Book Review: Gone with a Handsomer Man

By Melissa Patafio

Teeny Templeton is engaged to one of Charleston, South Carolina’s most eligible bachelors. Bing is handsome, charming, and extremely wealthy. Teeny almost can’t believe her luck. She is even planning to make her own wedding cake, so Bing signs her up for some baking classes. After her first cooking class is cancelled, Teeny comes home early to find her fiance playing badminton in the backyard with two women, naked.

From that moment on, everything changes in Teeny’s world. She loses her fiance, her home and, sometimes, her dignity. But what Teeny finds along the way is far more gratifying than marrying a man you never really knew, or loved for that matter. Teeny also finds a way to make a living doing what she loves (baking) and reunites with an old flame along the way.

Will Teeny ever be able to move on from her troubled past and just be happy? Should she go back to Georgia and her aunt Bluette’s peach farm?

The ups and downs in this book are endless and poor Teeny is put through the ringer. The plot twists just keep coming and your relationship with the characters will change from love to hate and back again multiple times. The story is full of mystery and suspense and I often found myself thinking I knew “whodunnit”, but then changing my mind. There were so many characters that could have been the antagonist that the story held my constant attention.

Michael Lee West did a great job describing Charleston and giving a real sense of the culture of the city. She also created a funny, sassy, scrappy main character that readers will love from the first page.

More by Michael Lee West:

Last Chance to enter Blogoversary giveaway!

The month is ending tonight...and so is our Blogoversary giveaway in honor of International Chick Lit Month.

You have until midnight EST to post comments on any chick lit month blog post you may have missed. After that time, anything posted will not be counted as an entry. Also, if you posted without a way to contact you (no e-mail address or a link to a blog that leads nowhere), your comment will not be counted as an entry. Please see the rules on our blogoversary giveaway post for more information.

There's also another prize being tossed into the mix, so you definitely do NOT want to miss out on this giveaway!

We hope you will check out at least one of the books we posted. If you ever want to do a book tribute in the future or introduce a book or author that others might not know about, please let us know. We enjoyed sharing books we like with you and would love for you to do the same with us!

Good luck!

M&M

Book of the day: "Mommy By Mistake"

In honor of International Chick Lit Month and our one year blogoversary, we're bringing you a book a day (and then some). If you've read the book and want to comment on this post with your thoughts, please do. If you haven't read it yet, we hope you'll take interest in it after hearing our thoughts. To make this fun, anyone who comments on any of these posts has a chance to be entered in a drawing for a special prize. The more posts you comment on, the more chances to win! (See here for contest details.)

"Mommy By Mistake" by Rowan Coleman:
All good things come in the little packages...
Meet The Baby Group: Natalie ran her own design company until baby Freddie unexpectedly came along. Now the capable person she once was is trapped inside a crazy woman´s body, longing for just one decent night´s sleep and words of more than one syllable. Meg is onto her fourth child but still feels she has to take notes. Meg´s sister-in-law Frances organises her little boy like he´s a private in the army, but underneath her prickly facade she longs for the kind of friendships others seem to find so easy. Former career girl Jess sees danger lurking in every corner, doubting she´ll ever be a good mother. Stay-at-home house-husband Steve is just glad to have the opportunity to spend time with his daughter. And sixteen-year-old Tiffany is the youngest – yet possibly the wisest – of them all.
Six very different parents. Six very different lives. But when Natalie´s dodgy wiring leads to a series of chance encounters they rapidly discover – through Baby Music, Baby Aerobics, coffee and more importantly cake – that there´s safety in numbers. And their own unofficial baby group is formed. (Summary courtesy of Rowan Coleman's website.)


Melissa A:
I had read some other books from Rowan Coleman and liked her writing style, so I instantly became attracted to this one. Who can resist the baby on the cover, even though you can't see their eyes? I loved the way this story unfolded and how it focused on more than just the main character. It had a feel similar to "The Chocolate Lover's Club" by Carole Matthews. I love stories about friends brought together by a common bond who stick together through thick and thin and support one another. That's what "Mommy By Mistake" (also known as "The Baby Group") is all about. This one is my favorite of Ms. Coleman's books.

