriends the new girl on the third floor, Alex finds himself defenseless against the sizzling chemistry between them and the sadness in her eyes. Can he protect Hannah from her ex without losing his heart? In this turbulent journey about self-discovery, forgiveness, and love, some second chances aren’t worth taking, but others have their own rewards.
Available Amazon, Barnes & Noble eBook $2.99 Print $16.95
Welcome to the FORGIVE OR FORGET series, a compelling contemporary women's fiction love story and family saga series. Cawood's love inspired medical romance series follows the close-knit McGowan siblings; Keon, Kiera, Cormack, and Cara, as they face the difficult choice between forgiving or forgetting true love after a broken heart. Does a heart ever really heal from its first break? On an unseasonably hot night in late September, Dr. Keon McGowan is called away from a family gathering to a hospital emergency. Amongst his patients that night is a blast from his past he'd rather forget. He'll certainly never forgive butterfly hunter Darcia Davenport for leaving him alone as a single dad while she chased butterflies through the Amazon rainforest. Coming face to face with the woman who broke his heart after all this time, Keon realises that he has never fully healed from it. But any chance of finding closure is ripped away when Darcy chooses to end treatment and live her final weeks without regret. Can Keon let her go? Or will he fight for the tomorrow they might never have?
MAYBE TOMORROW
is an emotional journey of love caught between fate and destiny, and Keon is forced to choose between his head and his heart, his wants and his responsibilities, forgiving Darcy or forgetting all about her, and between a second chance family or an ill-fated heartbreak romance.
Available Amazon Barnes & Noble
When Vivian Cartwright was five years old, she witnessed her mother’s death. Now, sixteen-year-old Vivian only wants a normal life, but to do that she must keep her ability to control energy a secret. Only her guardian, Charlotte, who has hidden Vivian from the man responsible for her mother’s murder, knows of her staggering power. Her secret is safe until Vivian defends herself at school using her power. After this first use of her gift in many years, Vivian’s power seems to take on a mind of its own, increasing in strength and bringing dreams of her mother’s death and the mysterious man associated with it.
In her desire to unlock her past, Vivian is forced to use her supernatural gift over and over. With each use, Vivian fears she is losing control and discovers her powers are growing—maybe too much—bringing her unknowingly closer to the man who murdered her mother, but she soon learns she can’t escape her past . . . or her future. When she will finally learns the truth, it will turn her world upside-down.Available Amazon
Newspaper publisher and world traveler JJ Cavendish continually feels pressured to live up to her Miracle Girl nickname. Not many people know she’s living a carefully crafted lie. She may not hide ties to the LGBT community, but she does hide past struggles with addiction. When the Colorado native is handpicked to take the helm at a dying Denver newspaper, she ends up reconnecting with her long lost love in this contemporary lesbian romance. Only there’s a catch. If JJ fires the most belligerent editor at the paper, she risks losing the love of her life. Mid-afternoon office romps abound in this romantic comedy while also focusing on what it takes for a newspaper to remain relevant in this age of social media. Must JJ lose everything in order to gain a life more fully her own?
Available Amazon
eBook $2.99 Print $7.99
When newly-single party girl Vicki moved to Paris, she was hoping to indulge in wine, stuff her face with croissants, and fall in love. It proved to be much more difficile than she'd imagined. In this laugh-out-loud memoir, this cheeky storyteller recounts the highs and lows of her life in the City of Light. Sassy and shamefully honest, Vicki makes you feel as if you're right there in Paris stumbling along the cobblestones with her. Will she find love? Will she learn to consume reasonable amounts of alcohol? Will the French administration ever cut her a break?
Available Amazon
Between unending housework and thankless efforts to appease a loutish husband and acid-tongue teens, Ginny Cooper’s to-do list never seems to get done. Her guilty pleasure—fantasizing about her husband’s demise—her weakness—the drive-thru at Arby’s. On the job as head librarian at the county’s obsolete library, tedium reigns. One afternoon Ginny innocently stumbles upon a dating website, where the rabbit hole awaits. Who is Ginny Cooper? She is every woman who knows the exact number of calories in a Snickers bar, every woman who has ever struggled with her weight. She is every woman who has grappled with the gray areas, every woman who has wanted to escape her own life. At times the reader will want to reach between the pages, shake her, and talk some sense into her. But Ginny will have to navigate her own road. And through it all, we root for her. Ginny’s childhood memories of her fading hometown provide a bittersweet backdrop for The To-Do List.Available Amazon
Emily Watts just wants a weekend break from the workaholic hours she's taken on to keep her business--a popular fashion-snark website--up and running. What she gets is overnight celebrity and a career-killing media scandal. While taking time out to attend a concert in support of friend Jesse Cinder, a struggling musician, Emily meets Cory Sampson, the lead singer of a chart-topping rock band. When she agrees to a date with Cory, making entertainment headlines is the last thing she expects. Even so, it's a minor surprise by comparison to her discovery that in the music world, media notoriety trumps all. Tabloid allegations erupt when Cory and fame-hungry Jesse use Emily for personal gain, and her tarnished image spells disaster--personally and professionally. To save the website and writing career she's made her life and dream, Emily must go from being a pawn in the Hollywood headline game to becoming the media mastermind.
Available Amazon
Is it possible to find two loves in one lifetime? Dubbed “The Child Whisperer” by his peers, twenty-nine-year-old Jake Harris is a lollipop-sucking, video game-playing pediatrician, who moves to Seashore Cove, Long Island to start a family. What he finds is an immediate attraction to his new nurse, Kate, and a list of reasons why he has to keep his distance. Kate Henderson is a grieving widow with two teenage boys, struggling to keep her head above water. She knows exactly why she must fight her growing desire for the new doctor, and nothing is going to change that. But Kate’s sons think Dr. Jake is the perfect match for their mother. When they put their heads together, the duo comes up with crazy little schemes in the hopes of igniting a spark. The teenagers succeed in throwing them together but is it enough to make their mom and the doctor tear up their lists and take a chance on love? Available Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Dylan Farrow puts on his pants every morning one leg at a time, just like everyone else at the Kerrigan Advertising Agency. He handles high-pressure projects with a fast turnaround. He's prized for his keen intellect and admirable performance. But how did he get where he is today—to the level of Junior Executive of Design Production? Well, that involves how he takes his pants off... and for whom... Hoping to break through the glass ceiling under which she's been trapped for years, Valerie Caplan picks up her life and moves to Seattle. After hearing about the position of Senior Executive of Design Production from an art director at Kerrigan, she decides to apply. When she lands the big interview, she never thinks for a minute that she'll have any serious competition. She assumes that she has the job in the bag...until she discovers that the only competition has something she doesn't have—the willingness to go outside the office to impress Danica Stewart, their uptight female boss.Available Amazon
Violet Monte believed her love and marriage would last a lifetime–until she catches her husband in bed with a younger woman. When she realizes she was nothing more than a trophy wife, Violet decides to chase her own dreams. The only problem is, she has no idea what they are. Violet begins to pursue her own interests which sometime include spying on her mysterious neighbor, who might actually be a lady of the night. Just as Violet is finding stability–– and the possibility of opening her heart again–– her husband returns not with an apology, but with a signed pre-nuptial agreement, claiming he’ll keep everything and leave her with nothing. Violet is far from the compliant woman he once knew but she doubts she has the strength to fight and win, until her intriguing neighbor unlocks what Violet has been looking for all along. Can Violet fight back from a lost love and reinvent herself into the person she always wanted to be or will she forever be just an ex-trophy wife?
Available Amazon
After attending three new mom groups, only to be banned for eating Cheetos (not organic!) and uttering the occasional swear word, Sadie Walker questions why she is trying so hard to fit in. While sitting in another dingy community center playroom full of squealing babies and new moms enthusiastically discussing homemade organic baby food, Sadie meets John, a handsome, vivacious dad. They quickly form a friendship and Sadie finally finds an adult outlet. John soon becomes a lifeline and she looks to him for advice and support, and confides in him about her strained marriage and career as a copywriter. Sadie begins to have sexual fantasies about John. Those fantasies turn into opportunity when he tells her he’s in an open marriage. As Sadie contemplates how far is too far in regards to her friendship with John, she must also question herself, her marriage, an d her life. Will swinging with John improve that life, or destroy it?Available Amazon
Alex Rose is a 32-year-old divorced mother of two, looking for a better life for her and her sons. In search of answers, she returns to college to finally get that degree she’s always dreamed of. What she finds is something she wasn’t even looking for. Mason Brooks is every girl’s dream: 21 years old, tall, with dirty blond hair that curls when it’s wet, sea-blue eyes, and dimples. Hot, sexy…and deliciously naïve and innocent. Enter a tantalizing world where an average soccer mom utilizes her newfound knowledge of psychology to make life just a little more interesting. Follow along as Alex educates Mason on the art of seducing and pleasing a woman. Take notes as she introduces him to a whole new level of intensity and sexual pleasure. Study the sensual art of tantric sex as Alex creates her own style of silk and lace female dominance. This little tryst will never survive past college–but Alex is determined to enjoy it the fullest while it lasts.
Available Amazon, Barnes & Noble
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So let's have a look at what's up for grabs, shall we?
