Josie Brown is back and she has a new book to give away!

**Giveaway is now closed**

Happy Spring Chick Lit Lovers! Lucky for us, author Josie Brown has stopped by CLC to charm us with her wit and offer some practical advice. I’m sure most of you remember our interview last fall with Josie about her last book, “Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives” and today she is back talking about her latest novel, “The Baby Planner”.

Josie has even provided us with a sneak peek of the book (and possibly a $100 gift card), set to hit shelves in early April. She also has three signed copies of "The Baby Planner" to give away to some lucky readers in the US or Canada. We hope you will all enjoy reading her guest post and enter to win! We love when the wonderful Josie comes to visit us here at CLC!
Happy Reading
xo M&M


What Not to say to a Pregnant Husband
By Josie Brown

One of the greatest moments in a new mommy’s life is when she gets to tell the man whose child she is carrying the big news.
I’ve been blessed in that I got to deliver that message twice.
Neither time did The Hub faint, which is good, because he’s bigger than me, and I can’t imagine having the task of breaking his fall.
His face was a kaleidoscope of emotions: shock, joy, fear, pride, fear again, a smidge of denial….
I’m glad report that the default setting was joy, as it should be.
But let’s face it: for whatever reason, “the big news” is not always great news to all guys. In fact, in my latest novel, THE BABY PLANNER, my heroine, Katie Johnson has to deal with her own husband’s reticence on the issue of having children. Her way of coping is to channel her energies into her clueless clients’ mama dramas. Lots of fun, as you’ll find that out when you pick up your own copy.
In regard to my own pregnant pauses, I was very lucky in the fact that The Hub was into every aspect of my pregnancy. He loved going to the doctor with me, teared up at the sonogram, and made sure I was cosseted and cuddled in every way…
He even found a button-down shirt made of the same material as one of my pregnancy tops.
That’s when his pals pulled him aside and said: “Um…Dude…you’re taking this a bit too far.”
Okay, yeah, maybe that was a BIT much.
That leads me to four things you shouldn’t say, when you have the great fortune of meeting a soon-to-be dad who is still in shock and awe over his new role:
1: “Just think: he’ll be just like you were, in your teens.”
2: “It’s a girl? How sweet…until she discovers boys. THEN you’ll have your hands full..”
3: “Have you started saving for college? No? Haven’t you figured out how much that will cost, by the time he turns eighteen?”
4: “What if she looks like you?”
That leads me to the best thing you could say to this guy, who’s got his whole future—and that of his new little family—ahead of him:
“You are the luckiest man alive.”

Enjoy this excerpt of my book! And after you read it, enter my contest for a chance to win a $100 gift card to your favorite bookstore.
--Josie Brown, author of THE BABY PLANNER
(Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books; in bookstores April 5, 2011)

Thanks again to Josie for visiting us again and sharing her blog post with everyone, as well as providing the books for our giveaway!

Follow Josie on Facebook and Twitter.
Check out her website and blog.


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

1. Please tell us: How did your significant other react to the news that you were pregnant? (Or how did someone you are close with share news of their pregnancy with you?)
2. Please tell us: What do you look forward to the most about Spring?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Tuesday, March 29th at midnight EST