More by Rowan Coleman:

Interview with Liane Moriarty and book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

This week we are featuring two authors from Down Under. The first is Liane Moriarty! She was born in Sydney and still lives there now with her husband, ankle biter son and new baby daughter. She made a quid in advertising and marketing for a while, eventually starting her own business and then working as a freelance copywriter. In the meantime she dreamed of becoming an author and finally finished her first novel, "Three Wishes" after she was inspired by the success of her younger sister (YA author, Jaclyn Moriarty.) Liane is now a full time author of adult novels and a series of children's books.
Her latest novel coming to our neck of the woods is "What Alice Forgot", which will be in stores on Thursday! Fox 2000 has bought the film rights to this novel, so it will be interesting to see if they went with her casting choices or not. Thanks to Stella Connell of the Connell Agency, we have two copies for some lucky readers in the US or Canada. Ace!

Liane is a cool chick with a great sense of humor and we are rapt that we had the opportunity to chat with her without even jumping on a plane! If you like what you've read today, check out her blog! You can also visit her at The Debutante Ball starting June 4th.

MP: How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?
LM: Reading in bed, reading in the bath, reading in the TV commercials, sleeping, eating chocolate, working off all that chocolate doing gym classes, skiing (not that I ski every weekend but I thought I should mention something outdoorsy) and now it occurs to me that I haven’t mentioned my children, and we’ve just had Mother’s Day, where I happily accepted all manner of accolades. What I actually do when I’m not writing is take care of my 3 year old son and 15 month old daughter, and I like that very much.

MP: What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing "What Alice Forgot"?
LM: The ending was my biggest challenge. I don’t write to a plan, and I had no idea how Alice would reconcile the two perspectives she now had on her life. Also, I was meant to deliver the manuscript just before I delivered my first baby and he made an unexpected appearance five weeks early. (We were also renovating the house, as you do just before you have a baby, so everything was in chaos.) I ended up finishing the novel six months later, while my baby kicked and cooed in his ‘jungle gym’ on my office floor and that’s when the ending became perfectly obvious.

MP: What is your usual writing routine?
LM: I have a wonderful babysitter who looks after my children for 3-4 hours at a time, 3 days a week. I close the door and write. I’m satisfied if I write 500 words, happy if I manage 1000 and delirious if I reach 2000.

MP: If you were not a writer, what job would you like to have?
LM: I’d like to be the beloved queen of a small kingdom in Europe.

MA: If "What Alice Forgot" were made into a movie, who would you cast as the lead roles?
LM: I have sold the movie rights and the producers were talking about someone like Jennifer Aniston or Reese Witherspoon for the role of Alice. I also think Sandra Bullock would be wonderful. I’d cast Brad Pitt for the role of Nick. He’d been entirely unsuitable, but I’d still cast him.

MA: If you were to take us on a tour of your hometown, what would be some highlights?
LM: Coffee and almond croissants at my favourite beach, a ferry trip on Sydney harbour, creamy cocktails at a bar with city views

MA: What is your favorite thing to do at the beach?
LM: Swim, and then rush straight to the shade for my hat, shirt and more sunscreen (I don’t have the right complexion to live in Australia).

MA: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
LM: I’ll be over fifty, so I really don’t want to talk about it. Oh, all right. I expect I’ll be ferrying my children from soccer to ballet, I’ll still be writing, perhaps my tenth novel, I’ll be living in a castle, thanks to the startling success of my ninth novel … actually this is starting to become more enjoyable.

MA: What was the last romantic movie you watched?
LM: The Adjustment Bureau with Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. I loved it. Except then I spent 40 minutes with a friend driving around in circles while she tried to help me find my car in an enormous shopping centre car park, designed to trap you forever, during which time all the warm and fuzzy feelings created by the movie vanished.

MP: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
LM: My dream holidays always involve skiing, so this question gave me the excuse to google ‘world’s best skiing destinations’ and study photos and descriptions, as if I was actually planning this mythical trip. I’ve already been to some of the top ten locations like Aspen and Whistler, so after much dithering, I have finally settled on Lech & Zurs, Austria, for no other reason than it had the most stunning photo.

Special thanks to Liane for a great conversation and to Stella for supplying the books for the giveaway.

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

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What was the last romantic movie you watched? 2. Please tell us: If you could visit Australia in the near future, what is the first thing you would do?
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. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
6. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.)Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends June 5th at midnight EST.