Could falling in love allow a cold, stubborn, and selfish woman to open her heart back up to her family? Beatrice Buchanan has spent more years than she can remember distancing herself from everyone close to her. She has no relationship with her grandchildren and the only time she speaks to her daughter is during her weekly fifteen-minute commute to the nail salon. When Bea meets Walter on a cruise she realizes there may be more to life than designer clothes and impressing the ladies at her country club. We live our entire lives thinking we know those closest to us. But do we ever really? On the outside, Annabel O'Conner has it all - the perfect husband, two adorable children, and an amazing job. The only thing missing is her mother's love. When Bea begs her daughter to help plan her wedding, Annabel reluctantly agrees. Little does she know the impact of her decision or the surprise that is in store for her! This emotional and honest women's contemporary fiction novel will tug at your heartstrings and the twist ending will shock you.Available Amazon
, Barnes & Noble - eBook $4.99 Print $14.95
Stacey Ballis cooks up a delicious broth of a novel about a woman whose perfect life falls apart in spectacular fashion--leaving her with a house to restore, an antique cookbook (but no cooking talent), and one very unhappy schnauzer. For fans of Jen Lancaster, Jennifer Weiner, and Emily Giffin. To an outside observer, Anneke Stroudt is a mess—her shirts are stained, her fingernails stubby, her language colorful. But, despite her flaws, Anneke’s life is close to perfect. She has a beautiful historic house to restore and a loving fiancé who cooks like a dream. Until Anneke’s charmed existence falls apart when she loses both her job and her future husband in one terrible day. In need of a new start, she packs up her disgruntled schnauzer and moves into her half-finished home, where she throws her pent-up frustration—and what little savings she has—into finishing the renovation. But at the first step into the house’s overhaul, Anneke is sidetracked when she discovers a mysterious leather-bound book, long hidden away, filled with tempting recipes and steamy secrets from Gemma Ditmore-Smythe, the cook for the house’s original owners. Slowly, with the help of some delicious food and Emma’s life lessons, Anneke begins to realize that, just like a flawless recipe, she’s been waiting for the right ingredients to cook up a perfect life all along… “With the perfect blend of humor and heart, Ballis’s writing is powerfully honest and genuinely hilarious.”--Jen LancasterAvailable Amazon
, Barnes & Noble - eBook $11.99 Print $13.27
If there’s one thing that Bridgette Reynolds has learned recently, it’s that the perfect shoes, the perfect hair, and the perfect dress do not make for the perfect proposal. In fact, sometimes they make for the not-so-perfect breakup. Now, Bridgette must do everything in her power to win Adam back. She knows they are meant to be. And nothing will stand in her way—not her friends, not her grandmother, not even the fact that Adam is now engaged to Serene after a whirlwind romance. Focused on her plan to win Adam back, Bridgette isn’t expecting Ian—her college best friend, her love, her big regret—to come back into her life. They sink back into their comfortable friendship as if no time has passed at all, making Bridgette start to question her feelings for Adam. But Ian has a few secrets of his own . . . secrets that could shatter their friendship once and for all. Bridgette has to make some major decisions—should she speak now? Or forever hold her peace?Available Amazon
eBook $2.99 Print $13.25
How many faux engagements can one girl have? Hilary learns the hard way more than you can imagine. She has no idea what to do. She's been dating perfect on paper, Marc, for years. He's everything she wants in a man except for one thing. He's beyond afraid of commitment! Tired of waiting for Marc to come to his senses, the couple's friends decide to take matters into their own hands and throw a surprise "engagement" party. Only problem is their meddling has unforeseen consequences... In this real life chick lit story, Hilary Grossman digs deep as she explores the good, the bad, and the frustrating of dating. Dangled Carat is the perfect light hearted, funny, and relatable story for every girl who wondered if she should love him or dump him. Chick lit readers will be hooked!Available Amazon
eBook $2.99 Print $12.74 
Emerson Sinclair, twenty-seven year old hotel heiress, has said yes. With just over a year to plan her extravagant, over the top nuptials to Logan Worthington, it's all hands on deck with the wedding plans. A Sinclair marrying into the Worthington family is the talk of their small New Hampshire town, and ideas include filming the wedding for a TV segment. But as the items get checked off the list, plans start to go ... not as planned.From not getting a designer dress to a selfish bridesmaid and unaccountable best man, Emerson is afraid her wedding will be more a joke than anything. When both her mother and sister seemingly begin to lose interest in her wedding plans in favor of their own personal lives, Emerson fears her big day will turn into the forgotten wedding. With the pressure to pull off a beautiful and elegant event that everyone expects from their respectable families, Emerson starts to forget the reason why she is saying I Do in the first place. Available Amazon 
Readers first met sassy Kimberly Long in Blogger Girl, and now the feisty New Yorker is back in a sequel packed with quick wit, friendship, heartache, and, of course, romance. Kim runs the most popular chick lit book blog on the web, loves playing house with her sexy lawyer boyfriend, Nicholas, and is finally pursuing her lifelong dream to become a published author. At first glance, her life is five-pink-champagne-flutes worthy. But is there more to the story than meets the eye? After hearing the phrase “chick lit is dead” more times than she’s read Bridget Jones's Diary, Kim is driven to desperate measures, seeking advice from up-and-coming chick lit author, Hannah Marshak, her high school nemesis and resident “mean girl.” As if Kim doesn't have enough on her plate balancing her secretarial duties with her blog Pastel Is the New Black, shrugging off the growing pile of agent rejections, and keeping her best friend from turning green over Kim’s budding friendship with Hannah, Nicholas is so blinded by his career ambitions, he doesn't see that their home sweet home could use more than a dash of sugar. This is the year when all of Kim's dreams—professional and romantic—are supposed to come true, but will the story have a happily ever after, or will Kim end up unpublished and all alone? This novel can be read as a sequel or as a standalone and is best accompanied by a cocktail, preferably a pink one.
From Book 1: Sydney Bennett had spent her life in pursuit of perfection. She planned, weighed her options and made careful choices based on calculated outcomes. Through all of her efforts, she had come pretty close to perfection, if she didn’t say so herself. She had fled the cold winters in New York for sunny California, found a job that she loved and lived in the same town as her sister, and best friend, Kate. The one area of perfection that had always eluded her was her love life. No matter how hard she tried, she always ended up with a broken heart. After a particularly traumatic breakup, Sydney vowed that she was done with love.
Just as Sydney threw herself into her new plan to forget about men, a handsome Frenchman tossed all of her intentions out the window as he swept her off of her feet. Louis Durand had lived a life filled with excitement and adventure. He was impetuous, intelligent and incredibly charming. So naturally, he scared Sydney half to death. From the moment they met, Louis and Sydney’s romance progressed at warp speed. Sydney did her best not to run, but her deep rooted relationship anxiety threatened to provide an easy exit. When Louis mentioned marriage before Sydney even knew his favorite color, she was more than tempted to reach for her running shoes. Will she be able to put her fears aside to follow her heart? The one thing that Sydney will learn is that sometimes perfection comes with a twist...Available Amazon
eBook $6.97
When Harper Duquaine’s no-nonsense approach to work unintentionally ruffles the wrong feathers at her new job, she joins her co-workers’ fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way). Embroiled in a world of lineups, stats, and trades, Harper’s quest to make nice topples when her competitive streak emerges. And her promise to herself that she’ll be a strong, independent woman and leave the drama and heartache behind is seriously tested when she catches the attention of her two biggest competitors: J.J., a local celebrity determined to win a fantasy championship, and Brook, the mild-mannered coach who seems too good to be true. Both threaten her resolve to remain single… and, more importantly, her chances at winning the prize pool. With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.Available Amazon
You know what they say about best-laid plans… After a disastrous thirty-first birthday party where she gets stood-up by a man she isn’t supposed to be dating, Peri McKenna decides it’s time to change what hasn’t been working—which is pretty much everything. Her love life is going nowhere fast, she’s bored to tears by a job that makes her the office pariah, and the lifelong junk food addiction that used to be somewhat quirky is now positively problematic. To top it all off, her newly-purchased home is falling apart and wishful thinking hasn’t done much to fix the leaky roof. It’s time be an adult now that she’s officially ‘thirty-something.’ But when the first step of Peri’s self-improvement plan backfires, she starts to wonder if change might be overrated. Enter Milo Preston, an up-and-coming chef who’s in town to take over a local restaurant. When Peri and Milo begin working together, she finds it hard to ignore his easy charm and captivating emerald-green eyes. Since Milo is her best friend’s estranged brother, Peri has to keep reminding herself that he is completely off-limits. As they grow closer, Milo introduces Peri to new foods, the joy (and pain) of jogging, and makes her think her luck might finally be turning. But when the past catches up with them, Peri finds herself back at square one. Will she be able to sort herself out—or will the roof cave in on her once and for all?Available Amazon
Award-winning author Rachel Thompson courageously confronts the topics of sexual abuse and suicide, love and healing, in her second nonfiction book of prose: Broken Places. The sequel to Rachel’s first nonfiction book, Broken Pieces, Rachel bares her soul in essays, poems and prose, addressing life’s most difficult topics with honesty. As you follow one woman’s journey through the dark and into the light, you will find yourself forever changed. Rachel’s first book in this series, Broken Pieces, has been a #1 best seller on Amazon (eBooks) on Women’s Poetry and Abuse. Please note: this book discusses serious topics, and is intended for mature audiences only. Broken Pieces is an award winning book about relationships, a study of women, and a book with heart. Vastly different in tone from her previous essay collections A Walk In The Snark and The Mancode: Exposed, Broken Pieces is a collection of pieces inspired by life: love, loss, abuse, trust, grief, and ultimately, love again. While still non-fiction, best-selling Broken Pieces is not humor at all. In Thompson’s most intensive work to date, she opens her soul and invites the reader in for a visit. Thompson goes into those long buried rooms we lock up deep inside and shares a bit of her soul. Broken Pieces is vulnerable, raw honesty, and no-holds barred.Available Amazon
Hannah Rogers is lost: cynical, insecure, and withdrawn. Skeletons forged through a bad breakup that should have been a marriage proposal. Now four years later, Hannah follows her dead-end job to the big city where her only hope is to survive the next eight months as her flirtatious boss’s personal assistant. The last thing her predictable life needs is to collide with the boy responsible for breaking her heart, or the twist of fate that sends a sexy new neighbor to awaken feelings she’s long since put to bed. Alex Sorrento doesn’t have any room in his life for another pet project. He’s already put aside his career and his personal dreams to follow his half-sister Mackenzie to the big city. Lost in the guilt over the events that nearly took her life, he feels he owes her that much. When Mackenzie befriends the new girl on the third floor, Alex finds himself defenseless against the sizzling chemistry between them and the sadness in her eyes. Can he protect Hannah from her ex without losing his heart? In this turbulent journey about self-discovery, forgiveness, and love, some second chances aren’t worth taking, but others have their own rewards. Available Amazon, Barnes & Noble eBook $2.99 Print $16.95
Welcome to the FORGIVE OR FORGET series, a compelling contemporary women's fiction love story and family saga series. Cawood's love inspired medical romance series follows the close-knit McGowan siblings; Keon, Kiera, Cormack, and Cara, as they face the difficult choice between forgiving or forgetting true love after a broken heart. Does a heart ever really heal from its first break? On an unseasonably hot night in late September, Dr. Keon McGowan is called away from a family gathering to a hospital emergency. Amongst his patients that night is a blast from his past he'd rather forget. He'll certainly never forgive butterfly hunter Darcia Davenport for leaving him alone as a single dad while she chased butterflies through the Amazon rainforest. Coming face to face with the woman who broke his heart after all this time, Keon realises that he has never fully healed from it. But any chance of finding closure is ripped away when Darcy chooses to end treatment and live her final weeks without regret. Can Keon let her go? Or will he fight for the tomorrow they might never have?