More by Liane Moriarty:

Winners of "Gone With a Handsomer Man"

To find the winners, we assigned a number to each entry and used the Custom Random Number Generator to choose them at random.

Congrats to:

45-Kat

70-JHS

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks to everyone who participated!
Thanks also to Michael Lee West for letting Melissa P. pick her brain and to Anne Staszalek from AuthorsOnTheWeb for coordinating the interview and providing the books for the giveaway.

Don't forget to enter our current giveaways:

Blogoversary special prize giveaway
Ends May 31st at midnight EST

"The Bake-Off" by Beth Kendrick
US/Canada only
Ends May 31st at midnight EST

Coming this week...two lovely ladies from the land of Oz. Stay tuned!

Book of the day: "Forget About It"

In honor of International Chick Lit Month and our one year blogoversary, we're bringing you a book a day (and then some). If you've read the book and want to comment on this post with your thoughts, please do. If you haven't read it yet, we hope you'll take interest in it after hearing our thoughts. To make this fun, anyone who comments on any of these posts has a chance to be entered in a drawing for a special prize. The more posts you comment on, the more chances to win! (See here for contest details.)


"Forget About It" by Caprice Crane:
Jordan Landau is having a bad life. At twenty-five, she is attractive, smart, funny and talented. But all that doesn’t keep her mother from calling her fat, her boss from stealing her ideas, and her boyfriend from cheating on her. Day in and day out, she sits back and watches as everyone walks all over her. Then one day while riding her bike home from a particularly awful day, Jordan collides with a car door and is knocked clear off her bicycle. Coming to in the hospital, Jordan realizes she has a perfect excuse for a “do-over”; she vows to fake amnesia and reinvent herself. And it works. Finally, Jordan is able to get the credit she deserves at work, and she stands up to her family and her jerk boyfriend. She’s living the life she always dreamed of–until the unthinkable happens. Suddenly Jordan must start over for real, and figure out what really makes her happy–and how to live a truly memorable life. (Summary courtesy of Caprice Crane's website.)

Melissa A:
I had seen this book in the store and thought it looked interesting. Then I obtained a copy of it a few weeks later and was hooked from the first page. It was a clever story, funny, full of pop culture references and had a character with whom I was able to relate in some way or another. It got me interested in Caprice Crane and I enjoyed her other books, as well. She has a unique style to her storytelling and I highly recommend checking out all of her books!


More by Caprice Crane:

Book of the day: "A Vintage Affair"

In honor of International Chick Lit Month and our one year blogoversary, we're bringing you a book a day (and then some). If you've read the book and want to comment on this post with your thoughts, please do. If you haven't read it yet, we hope you'll take interest in it after hearing our thoughts. To make this fun, anyone who comments on any of these posts has a chance to be entered in a drawing for a special prize. The more posts you comment on, the more chances to win! (See here for contest details.)

"A Vintage Affair" by Isabel Wolff:
Do fairytale dresses bring fairytale endings? Every dress has a history, so does Phoebe! Phoebe always dreamt of opening her own vintage dress shop. She imagined every detail, from the Vivienne Westwood bustiers hanging next to satin gowns, to sequinned cupcake dresses adorning the walls. At the launch of Village Vintage, Phoebe feels the tingle of excitement as customers snap up the fairytale dresses. Her dream has come true, but a secret from her past is casting a shadow over her new venture. Then one day she meets Therese, an elderly Frenchwoman with a collection to sell, apart from one piece that she won't part with ! As Therese tells the story of the little blue coat, Phoebe feels a profound connection with her own life, one that will help her heal the pain of her past and allow her to love again. (Summary courtesy of Goodreads.)

Melissa A:
This was one of my favorites from 2010. Well told and difficult to put down. It's about friendship, redemption and forgiveness...and fashion too! Ms. Wolff talks about fashion without going overboard, but gives every piece of clothing a beautiful description that makes me want to wear whatever Phoebe is selling. See my review for more details.

More by Isabel Wolff:

Book of the day: "On Mystic Lake"

In honor of International Chick Lit Month and our one year blogoversary, we're bringing you a book a day (and then some). If you've read the book and want to comment on this post with your thoughts, please do. If you haven't read it yet, we hope you'll take interest in it after hearing our thoughts. To make this fun, anyone who comments on any of these posts has a chance to be entered in a drawing for a special prize. The more posts you comment on, the more chances to win! (See here for contest details.)