MAYBE TOMORROW
is an emotional journey of love caught between fate and destiny, and Keon is forced to choose between his head and his heart, his wants and his responsibilities, forgiving Darcy or forgetting all about her, and between a second chance family or an ill-fated heartbreak romance.Available Amazon Barnes & Noble
When Vivian Cartwright was five years old, she witnessed her mother’s death. Now, sixteen-year-old Vivian only wants a normal life, but to do that she must keep her ability to control energy a secret. Only her guardian, Charlotte, who has hidden Vivian from the man responsible for her mother’s murder, knows of her staggering power. Her secret is safe until Vivian defends herself at school using her power. After this first use of her gift in many years, Vivian’s power seems to take on a mind of its own, increasing in strength and bringing dreams of her mother’s death and the mysterious man associated with it.In her desire to unlock her past, Vivian is forced to use her supernatural gift over and over. With each use, Vivian fears she is losing control and discovers her powers are growing—maybe too much—bringing her unknowingly closer to the man who murdered her mother, but she soon learns she can’t escape her past . . . or her future. When she will finally learns the truth, it will turn her world upside-down.Available Amazon
Newspaper publisher and world traveler JJ Cavendish continually feels pressured to live up to her Miracle Girl nickname. Not many people know she’s living a carefully crafted lie. She may not hide ties to the LGBT community, but she does hide past struggles with addiction. When the Colorado native is handpicked to take the helm at a dying Denver newspaper, she ends up reconnecting with her long lost love in this contemporary lesbian romance. Only there’s a catch. If JJ fires the most belligerent editor at the paper, she risks losing the love of her life. Mid-afternoon office romps abound in this romantic comedy while also focusing on what it takes for a newspaper to remain relevant in this age of social media. Must JJ lose everything in order to gain a life more fully her own?Available Amazon
eBook $2.99 Print $7.99 
When newly-single party girl Vicki moved to Paris, she was hoping to indulge in wine, stuff her face with croissants, and fall in love. It proved to be much more difficile than she'd imagined. In this laugh-out-loud memoir, this cheeky storyteller recounts the highs and lows of her life in the City of Light. Sassy and shamefully honest, Vicki makes you feel as if you're right there in Paris stumbling along the cobblestones with her. Will she find love? Will she learn to consume reasonable amounts of alcohol? Will the French administration ever cut her a break?
Available Amazon
Between unending housework and thankless efforts to appease a loutish husband and acid-tongue teens, Ginny Cooper’s to-do list never seems to get done. Her guilty pleasure—fantasizing about her husband’s demise—her weakness—the drive-thru at Arby’s. On the job as head librarian at the county’s obsolete library, tedium reigns. One afternoon Ginny innocently stumbles upon a dating website, where the rabbit hole awaits. Who is Ginny Cooper? She is every woman who knows the exact number of calories in a Snickers bar, every woman who has ever struggled with her weight. She is every woman who has grappled with the gray areas, every woman who has wanted to escape her own life. At times the reader will want to reach between the pages, shake her, and talk some sense into her. But Ginny will have to navigate her own road. And through it all, we root for her. Ginny’s childhood memories of her fading hometown provide a bittersweet backdrop for The To-Do List.Available Amazon 
Emily Watts just wants a weekend break from the workaholic hours she's taken on to keep her business--a popular fashion-snark website--up and running. What she gets is overnight celebrity and a career-killing media scandal. While taking time out to attend a concert in support of friend Jesse Cinder, a struggling musician, Emily meets Cory Sampson, the lead singer of a chart-topping rock band. When she agrees to a date with Cory, making entertainment headlines is the last thing she expects. Even so, it's a minor surprise by comparison to her discovery that in the music world, media notoriety trumps all. Tabloid allegations erupt when Cory and fame-hungry Jesse use Emily for personal gain, and her tarnished image spells disaster--personally and professionally. To save the website and writing career she's made her life and dream, Emily must go from being a pawn in the Hollywood headline game to becoming the media mastermind.Available Amazon
Is it possible to find two loves in one lifetime? Dubbed “The Child Whisperer” by his peers, twenty-nine-year-old Jake Harris is a lollipop-sucking, video game-playing pediatrician, who moves to Seashore Cove, Long Island to start a family. What he finds is an immediate attraction to his new nurse, Kate, and a list of reasons why he has to keep his distance. Kate Henderson is a grieving widow with two teenage boys, struggling to keep her head above water. She knows exactly why she must fight her growing desire for the new doctor, and nothing is going to change that. But Kate’s sons think Dr. Jake is the perfect match for their mother. When they put their heads together, the duo comes up with crazy little schemes in the hopes of igniting a spark. The teenagers succeed in throwing them together but is it enough to make their mom and the doctor tear up their lists and take a chance on love? Available Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Dylan Farrow puts on his pants every morning one leg at a time, just like everyone else at the Kerrigan Advertising Agency. He handles high-pressure projects with a fast turnaround. He's prized for his keen intellect and admirable performance. But how did he get where he is today—to the level of Junior Executive of Design Production? Well, that involves how he takes his pants off... and for whom... Hoping to break through the glass ceiling under which she's been trapped for years, Valerie Caplan picks up her life and moves to Seattle. After hearing about the position of Senior Executive of Design Production from an art director at Kerrigan, she decides to apply. When she lands the big interview, she never thinks for a minute that she'll have any serious competition. She assumes that she has the job in the bag...until she discovers that the only competition has something she doesn't have—the willingness to go outside the office to impress Danica Stewart, their uptight female boss.Available Amazon
Violet Monte believed her love and marriage would last a lifetime–until she catches her husband in bed with a younger woman. When she realizes she was nothing more than a trophy wife, Violet decides to chase her own dreams. The only problem is, she has no idea what they are. Violet begins to pursue her own interests which sometime include spying on her mysterious neighbor, who might actually be a lady of the night. Just as Violet is finding stability–– and the possibility of opening her heart again–– her husband returns not with an apology, but with a signed pre-nuptial agreement, claiming he’ll keep everything and leave her with nothing. Violet is far from the compliant woman he once knew but she doubts she has the strength to fight and win, until her intriguing neighbor unlocks what Violet has been looking for all along. Can Violet fight back from a lost love and reinvent herself into the person she always wanted to be or will she forever be just an ex-trophy wife?Available Amazon
After attending three new mom groups, only to be banned for eating Cheetos (not organic!) and uttering the occasional swear word, Sadie Walker questions why she is trying so hard to fit in. While sitting in another dingy community center playroom full of squealing babies and new moms enthusiastically discussing homemade organic baby food, Sadie meets John, a handsome, vivacious dad. They quickly form a friendship and Sadie finally finds an adult outlet. John soon becomes a lifeline and she looks to him for advice and support, and confides in him about her strained marriage and career as a copywriter. Sadie begins to have sexual fantasies about John. Those fantasies turn into opportunity when he tells her he’s in an open marriage. As Sadie contemplates how far is too far in regards to her friendship with John, she must also question herself, her marriage, an d her life. Will swinging with John improve that life, or destroy it?Available Amazon
Alex Rose is a 32-year-old divorced mother of two, looking for a better life for her and her sons. In search of answers, she returns to college to finally get that degree she’s always dreamed of. What she finds is something she wasn’t even looking for. Mason Brooks is every girl’s dream: 21 years old, tall, with dirty blond hair that curls when it’s wet, sea-blue eyes, and dimples. Hot, sexy…and deliciously naïve and innocent. Enter a tantalizing world where an average soccer mom utilizes her newfound knowledge of psychology to make life just a little more interesting. Follow along as Alex educates Mason on the art of seducing and pleasing a woman. Take notes as she introduces him to a whole new level of intensity and sexual pleasure. Study the sensual art of tantric sex as Alex creates her own style of silk and lace female dominance. This little tryst will never survive past college–but Alex is determined to enjoy it the fullest while it lasts.Available Amazon, Barnes & Noble
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January 5, 2016
interview with the hilary grossman the author of 'plan bea'
Today I'm pleased to welcome my friend, the very talented Hilary Grossman. She recently published Plan Bea, and she was good enough to stop by as my first guest of 2016.
Change the Word: What was your inspiration for writing Plan Bea?
Hilary Grossman: My good friend and neighbor lost his wife to Cancer a few years ago. About a year after she passed away he met and fell in love with another woman. At first, it was difficult for me to see him with her. But as their relationship developed I witnessed changes in him. He took up new hobbies and seemed happier than I ever saw him. Their relationship got me thinking about the power of second chance romance. Could falling in love allow a cold, stubborn, and selfish women open her heart back up to her family?