"On Mystic Lake" by Kristin Hannah:
Annie Colwater's husband has just confessed that he's in love with a younger woman. Devastated, Annie retreats to the small town where she grew up. There, she is reunited with her first love, Nick Delacroix, a recent widower who is unable to cope with his silent, emotionally scarred young daughter. Together, the three of them begin to heal. But just when Annie believes she's been given a second chance at happiness, her world is turned upside down again, and she is forced to make a choice that no woman in love should ever have to make...(Summary courtesy of Kristin Hannah's website.)

Melissa P:
This was just a great story all around. I knew I would like it because I like all of her books, but I wasn’t prepared for how much I ended up loving it. I still think about the story and the characters all the time.

Melissa A:
This was the second book I read by Kristin Hannah after falling in love with "Firefly Lane." Her beautiful storytelling style was evident in this novel, as well as countless others (including the ones I read after this one). I was hooked from page one and I loved how she created realistic conflicts for her characters and gave them a lot of depth.

More by Kristin Hannah:

Book of the day: "The Castaways"

In honor of International Chick Lit Month and our one year blogoversary, we're bringing you a book a day (and then some). If you've read the book and want to comment on this post with your thoughts, please do. If you haven't read it yet, we hope you'll take interest in it after hearing our thoughts. To make this fun, anyone who comments on any of these posts has a chance to be entered in a drawing for a special prize. The more posts you comment on, the more chances to win! (See here for contest details.)

"The Castaways" by Elin Hilderbrand:
Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy's closest friends for what will be revealed. (Summary courtesy of Elin Hilderbrand's Nantucket.)

Melissa P:
I just discovered Elin’s books this past summer on a trip to Cape Cod and Nantucket. I can’t believe I have missing out on her all this time! There was scandal, love, loss, and transformation in this book and I finished it quickly. See my review for more details.

More by Elin Hilderbrand:

Winners of "Life from Scratch"

To find the winners, we assigned a number to each entry and used the Custom Random Number Generator to choose them at random.

Congrats to:

37-Karenk
60-Tiffany Schlarman

Update: Since our third winner never replied by the deadline, we have chosen someone else.

6-Margay

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Thanks also to Melissa Ford for her insightful answers to our questions and for providing the books for the giveaway.

Don't forget to enter our current giveaways:

Blogoversary special prize giveaway
Ends May 31st at midnight EST

"Gone With a Handsomer Man" by Michael Lee West
US/Canada only
Ends May 29th at midnight EST

"The Bake-Off" by Beth Kendrick
US/Canada only
Ends May 31st at midnight EST

Book of the day: "For Better, For Worse"

In honor of International Chick Lit Month and our one year blogoversary, we're bringing you a book a day (and then some). If you've read the book and want to comment on this post with your thoughts, please do. If you haven't read it yet, we hope you'll take interest in it after hearing our thoughts. To make this fun, anyone who comments on any of these posts has a chance to be entered in a drawing for a special prize. The more posts you comment on, the more chances to win! (See here for contest details.)

"For Better, For Worse" by Carole Matthews:
When it comes to love and marriage, Josie Flynn knows what’s right...

For everyone but herself...

After her marriage to Damien ended in disaster, Londoner Josie Flynn – thirtysomething and single again – is flying across the ocean to her American cousin’s ‘big mistake’ wedding. In her present ‘love stinks’ frame of mind, the last person she expects to be seated next to on the flight is someone like Matt Jarvis. A recently divorced rock journalist, Matt is sensitive, good-looking and remarkably attentive – and before their plane touches down, Josie’s smitten. So how can she hope to convince her cousin to cut and run when Josie is all ready to leap into love again – with a stranger, no less, who might be just another Mr Totally Wrong in Mr Seductively Right’s clothing?

The point is rendered moot, of course, once they land in New York and she and Matt go their separate ways. After all Josie’s got prenuptial confabs to worry about and that dreaded lilac chiffon bridesmaid’s dress to wear. But Dante himself couldn’t have dreamed up the hell this wedding is proving to be – and when her dream hunk reappears and throws himself into the mix, Josie finds herself wondering how she – or any unattached modern woman – can hope to survive the new romantic rules of the twenty-first century. (Summary courtesy of Carole Matthews' website.)

Melissa A:
This is the first book I had ever read by Ms. Matthews. I enjoyed it and found myself laughing a lot throughout the story. I loved all the crazy mix-ups. It got me interested in reading more of her books, as well.

More by Carole Matthews:

Winner of "The Violets of March"

To find the winner, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Sarah Jio to pick a number at random. Here's what she had to say:

How about lucky number 33?

Thank so much to Chick Lit Central for hosting me here! I'm so excited for everyone to read "The Violets of March" this summer and beyond, and I can't wait to share my next novel, The Bungalow, with you all soon! Please stop by my Facebook Author page and say hi. I'd love to hear from you!

xo,
Sarah

Congrats to Jeryl!

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks to everyone who participated!
Thanks also to Sarah Jio for a lovely interview and for providing the book for the giveaway.

Don't forget to enter our current giveaways:

Blogoversary special prize giveaway
Ends May 31st at midnight EST

"Gone With a Handsomer Man" by Michael Lee West
US/Canada only
Ends May 29th at midnight EST

"The Bake-Off" by Beth Kendrick
US/Canada only
Ends May 31st at midnight EST

Bragging rights

We were featured on the International Chick Lit Month blog yesterday. Check out what we had to say! Thanks again to Liz and Lisa of Chick Lit is Not Dead for inviting us to share our thoughts!

Winning Wednesday--May 25th

We will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact us about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, we are no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in our Facebook or Twitter news feed or on our blog readers, we'll be sure to post them. If you think we won't see your contest, please send it to us so we can include it in this blog.
For another place to share your giveaway, contact West of Mars. They will list giveaways for books of any genre.
Thank you!

New:

"Gone With a Handsomer Man" by Michael Lee West
Chick Lit Central
US/Canada only
Ends 5/29 at midnight EST

"The Bake-Off" by Beth Kendrick

Chick Lit Central

US/Canada only

Ends 5/31 at midnight EST

"Going in Circles" by Pamela Ribon
Free Book Friday
US/Canada only
Ends tomorrow at midnight

"Any Man of Mine" (UK) or "Nothing But Trouble" (US) by Rachel Gibson
Chick Lit Club
US and UK
Ends Friday

"Ten Beach Road," "Magnolia Wednesdays" and "The Accidental Bestseller" by Wendy Wax
Chick Lit Club
US only
Ends tomorrow

"Friendship Bread" by Darien Gee
Always with a Book
US/Canada only
Ends 6/2 at 6 pm EST

"Island Girl" by Lynda Simmons
Life in Review
US/Canada only
Ends 5/29

"Exposure" by Therese Fowler
BermudaOnion
Ends 5/30 at midnight EST

"Courting Sparks" or "CEOs Don't Cry" by Joselyn Vaughn
Clean Romance Reviews
US only
Ends 6/4 at 11:59 pm CST

"101 Reasons to Shop" by Jessica Waldorf

BookTrib
US/Canada only
Ends Friday

"Holly's Inbox" and "Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City" by Holly Denham
Chick Lit is Not Dead
US/Canada only
Ends 5/29



Still available:

Win Cannie's Hollywood Getaway!
Jennifer Weiner
Ends May 31st


"Jack with a Twist" by Brenda Janowitz
Girlfriends Book Club
Ends June 1st

Blogoversary giveaway with Joshilyn Jackson and Billie Letts
Socrates' Book Review Blog
US only
Ends May 29th at midnight EST

"Crush: 26 Real-life Tales of First Love" by Andrea Richesin
Luxury Reading
Ends May 27th at midnight

"Wickedly Charming" by Kristine Grayson
Luxury Reading
US/Canada only
Ends May 27th at midnight

"The Diva Doctrine" by Patricia V. Davis
I am a Reader, Not a Writer
US only

Ends May 31st

Blogoversary special prize giveaway
Chick Lit Central
Ends May 31st at midnight EST

Chick Lit Month e-book giveaway
Sibel Hodge
Ends May 31st

"Ten Beach Road" and "Magnolia Wednesdays" by Wendy Wax

Romance Author Buzz
US only
Ends May 31st

Kindle, Nook or beach bag of books

Claire Cook
Ends June 7th

"Thin Rich Pretty" by Beth Harbison

St. Martin's Press

US only

Ends June 1st

"Gone with a Handsomer Man" by Michael Lee West

Fresh Fiction
Ends May 31st

$100 Gift Card to your favorite bookstore
Josie Brown
Ends June 19th at midnight PST

"Skip a Beat with Sarah" Sweepstakes
Sarah Pekkanen's Facebook page
US only
Ends July 31st at 12:59 am EST
New winner announced bi-weekly on Mondays.