CTW: Which character in this book would you most like to grab a happy hour drink with and why?
HG: I probably should say Annabel, my main character. But she wouldn’t be whom I would honestly choose. Hands down, I would pick Walter, Annabel’s mother’s fiancé. He is my absolute favorite character in the book! He is a warm hearted and funny man who just puts the people around him at ease. He has gone through a lot in his life, and I would love to hear all about it over a cocktail. Also, if I needed some fatherly advice, I know he would be the kind of man to help…
CTW: What was your favorite part about telling this story?
HG: I have two. I loved the dysfunctional relationship that Annabel and her mother Beatrice had. I enjoyed creating Bea, who really is an unlikeable woman. But overtime, both women grow and evolve. I loved seeing the change in them. Some of what happened to them I didn’t see coming. Also I love the twist ending. Truth be told, I came up with the end first and then had to figure out the beginning and the middle.
CTW: What is the biggest challenge you face as a writer and how do you overcome it?
HG: My biggest challenge is a problem I think we all suffer from - lack of time. I have a very high-pressure day job where I work very long hours. I find it almost impossible to write during the week. I try to make up for it on the weekends, where I have been known to spend a full day pounding on my keyboard. I try to not put myself under too much pressure to write…
CTW: What are three things you need when you sit down to write?
HG: Um… I guess I am more laid back than I thought. All I really need to write, besides my computer obviously, is a bottle of water. I love it if my cat, Lucy, keeps me company. But usually she prefers to bird watch or nap in a different room.
CTW: Where do you draw motivation to keep writing?
HG: Reviews and reader’s feedback motivates me to keep writing. Nothing means more to me then when someone reaches out to me to discuss one of my books or share a story about how their lives were similar to one of the stories. Also, I find writing very soothing. When I am under stress, writing is often the only thing that calms me down.
CTW: What has been the best lesson you've learned since publishing your first novel?
HG: The best lesson I have learned is to not be afraid to ask for help and ask questions. I am blown away by how supportive authors are with their time and knowledge.
CTW: What is one piece of advice you would offer an author just starting out?
HG: The advice I would give is to develop a thick skin. When you write a book, you need to be prepared for the fact that not everyone is going to love your work, your characters, or your story. Sometimes reviews can really hurt, and you will want to run into the bathroom, cry and never write again. But don’t let them get to you. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, and just because one person didn’t love your work doesn’t mean there is something wrong with it. After all, books are like food. Just because I love super spicy food doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with someone who prefers their food mild.
CTW: What is one resolution or goal you have for the new year?
HG: My resolution is the same one I have had for the last few years… Hopefully one day I will accomplish it. I am going to try and not sweat all the small stuff. I take things a bit too seriously and put unneeded extra pressure on myself.
CTW: What's up next for you and your writing career?
HG: Up next is Plan Cee, the sequel to Plan Bea. Cecelia Reynolds is Annabel’s best friend. Twenty years have passed since she last saw Keith, the man of her dreams. When he appears at the wedding she is left wondering if she abandon her present for her past… All the characters from Plan Bea will return plus some new ones…
About the Book
Could falling in love allow a cold, stubborn, and selfish woman to open her heart back up to her family?
Beatrice Buchanan has spent more years than she can remember distancing herself from everyone close to her. She has no relationship with her grandchildren and the only time she speaks to her daughter is during her weekly fifteen-minute commute to the nail salon. When Bea meets Walter on a cruise she realizes there may be more to life than designer clothes and impressing the ladies at her country club.
We live our entire lives thinking we know those closest to us. But do we ever really?
On the outside, Annabel O'Conner has it all - the perfect husband, two adorable children, and an amazing job. The only thing missing is her mother's love. When Bea begs her daughter to help plan her wedding, Annabel reluctantly agrees. Little does she know the impact of her decision or the surprise that is in store for her!
This emotional and honest women's contemporary fiction novel will tug at your heartstrings and the twist ending will shock you.
Buy the BookAmazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
About the Author
Hilary Grossman loves to find humor in everyday life. She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and high heel shoes. She likens life to a game of dodge ball - she tries to keep as many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. When she isn't writing, blogging, or shoe shopping she is the CFO of a beverage alcohol importer. She lives on the beach in Long Island.
Connect with HilaryFacebook | Twitter | Instagram | Blog
*** Let's keep in touch. Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. ***
Change the Word: What was your inspiration for writing Plan Bea?Hilary Grossman: My good friend and neighbor lost his wife to Cancer a few years ago. About a year after she passed away he met and fell in love with another woman. At first, it was difficult for me to see him with her. But as their relationship developed I witnessed changes in him. He took up new hobbies and seemed happier than I ever saw him. Their relationship got me thinking about the power of second chance romance. Could falling in love allow a cold, stubborn, and selfish women open her heart back up to her family?
CTW: Which character in this book would you most like to grab a happy hour drink with and why?
HG: I probably should say Annabel, my main character. But she wouldn’t be whom I would honestly choose. Hands down, I would pick Walter, Annabel’s mother’s fiancé. He is my absolute favorite character in the book! He is a warm hearted and funny man who just puts the people around him at ease. He has gone through a lot in his life, and I would love to hear all about it over a cocktail. Also, if I needed some fatherly advice, I know he would be the kind of man to help…
CTW: What was your favorite part about telling this story?
HG: I have two. I loved the dysfunctional relationship that Annabel and her mother Beatrice had. I enjoyed creating Bea, who really is an unlikeable woman. But overtime, both women grow and evolve. I loved seeing the change in them. Some of what happened to them I didn’t see coming. Also I love the twist ending. Truth be told, I came up with the end first and then had to figure out the beginning and the middle.
CTW: What is the biggest challenge you face as a writer and how do you overcome it?
HG: My biggest challenge is a problem I think we all suffer from - lack of time. I have a very high-pressure day job where I work very long hours. I find it almost impossible to write during the week. I try to make up for it on the weekends, where I have been known to spend a full day pounding on my keyboard. I try to not put myself under too much pressure to write…
CTW: What are three things you need when you sit down to write?
HG: Um… I guess I am more laid back than I thought. All I really need to write, besides my computer obviously, is a bottle of water. I love it if my cat, Lucy, keeps me company. But usually she prefers to bird watch or nap in a different room.
CTW: Where do you draw motivation to keep writing?
HG: Reviews and reader’s feedback motivates me to keep writing. Nothing means more to me then when someone reaches out to me to discuss one of my books or share a story about how their lives were similar to one of the stories. Also, I find writing very soothing. When I am under stress, writing is often the only thing that calms me down.
CTW: What has been the best lesson you've learned since publishing your first novel?
HG: The best lesson I have learned is to not be afraid to ask for help and ask questions. I am blown away by how supportive authors are with their time and knowledge.
CTW: What is one piece of advice you would offer an author just starting out?
HG: The advice I would give is to develop a thick skin. When you write a book, you need to be prepared for the fact that not everyone is going to love your work, your characters, or your story. Sometimes reviews can really hurt, and you will want to run into the bathroom, cry and never write again. But don’t let them get to you. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, and just because one person didn’t love your work doesn’t mean there is something wrong with it. After all, books are like food. Just because I love super spicy food doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with someone who prefers their food mild.
CTW: What is one resolution or goal you have for the new year?
HG: My resolution is the same one I have had for the last few years… Hopefully one day I will accomplish it. I am going to try and not sweat all the small stuff. I take things a bit too seriously and put unneeded extra pressure on myself.
CTW: What's up next for you and your writing career?
HG: Up next is Plan Cee, the sequel to Plan Bea. Cecelia Reynolds is Annabel’s best friend. Twenty years have passed since she last saw Keith, the man of her dreams. When he appears at the wedding she is left wondering if she abandon her present for her past… All the characters from Plan Bea will return plus some new ones…
About the Book
Could falling in love allow a cold, stubborn, and selfish woman to open her heart back up to her family?
Beatrice Buchanan has spent more years than she can remember distancing herself from everyone close to her. She has no relationship with her grandchildren and the only time she speaks to her daughter is during her weekly fifteen-minute commute to the nail salon. When Bea meets Walter on a cruise she realizes there may be more to life than designer clothes and impressing the ladies at her country club.
We live our entire lives thinking we know those closest to us. But do we ever really?
On the outside, Annabel O'Conner has it all - the perfect husband, two adorable children, and an amazing job. The only thing missing is her mother's love. When Bea begs her daughter to help plan her wedding, Annabel reluctantly agrees. Little does she know the impact of her decision or the surprise that is in store for her!
This emotional and honest women's contemporary fiction novel will tug at your heartstrings and the twist ending will shock you.
Buy the BookAmazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
About the Author
Hilary Grossman loves to find humor in everyday life. She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and high heel shoes. She likens life to a game of dodge ball - she tries to keep as many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. When she isn't writing, blogging, or shoe shopping she is the CFO of a beverage alcohol importer. She lives on the beach in Long Island.Connect with HilaryFacebook | Twitter | Instagram | Blog
*** Let's keep in touch. Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. ***
December 23, 2015
12 days of reading recap
Blogger's Note: This will be my last post for 2015. After releasing The Marrying Type, First & Goal, and All I Want For Christmas and working on my upcoming titles due for release in 2016, I am taking off the rest of the year to relax and reboot so we can start off the new year on a good note. Thanks to each and every one of you for your ongoing support through the years. I wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday season. See you next year!
Thanks for following along the past couple of weeks as I highlighted some of my favorite reads from 2015. In case you missed any of them, here's a quick recap:
Day 1: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her—and she’s forced to decide what her next move should be.
Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.
A passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance, Maybe Someday will immerse readers in Sydney’s tumultuous world from the very first page.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 2: Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
From the author of the beloved New York Times bestselling book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and the creator and star of The Mindy Project comes a collection of essays that are as hilarious and insightful as they are deeply personal.
In Why Not Me?, Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it’s falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you’re constantly reminded that no one looks like you.
In “How to Look Spectacular: A Starlet’s Confessions,” Kaling gives her tongue-in-cheek secrets for surefire on-camera beauty, (“Your natural hair color may be appropriate for your skin tone, but this isn’t the land of appropriate–this is Hollywood, baby. Out here, a dark-skinned woman’s traditional hair color is honey blonde.”) “Player” tells the story of Kaling being seduced and dumped by a female friend in L.A. (“I had been replaced by a younger model. And now they had matching bangs.”) In “Unlikely Leading Lady,” she muses on America’s fixation with the weight of actresses, (“Most women we see onscreen are either so thin that they’re walking clavicles or so huge that their only scenes involve them breaking furniture.”) And in “Soup Snakes,” Kaling spills some secrets on her relationship with her ex-boyfriend and close friend, B.J. Novak (“I will freely admit: my relationship with B.J. Novak is weird as hell.”)
Mindy turns the anxieties, the glamour, and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into a laugh-out-loud funny collection of essays that anyone who’s ever been at a turning point in their life or career can relate to. And those who’ve never been at a turning point can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 3: Peri in Progress by Cat Lavoie
After a disastrous thirty-first birthday party where she gets stood-up by a man she isn’t supposed to be dating, Peri McKenna decides it’s time to change what hasn’t been working—which is pretty much everything. Her love life is going nowhere fast, she’s bored to tears by a job that makes her the office pariah, and the lifelong junk food addiction that used to be somewhat quirky is now positively problematic. To top it all off, her newly-purchased home is falling apart and wishful thinking hasn’t done much to fix the leaky roof.
It’s time be an adult now that she’s officially ‘thirty-something.’
But when the first step of Peri’s self-improvement plan backfires, she starts to wonder if change might be overrated.
Enter Milo Preston, an up-and-coming chef who’s in town to take over a local restaurant. When Peri and Milo begin working together, she finds it hard to ignore his easy charm and captivating emerald-green eyes. Since Milo is her best friend’s estranged brother, Peri has to keep reminding herself that he is completely off-limits. As they grow closer, Milo introduces Peri to new foods, the joy (and pain) of jogging, and makes her think her luck might finally be turning.
But when the past catches up with them, Peri finds herself back at square one. Will she be able to sort herself out—or will the roof cave in on her once and for all?
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 4: The End Game by Kate McCarthy
“Professional athletes are pillars of their respective communities. They are heroes in the eyes of boys and girls and are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that positively represents their community.”
The public loves a good scandal. Seeing someone fall from the pinnacle of success makes a great headline. No one knows that better than I do. What started out as a promising career in college football, spiraled into scandal and shame.
But being a hero is easier said then done. Especially when there are those who expected to see the great Brody Madden fail. I craved nothing except being the best—willing to do anything to prove them wrong. But I went too far, and I tried too hard, and it broke me.
“At the time of going to print, Jordan Elliott was unavailable for comment.”
I met Brody Madden in my senior year of college. An Australian native on an international scholarship, I was the female soccer sensation with stars in her eyes and no room for a hotshot wide receiver with a chip on his shoulder.
But a heart bursting with ambition and a driving fire to succeed isn’t made of stone. I became his strength, his obsession, and the greatest love of his life. Only I wasn’t there when he needed me most.
This is a story about love and a game that takes everything. Where the path to glory is paved with sacrifice. Where pressure makes you, or breaks you, and triumph is born in the ashes of failure. Where two people’s end game will change everything.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Day 5: Out of My League by Brea Brown
Maura Richards has a plan for her life—it involves not having a plan. From biding her time at a long-term temp job to ending relationships before they get too serious, Maura’s only commitment is to being noncommittal.
When she meets Jet Knox, the starting quarterback of her beloved hometown football team, she dismisses their encounter as a thrilling brush with celebrity she can drag out at parties for a few years, and nothing more. Jet has other ideas. He’s someone who’s made a living setting—and scoring—goals. Wooing Maura is his latest objective.
Everyone in Maura’s life seems to have a take on her relationship with the All-Pro QB, but with so many swirling opinions, rumors, and doubts, Maura must rely on the judgment of the very last person she feels she can trust: herself.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 6: Now a Major Motion Picture by Stacey Wideower
Eight years after her fiancé's betrayal rips her world apart, Amelia Wright is at the pinnacle of career success. Using heartbreak as her muse, she's authored Shattered, a best-selling dystopian series that's headed for the big screen. Though she writes under a pen name, she's secretly scared Noah Bradley, her ex-fiancé, will recognize himself in her work, and, worse yet, realize she's never moved on.
But in a world of Instagram and iPhones, Amelia quickly learns it isn't easy to hide in plain sight-especially after a paparazzo steals a shot of Amelia in a steamy encounter with the star of her upcoming movie. At the height of the tabloid frenzy, Amelia uncovers a secret about Noah's betrayal and finds herself faced with a choice. Will she move forward with her new life of Louboutins, limos, and bullying paparazzi or succumb to the pull of a past she thought she'd finally written off?
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 7: Going Off Script by Giuliana Rancic
Giuliana Rancic is best known for interviewing A-listers on the red carpet and E! News, skewering their shocking style choices on Fashion Police, and giving viewers a front row seat to her marriage and family life on her reality show, Giuliana & Bill. What fans may not know is that she learned English from Eddie Murphy, got her American citizenship so she could be a beauty queen, and used to have a bad habit of stealing cars for fun.
Giuliana bares this and so much more in her hilarious, warm, and inspiring memoir, Going Off Script. From a young age she dreamed of being a TV anchorwoman but, because of her inclination toward mischief and away from schoolwork, her path to her dream job was far from straight. After a fateful (and mortifying) encounter with the late Senator Ted Kennedy, she learned that Hollywood news was where she belonged. Thankfully for readers, this epiphany led her to a bounty of LA misadventures (featuring notables such as Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe) and an entertaining behind-the-scenes perspective on what our favorite celebrities are really like.
In spite of her glamorous Hollywood life, however, Giuliana could not escape some rockier times, including her battles with infertility and breast cancer. Here, for the first time, she reveals the whole truth behind her well-publicized struggles, and the highly controversial decisions she had to make. And, of course, at the heart of it all are the two loves of her life who keep her strong through everything, her husband Bill and her son, Duke.
Candid, funny, and poignant, Going Off Script is an autobiography that proves you don’t always have to follow the rules to get the life you’ve always dreamed of.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 8: Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly Madison
A former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner describes how her years inside the Playboy Mansion went from a fairytale of A-list celebrity parties to an oppressive regime of strict rules, scheduled sex, and a total loss of identity, so much so that she even contemplated suicide.
Find the Book on Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads
Day 9: Party Girl by Rachel Hollis
Landon Brinkley’s dreams are all coming true. She’s landed an internship with the fabulous Selah Smith, event planner for the Hollywood elite, taking her from small-town Texas to the bright lights of LA. Landon soon finds herself in a world in which spending a million dollars on an event—even a child’s birthday party—is de rigueur and the whims of celebrity clients are life-and-death matters. At first, the thrill of working on A-list parties and celebrity weddings is enough to get Landon through the seventy-five-hour workweeks and endless abuse at the hands of her mercurial boss. But when the reality of the business reveals itself, she’s forced to make a choice: do whatever it takes to get ahead, or stay true to herself.
Drawing on the author’s real-life experiences as an event planner to the stars, Party Girl takes readers on an adventure among Hollywood’s most beautiful—and most outrageous—peopl
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Day 10: Jane Eyre by Jane Austen
Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead, subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed.
With a heroine full of yearning, the dangerous secrets she encounters, and the choices she finally makes, Charlotte Bronte's innovative and enduring romantic novel continues to engage and provoke readers.
Day 11: Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.
Find the Book on Amazon
Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 12: Heart-Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis Graves
When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult. Facing the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away, she is grateful for the anonymous donations that begin appearing at the end of each month. Determined to identify and thank her secret benefactor, she launches a plan and catches Ian —a charismatic hacker with a Robin Hood complex—in the act.
Ian intrigues Kate in a way no man ever has. But after learning he’s snooped around on her personal computer, she demands retribution. Impressed with her tolerance and captivated by her spirit, he complies and begins to slowly charm his way past her defenses. Time spent with Ian is never boring, and Kate soon finds herself falling for the mysterious hacker.
But Ian has enemies and they’re growing restless. In the hacking world, exploiting a target’s weakness is paramount, and no price is too high to stop an attack. And when Kate learns exactly how much Ian has paid, she’ll discover just how strong her love is for the man who has hacked his way into her heart.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Now that I've shared some of my favorite reads from 2015, it's your turn--which books make your list?
View my previous 12 Days of series here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
Thanks for following along the past couple of weeks as I highlighted some of my favorite reads from 2015. In case you missed any of them, here's a quick recap:
Day 1: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her—and she’s forced to decide what her next move should be.Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.
A passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance, Maybe Someday will immerse readers in Sydney’s tumultuous world from the very first page.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 2: Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
From the author of the beloved New York Times bestselling book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and the creator and star of The Mindy Project comes a collection of essays that are as hilarious and insightful as they are deeply personal.In Why Not Me?, Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it’s falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you’re constantly reminded that no one looks like you.
In “How to Look Spectacular: A Starlet’s Confessions,” Kaling gives her tongue-in-cheek secrets for surefire on-camera beauty, (“Your natural hair color may be appropriate for your skin tone, but this isn’t the land of appropriate–this is Hollywood, baby. Out here, a dark-skinned woman’s traditional hair color is honey blonde.”) “Player” tells the story of Kaling being seduced and dumped by a female friend in L.A. (“I had been replaced by a younger model. And now they had matching bangs.”) In “Unlikely Leading Lady,” she muses on America’s fixation with the weight of actresses, (“Most women we see onscreen are either so thin that they’re walking clavicles or so huge that their only scenes involve them breaking furniture.”) And in “Soup Snakes,” Kaling spills some secrets on her relationship with her ex-boyfriend and close friend, B.J. Novak (“I will freely admit: my relationship with B.J. Novak is weird as hell.”)
Mindy turns the anxieties, the glamour, and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into a laugh-out-loud funny collection of essays that anyone who’s ever been at a turning point in their life or career can relate to. And those who’ve never been at a turning point can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 3: Peri in Progress by Cat Lavoie
After a disastrous thirty-first birthday party where she gets stood-up by a man she isn’t supposed to be dating, Peri McKenna decides it’s time to change what hasn’t been working—which is pretty much everything. Her love life is going nowhere fast, she’s bored to tears by a job that makes her the office pariah, and the lifelong junk food addiction that used to be somewhat quirky is now positively problematic. To top it all off, her newly-purchased home is falling apart and wishful thinking hasn’t done much to fix the leaky roof. It’s time be an adult now that she’s officially ‘thirty-something.’
But when the first step of Peri’s self-improvement plan backfires, she starts to wonder if change might be overrated.
Enter Milo Preston, an up-and-coming chef who’s in town to take over a local restaurant. When Peri and Milo begin working together, she finds it hard to ignore his easy charm and captivating emerald-green eyes. Since Milo is her best friend’s estranged brother, Peri has to keep reminding herself that he is completely off-limits. As they grow closer, Milo introduces Peri to new foods, the joy (and pain) of jogging, and makes her think her luck might finally be turning.
But when the past catches up with them, Peri finds herself back at square one. Will she be able to sort herself out—or will the roof cave in on her once and for all?
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 4: The End Game by Kate McCarthy
“Professional athletes are pillars of their respective communities. They are heroes in the eyes of boys and girls and are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that positively represents their community.”The public loves a good scandal. Seeing someone fall from the pinnacle of success makes a great headline. No one knows that better than I do. What started out as a promising career in college football, spiraled into scandal and shame.
But being a hero is easier said then done. Especially when there are those who expected to see the great Brody Madden fail. I craved nothing except being the best—willing to do anything to prove them wrong. But I went too far, and I tried too hard, and it broke me.
“At the time of going to print, Jordan Elliott was unavailable for comment.”
I met Brody Madden in my senior year of college. An Australian native on an international scholarship, I was the female soccer sensation with stars in her eyes and no room for a hotshot wide receiver with a chip on his shoulder.
But a heart bursting with ambition and a driving fire to succeed isn’t made of stone. I became his strength, his obsession, and the greatest love of his life. Only I wasn’t there when he needed me most.
This is a story about love and a game that takes everything. Where the path to glory is paved with sacrifice. Where pressure makes you, or breaks you, and triumph is born in the ashes of failure. Where two people’s end game will change everything.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Day 5: Out of My League by Brea Brown
Maura Richards has a plan for her life—it involves not having a plan. From biding her time at a long-term temp job to ending relationships before they get too serious, Maura’s only commitment is to being noncommittal.When she meets Jet Knox, the starting quarterback of her beloved hometown football team, she dismisses their encounter as a thrilling brush with celebrity she can drag out at parties for a few years, and nothing more. Jet has other ideas. He’s someone who’s made a living setting—and scoring—goals. Wooing Maura is his latest objective.
Everyone in Maura’s life seems to have a take on her relationship with the All-Pro QB, but with so many swirling opinions, rumors, and doubts, Maura must rely on the judgment of the very last person she feels she can trust: herself.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 6: Now a Major Motion Picture by Stacey Wideower
Eight years after her fiancé's betrayal rips her world apart, Amelia Wright is at the pinnacle of career success. Using heartbreak as her muse, she's authored Shattered, a best-selling dystopian series that's headed for the big screen. Though she writes under a pen name, she's secretly scared Noah Bradley, her ex-fiancé, will recognize himself in her work, and, worse yet, realize she's never moved on.But in a world of Instagram and iPhones, Amelia quickly learns it isn't easy to hide in plain sight-especially after a paparazzo steals a shot of Amelia in a steamy encounter with the star of her upcoming movie. At the height of the tabloid frenzy, Amelia uncovers a secret about Noah's betrayal and finds herself faced with a choice. Will she move forward with her new life of Louboutins, limos, and bullying paparazzi or succumb to the pull of a past she thought she'd finally written off?
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 7: Going Off Script by Giuliana Rancic
Giuliana Rancic is best known for interviewing A-listers on the red carpet and E! News, skewering their shocking style choices on Fashion Police, and giving viewers a front row seat to her marriage and family life on her reality show, Giuliana & Bill. What fans may not know is that she learned English from Eddie Murphy, got her American citizenship so she could be a beauty queen, and used to have a bad habit of stealing cars for fun. Giuliana bares this and so much more in her hilarious, warm, and inspiring memoir, Going Off Script. From a young age she dreamed of being a TV anchorwoman but, because of her inclination toward mischief and away from schoolwork, her path to her dream job was far from straight. After a fateful (and mortifying) encounter with the late Senator Ted Kennedy, she learned that Hollywood news was where she belonged. Thankfully for readers, this epiphany led her to a bounty of LA misadventures (featuring notables such as Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe) and an entertaining behind-the-scenes perspective on what our favorite celebrities are really like.
In spite of her glamorous Hollywood life, however, Giuliana could not escape some rockier times, including her battles with infertility and breast cancer. Here, for the first time, she reveals the whole truth behind her well-publicized struggles, and the highly controversial decisions she had to make. And, of course, at the heart of it all are the two loves of her life who keep her strong through everything, her husband Bill and her son, Duke.
Candid, funny, and poignant, Going Off Script is an autobiography that proves you don’t always have to follow the rules to get the life you’ve always dreamed of.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 8: Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly Madison
A former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner describes how her years inside the Playboy Mansion went from a fairytale of A-list celebrity parties to an oppressive regime of strict rules, scheduled sex, and a total loss of identity, so much so that she even contemplated suicide.Find the Book on Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads
Day 9: Party Girl by Rachel Hollis
Landon Brinkley’s dreams are all coming true. She’s landed an internship with the fabulous Selah Smith, event planner for the Hollywood elite, taking her from small-town Texas to the bright lights of LA. Landon soon finds herself in a world in which spending a million dollars on an event—even a child’s birthday party—is de rigueur and the whims of celebrity clients are life-and-death matters. At first, the thrill of working on A-list parties and celebrity weddings is enough to get Landon through the seventy-five-hour workweeks and endless abuse at the hands of her mercurial boss. But when the reality of the business reveals itself, she’s forced to make a choice: do whatever it takes to get ahead, or stay true to herself.Drawing on the author’s real-life experiences as an event planner to the stars, Party Girl takes readers on an adventure among Hollywood’s most beautiful—and most outrageous—peopl
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Day 10: Jane Eyre by Jane Austen
Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead, subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed.With a heroine full of yearning, the dangerous secrets she encounters, and the choices she finally makes, Charlotte Bronte's innovative and enduring romantic novel continues to engage and provoke readers.
Day 11: Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.Find the Book on Amazon
Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Day 12: Heart-Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis Graves
When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult. Facing the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away, she is grateful for the anonymous donations that begin appearing at the end of each month. Determined to identify and thank her secret benefactor, she launches a plan and catches Ian —a charismatic hacker with a Robin Hood complex—in the act. Ian intrigues Kate in a way no man ever has. But after learning he’s snooped around on her personal computer, she demands retribution. Impressed with her tolerance and captivated by her spirit, he complies and begins to slowly charm his way past her defenses. Time spent with Ian is never boring, and Kate soon finds herself falling for the mysterious hacker.
But Ian has enemies and they’re growing restless. In the hacking world, exploiting a target’s weakness is paramount, and no price is too high to stop an attack. And when Kate learns exactly how much Ian has paid, she’ll discover just how strong her love is for the man who has hacked his way into her heart.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Now that I've shared some of my favorite reads from 2015, it's your turn--which books make your list?
View my previous 12 Days of series here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
December 22, 2015
12 days of reading: 'heart-shaped hack' by tracey garvis graves
As 2015 comes to a close, I'm looking back at and celebrating some of my favorites reads from the year via the 12 Days of Reading. For these final two days, I'm featuring two books that I haven't read yet, but are on my "must-read-before-the-end-of-the-year" list. Enjoy!
Day 12: Heart-Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis Graves
I totally meant to read this book sooner, but as way leads to way (or more specifically time gets away from you) this is one story I haven't done yet, and I can't wait.
About the Book
When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult. Facing the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away, she is grateful for the anonymous donations that begin appearing at the end of each month. Determined to identify and thank her secret benefactor, she launches a plan and catches Ian —a charismatic hacker with a Robin Hood complex—in the act.
Ian intrigues Kate in a way no man ever has. But after learning he’s snooped around on her personal computer, she demands retribution. Impressed with her tolerance and captivated by her spirit, he complies and begins to slowly charm his way past her defenses. Time spent with Ian is never boring, and Kate soon finds herself falling for the mysterious hacker.
But Ian has enemies and they’re growing restless. In the hacking world, exploiting a target’s weakness is paramount, and no price is too high to stop an attack. And when Kate learns exactly how much Ian has paid, she’ll discover just how strong her love is for the man who has hacked his way into her heart.
I'm a big fan of TGG. Not only was she one of the most genuinely wonderful authors I've ever had the pleasure to meet, but she's just so talented. I've never been disappointed with any of her books, and I have no doubt I will love this one, too.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--
and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
Day 12: Heart-Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis Graves
I totally meant to read this book sooner, but as way leads to way (or more specifically time gets away from you) this is one story I haven't done yet, and I can't wait.
About the Book
When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult. Facing the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away, she is grateful for the anonymous donations that begin appearing at the end of each month. Determined to identify and thank her secret benefactor, she launches a plan and catches Ian —a charismatic hacker with a Robin Hood complex—in the act. Ian intrigues Kate in a way no man ever has. But after learning he’s snooped around on her personal computer, she demands retribution. Impressed with her tolerance and captivated by her spirit, he complies and begins to slowly charm his way past her defenses. Time spent with Ian is never boring, and Kate soon finds herself falling for the mysterious hacker.
But Ian has enemies and they’re growing restless. In the hacking world, exploiting a target’s weakness is paramount, and no price is too high to stop an attack. And when Kate learns exactly how much Ian has paid, she’ll discover just how strong her love is for the man who has hacked his way into her heart.
I'm a big fan of TGG. Not only was she one of the most genuinely wonderful authors I've ever had the pleasure to meet, but she's just so talented. I've never been disappointed with any of her books, and I have no doubt I will love this one, too.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--
and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
December 21, 2015
12 days of reading: 'finding audrey' by sophie kinsella
As 2015 comes to a close, I'm looking back at and celebrating some of my favorites reads from the year via the 12 Days of Reading. For these final two days, I'm featuring two books that I haven't read yet, but are on my "must-read-before-the-end-of-the-year" list. Enjoy!
Day 11: Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
The fabulously fantastic Sophie Kinsella released a young adult novel this year, and the premise sounds exactly like something I would have liked to read when I was a young adult. Heck, it's still way applicable for me as an alleged grownup.
About the Book
An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.
I really like the idea of a book for young adults (or any readers) that tackles anxiety disorders. I wish a book like this would have been around in my younger days (or even a year ago) to help me feel like I maybe wasn't quite so alone.
I'll be sure to share my thoughts on this read on Goodreads once I have finished it.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--
and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
Day 11: Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
The fabulously fantastic Sophie Kinsella released a young adult novel this year, and the premise sounds exactly like something I would have liked to read when I was a young adult. Heck, it's still way applicable for me as an alleged grownup.
About the Book
An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.I really like the idea of a book for young adults (or any readers) that tackles anxiety disorders. I wish a book like this would have been around in my younger days (or even a year ago) to help me feel like I maybe wasn't quite so alone.
I'll be sure to share my thoughts on this read on Goodreads once I have finished it.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--
and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
December 18, 2015
12 days of reading: jane eyre by charlotte bronte
As 2015 comes to a close, I'm looking back at and celebrating some of my favorites reads from the year via the 12 Days of Reading. Enjoy!
Day 10: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
This year I finally read a book I'd been meaning to read FOREVER--Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
About the Book
Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead, subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed.
With a heroine full of yearning, the dangerous secrets she encounters, and the choices she finally makes, Charlotte Bronte's innovative and enduring romantic novel continues to engage and provoke readers.
I've been familiar with the story for years--heck I've watched the Michael Fassbender adaptation of the movie more times than I can remember--but this year I actually sat down to read the story.
And I kind of loved it.
If Jane Austen is the mother of romance and chick lit, well, I'm thinking Charlotte is maybe the original young adult/new adult mama. And I mean that as a compliment. Though I hate comparing apples and oranges (along with avoiding cliches), Bronte's work definitely has more angst and emotion than Austen's works. I particularly hate bringing this up because Char somewhat famously criticized Austen for her lack of emotion, but whatevs.
I found Jane to be a relatable character. I found Mr. Rochester to be super hunky. (We can talk the political correctness of that if you like, but I'm still going to think he's hot.) And I liked the exploration we took of Jane's life through her formative years until she found her happily ever after.
This book took me a while to get through--not because it was slow, but there was a lot of it. Getting to the end felt like a great accomplishment. Then again, sometimes it's just really nice to read a book that's been on your to-be-read pile for ages and ages.
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
Day 10: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
This year I finally read a book I'd been meaning to read FOREVER--Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
About the Book
Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead, subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed.With a heroine full of yearning, the dangerous secrets she encounters, and the choices she finally makes, Charlotte Bronte's innovative and enduring romantic novel continues to engage and provoke readers.
I've been familiar with the story for years--heck I've watched the Michael Fassbender adaptation of the movie more times than I can remember--but this year I actually sat down to read the story.
And I kind of loved it.
If Jane Austen is the mother of romance and chick lit, well, I'm thinking Charlotte is maybe the original young adult/new adult mama. And I mean that as a compliment. Though I hate comparing apples and oranges (along with avoiding cliches), Bronte's work definitely has more angst and emotion than Austen's works. I particularly hate bringing this up because Char somewhat famously criticized Austen for her lack of emotion, but whatevs.
I found Jane to be a relatable character. I found Mr. Rochester to be super hunky. (We can talk the political correctness of that if you like, but I'm still going to think he's hot.) And I liked the exploration we took of Jane's life through her formative years until she found her happily ever after.
This book took me a while to get through--not because it was slow, but there was a lot of it. Getting to the end felt like a great accomplishment. Then again, sometimes it's just really nice to read a book that's been on your to-be-read pile for ages and ages.
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
December 17, 2015
12 days of reading: 'party girl' by rachel hollis
As 2015 comes to a close, I'm looking back at and celebrating some of my favorites reads from the year via the 12 Days of Reading. Enjoy!
Day 9: Party Girl by Rachel Hollis
I'm so glad I read Rachel Hollis's debut novel Party Girl. It's a fun, fast-paced read with a quirky and adorkable leading lady who is easy to love.
About the Book
Landon Brinkley’s dreams are all coming true. She’s landed an internship with the fabulous Selah Smith, event planner for the Hollywood elite, taking her from small-town Texas to the bright lights of LA. Landon soon finds herself in a world in which spending a million dollars on an event—even a child’s birthday party—is de rigueur and the whims of celebrity clients are life-and-death matters. At first, the thrill of working on A-list parties and celebrity weddings is enough to get Landon through the seventy-five-hour workweeks and endless abuse at the hands of her mercurial boss. But when the reality of the business reveals itself, she’s forced to make a choice: do whatever it takes to get ahead, or stay true to herself.
Drawing on the author’s real-life experiences as an event planner to the stars, Party Girl takes readers on an adventure among Hollywood’s most beautiful—and most outrageous—people, revealing the ugly side of Hollywood’s prettiest parties.
After following Rachel Hollis and her super fantastic website on Facebook this year, I *finally* read Party Girl this month, and it was such a fun experience.
Landon is a small town girl with big L.A. dreams. She was so relatable and driven that I instantly found myself rooting her on to personal and professional success. I was caught up in her world through the vivid and often laugh-out-loud descriptions of the drama surrounding a fab party planner. Throw in some awesome besties and a hunky love interest to crush on, and this book had everything I could want.
I'll definitely be checking out the rest of Hollis's books. And if you aren't following her on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram you totally should. Rachel's posts are so positive and fun, I always look forward to seeing her in my feed.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--
and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
Day 9: Party Girl by Rachel Hollis
I'm so glad I read Rachel Hollis's debut novel Party Girl. It's a fun, fast-paced read with a quirky and adorkable leading lady who is easy to love.
About the Book
Landon Brinkley’s dreams are all coming true. She’s landed an internship with the fabulous Selah Smith, event planner for the Hollywood elite, taking her from small-town Texas to the bright lights of LA. Landon soon finds herself in a world in which spending a million dollars on an event—even a child’s birthday party—is de rigueur and the whims of celebrity clients are life-and-death matters. At first, the thrill of working on A-list parties and celebrity weddings is enough to get Landon through the seventy-five-hour workweeks and endless abuse at the hands of her mercurial boss. But when the reality of the business reveals itself, she’s forced to make a choice: do whatever it takes to get ahead, or stay true to herself.Drawing on the author’s real-life experiences as an event planner to the stars, Party Girl takes readers on an adventure among Hollywood’s most beautiful—and most outrageous—people, revealing the ugly side of Hollywood’s prettiest parties.
After following Rachel Hollis and her super fantastic website on Facebook this year, I *finally* read Party Girl this month, and it was such a fun experience.
Landon is a small town girl with big L.A. dreams. She was so relatable and driven that I instantly found myself rooting her on to personal and professional success. I was caught up in her world through the vivid and often laugh-out-loud descriptions of the drama surrounding a fab party planner. Throw in some awesome besties and a hunky love interest to crush on, and this book had everything I could want.
I'll definitely be checking out the rest of Hollis's books. And if you aren't following her on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram you totally should. Rachel's posts are so positive and fun, I always look forward to seeing her in my feed.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--
and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
December 16, 2015
12 days of reading: 'down the rabbit hole' by holly madison
As 2015 comes to a close, I'm looking back at and celebrating some of my favorites reads from the year via the 12 Days of Reading. Enjoy!
Day 8: Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly Madison
The college student in me who binge-watched episodes of the Girls Next Door (then for the next couple of years sporadically followed along additional adventures in Holly's World and Kendra) couldn't resist reading Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny by Holly Madison.
About the Book
A former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner describes how her years inside the Playboy Mansion went from a fairytale of A-list celebrity parties to an oppressive regime of strict rules, scheduled sex, and a total loss of identity, so much so that she even contemplated suicide.
I received what I expected from reading this book--the revelation that what happens behind-the-scenes if a reality TV show isn't what you see on screen. I'll admit, I anticipated more dirt and flat-out name-calling, particularly with the outcry of contempt from some in the Playboy camp. I was also a little surprised by how much of the story took place after she left the mansion, but that was some of the most interesting to learn about.
I also know that this is only her side of the story, and we always know there are three sides: what he says, what she says, and the truth. And what she says made for an easy read that reminded me of the guilty pleasure I gained from tuning into E! regularly in the pre-Kardashian days. Fans of the show (and maybe even light beach reads) will likely find this entertaining of at least interesting.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--
and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
Day 8: Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly Madison
The college student in me who binge-watched episodes of the Girls Next Door (then for the next couple of years sporadically followed along additional adventures in Holly's World and Kendra) couldn't resist reading Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny by Holly Madison.
About the Book
A former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner describes how her years inside the Playboy Mansion went from a fairytale of A-list celebrity parties to an oppressive regime of strict rules, scheduled sex, and a total loss of identity, so much so that she even contemplated suicide.I received what I expected from reading this book--the revelation that what happens behind-the-scenes if a reality TV show isn't what you see on screen. I'll admit, I anticipated more dirt and flat-out name-calling, particularly with the outcry of contempt from some in the Playboy camp. I was also a little surprised by how much of the story took place after she left the mansion, but that was some of the most interesting to learn about.
I also know that this is only her side of the story, and we always know there are three sides: what he says, what she says, and the truth. And what she says made for an easy read that reminded me of the guilty pleasure I gained from tuning into E! regularly in the pre-Kardashian days. Fans of the show (and maybe even light beach reads) will likely find this entertaining of at least interesting.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--
and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
December 15, 2015
12 days of reading: 'going off script' by giuliana rancic
As 2015 comes to a close, I'm looking back at and celebrating some of my favorites reads from the year via the 12 Days of Reading. Enjoy!
Day 7: Going Off Script by Giuliana Rancic
As someone who used to watch E! somewhat obsessively (I've moved on to HGTV in recent years, because I have serious real estate envy, and I gave up the Kardashians several years ago) I've had plenty of exposure to Giuliana Rancic both as a reporter and anchor on E! News and on her own show Giuliana and Bill. So I was definitely interested in checking out her memoirs when they were released this summer.
About the Book
Giuliana Rancic is best known for interviewing A-listers on the red carpet and E! News, skewering their shocking style choices on Fashion Police, and giving viewers a front row seat to her marriage and family life on her reality show, Giuliana & Bill. What fans may not know is that she learned English from Eddie Murphy, got her American citizenship so she could be a beauty queen, and used to have a bad habit of stealing cars for fun.
Giuliana bares this and so much more in her hilarious, warm, and inspiring memoir, Going Off Script. From a young age she dreamed of being a TV anchorwoman but, because of her inclination toward mischief and away from schoolwork, her path to her dream job was far from straight. After a fateful (and mortifying) encounter with the late Senator Ted Kennedy, she learned that Hollywood news was where she belonged. Thankfully for readers, this epiphany led her to a bounty of LA misadventures (featuring notables such as Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe) and an entertaining behind-the-scenes perspective on what our favorite celebrities are really like.
In spite of her glamorous Hollywood life, however, Giuliana could not escape some rockier times, including her battles with infertility and breast cancer. Here, for the first time, she reveals the whole truth behind her well-publicized struggles, and the highly controversial decisions she had to make. And, of course, at the heart of it all are the two loves of her life who keep her strong through everything, her husband Bill and her son, Duke.
Candid, funny, and poignant, Going Off Script is an autobiography that proves you don’t always have to follow the rules to get the life you’ve always dreamed of.
There were many parts of this memoir that I didn't find too surprising. That Giuliana had worked fiercely to earn her spot at E! and had been willing to take risks. I watched for years, so I saw a lot of that happen. The parts that captured me most were how she candidly described what happened behind the scenes with her fertility struggles, her breast cancer diagnosis and the aftermath of both. Always a pillar of strength on screen and in the media, it was somewhat incredible to hear more about how hard she struggled to maintain that picture of calm when she really felt anything but.
This was a quick read, and one I found particularly interesting, because I've seen so much of Guiliana's career on screen, which is why it sticks out as one of my most notable reads of the year.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--
and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
Day 7: Going Off Script by Giuliana Rancic
As someone who used to watch E! somewhat obsessively (I've moved on to HGTV in recent years, because I have serious real estate envy, and I gave up the Kardashians several years ago) I've had plenty of exposure to Giuliana Rancic both as a reporter and anchor on E! News and on her own show Giuliana and Bill. So I was definitely interested in checking out her memoirs when they were released this summer.
About the Book
Giuliana Rancic is best known for interviewing A-listers on the red carpet and E! News, skewering their shocking style choices on Fashion Police, and giving viewers a front row seat to her marriage and family life on her reality show, Giuliana & Bill. What fans may not know is that she learned English from Eddie Murphy, got her American citizenship so she could be a beauty queen, and used to have a bad habit of stealing cars for fun. Giuliana bares this and so much more in her hilarious, warm, and inspiring memoir, Going Off Script. From a young age she dreamed of being a TV anchorwoman but, because of her inclination toward mischief and away from schoolwork, her path to her dream job was far from straight. After a fateful (and mortifying) encounter with the late Senator Ted Kennedy, she learned that Hollywood news was where she belonged. Thankfully for readers, this epiphany led her to a bounty of LA misadventures (featuring notables such as Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe) and an entertaining behind-the-scenes perspective on what our favorite celebrities are really like.
In spite of her glamorous Hollywood life, however, Giuliana could not escape some rockier times, including her battles with infertility and breast cancer. Here, for the first time, she reveals the whole truth behind her well-publicized struggles, and the highly controversial decisions she had to make. And, of course, at the heart of it all are the two loves of her life who keep her strong through everything, her husband Bill and her son, Duke.
Candid, funny, and poignant, Going Off Script is an autobiography that proves you don’t always have to follow the rules to get the life you’ve always dreamed of.
There were many parts of this memoir that I didn't find too surprising. That Giuliana had worked fiercely to earn her spot at E! and had been willing to take risks. I watched for years, so I saw a lot of that happen. The parts that captured me most were how she candidly described what happened behind the scenes with her fertility struggles, her breast cancer diagnosis and the aftermath of both. Always a pillar of strength on screen and in the media, it was somewhat incredible to hear more about how hard she struggled to maintain that picture of calm when she really felt anything but.
This was a quick read, and one I found particularly interesting, because I've seen so much of Guiliana's career on screen, which is why it sticks out as one of my most notable reads of the year.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--
and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
December 14, 2015
12 days of reading: 'now a major motion picture' by stacey wideower
As 2015 comes to a close, I'm looking back at and celebrating some of my favorites reads from the year via the 12 Days of Reading. Enjoy!
Day 6: Now a Major Motion Picture by Stacey Wideower
Stacey Wideower combines an inventive premise with relatable characters in Now A Major Motion Picture.
About the Book
Eight years after her fiancé's betrayal rips her world apart, Amelia Wright is at the pinnacle of career success. Using heartbreak as her muse, she's authored Shattered, a best-selling dystopian series that's headed for the big screen. Though she writes under a pen name, she's secretly scared Noah Bradley, her ex-fiancé, will recognize himself in her work, and, worse yet, realize she's never moved on.
But in a world of Instagram and iPhones, Amelia quickly learns it isn't easy to hide in plain sight-especially after a paparazzo steals a shot of Amelia in a steamy encounter with the star of her upcoming movie. At the height of the tabloid frenzy, Amelia uncovers a secret about Noah's betrayal and finds herself faced with a choice. Will she move forward with her new life of Louboutins, limos, and bullying paparazzi or succumb to the pull of a past she thought she'd finally written off?
Now A Major Motion Picture is a fun and fast-paced story about a woman coming to terms with old heartbreak and learning to love again while also dealing with becoming an instant celebrity based on the success of her works.
I loved the premise of this book. It spoke to me both as a writer and as a huge fan of epic book-turned movie franchises, like the Hunger Games (which we just bid farewell to with the final installment of the series). I'm also a longtime sucker for stories about the one who got away. While the concept drew me to the story, Amelia, Noah, and the rest of the characters kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next.
Intriguing and fast moving, this story kept my interest through the end and didn't disappoint. I'd highly recommend this read for my fellow chick lit fans who have an appreciation for behind the scenes glimpses of the real world meeting Hollywood.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--
and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
Day 6: Now a Major Motion Picture by Stacey Wideower
Stacey Wideower combines an inventive premise with relatable characters in Now A Major Motion Picture.
About the Book
Eight years after her fiancé's betrayal rips her world apart, Amelia Wright is at the pinnacle of career success. Using heartbreak as her muse, she's authored Shattered, a best-selling dystopian series that's headed for the big screen. Though she writes under a pen name, she's secretly scared Noah Bradley, her ex-fiancé, will recognize himself in her work, and, worse yet, realize she's never moved on.But in a world of Instagram and iPhones, Amelia quickly learns it isn't easy to hide in plain sight-especially after a paparazzo steals a shot of Amelia in a steamy encounter with the star of her upcoming movie. At the height of the tabloid frenzy, Amelia uncovers a secret about Noah's betrayal and finds herself faced with a choice. Will she move forward with her new life of Louboutins, limos, and bullying paparazzi or succumb to the pull of a past she thought she'd finally written off?
Now A Major Motion Picture is a fun and fast-paced story about a woman coming to terms with old heartbreak and learning to love again while also dealing with becoming an instant celebrity based on the success of her works.
I loved the premise of this book. It spoke to me both as a writer and as a huge fan of epic book-turned movie franchises, like the Hunger Games (which we just bid farewell to with the final installment of the series). I'm also a longtime sucker for stories about the one who got away. While the concept drew me to the story, Amelia, Noah, and the rest of the characters kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next.
Intriguing and fast moving, this story kept my interest through the end and didn't disappoint. I'd highly recommend this read for my fellow chick lit fans who have an appreciation for behind the scenes glimpses of the real world meeting Hollywood.
Find the Book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
View other books from this year's 12 Days of Reading list--
and my previous 12 Days of series--here.
Stay connected. "Like" Change the Word on Facebook. Follow my other adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive news updates via my e-newsletter.