Book of the day: "The Nanny Diaries"

In honor of International Chick Lit Month and our one year blogoversary, we're bringing you a book a day (and then some). If you've read the book and want to comment on this post with your thoughts, please do. If you haven't read it yet, we hope you'll take interest in it after hearing our thoughts. To make this fun, anyone who comments on any of these posts has a chance to be entered in a drawing for a special prize. The more posts you comment on, the more chances to win! (See here for contest details.)


"The Nanny Diaries" by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus:
Wanted:

One young woman to take care of four-year-old boy. Must be cheerful, enthusiastic and selfless—bordering on masochistic. Must relish sixteen-hour shifts with a deliberately nap-deprived preschooler. Must love getting thrown up on, literally and figuratively, by everyone in his family. Must enjoy the delicious anticipation of ridiculously erratic pay. Mostly, must love being treated like fungus found growing out of employers Hermès bag. Those who take it personally need not apply.

Who wouldn’t want this job? Struggling to graduate from NYU and afford her microscopic studio apartment, Nanny takes a position caring for the only son of the wealthy X family. She rapidly learns the insane amount of juggling involved to ensure that a Park Avenue wife who doesn’t work, cook, clean, or raise her own child has a smooth day.

When the Xs marriage begins to disintegrate, Nanny ends up involved way beyond the bounds of human decency or good taste. Her tenure with the X family becomes a nearly impossible mission to maintain the mental health of their four-year-old, her own integrity and, most importantly, her sense of humor. Over nine tense months, Mrs. X and Nanny perform the age-old dance of decorum and power as they test the limits of modern-day servitude. (Summary courtesy of Goodreads.)

Melissa P:
I found this book to be extremely upsetting, but I also thought it was really good. I wanted to smack the mother of that poor little boy.

Melissa A:
I thought it was a fun read and Nanny was easy to sympathize with. I think it paved the way for books like "A Devil Wears Prada," where women have a completely crazy and stressful job situation. This story also translated well onto the big screen.


More by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus:

Interview with Beth Kendrick and book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Today we are pleased to welcome the very funny Beth Kendrick, author of "The Bake-Off," to Chick Lit Central! We got to chat with Beth about her writing, where she would like to travel, and the difficulty of making a perfect pie crust. Beth lives in sunny Arizona (just like Melissa P, who got to meet her recently) with her husband, child, and two dogs. (Another thing she has in common with Melissa P....the dogs, that is. And the husband too.). She loves to hear from her readers, so if you have more questions for Beth (or you just want to tell her how great she is), feel free. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter. And for some lucky readers in the US and Canada, she has two copies of "The Bake-Off" to give away!

MP: What is your usual writing routine?
BK: I write whenever my child is sleeping or at preschool. As you might imagine, this means I have a spotty social life and a filthy house, but, uh, that’s good for building my kid’s immune system, right?

MP: What was your biggest challenge while writing "The Bake Off"?
BK: Okay, so the book is about two long-estranged sisters who team up to enter a high-profile national bakeoff in the hopes of winning some serious prize money. The catch? Neither one of them can bake anything more complicated than brownies from a mix. (They entered using their grandmother’s secret recipe that’s been handed down through the generations).
At the time I sold the book proposal, I couldn’t bake, either, so I enrolled in a 2-day intensive baking workshop where I spent the better part of 6 hours trying to create and roll out pie crust. Now, for those of you who don’t know much about pastry, let me just say this: HOLY COW. Pie crust is no joke. Making it from scratch is the culinary equivalent of having a triple black belt.
(True story: so when I finally finished rolling, filling, and baking my pie, the class instructor tasted the finished product, paused for a moment, and then said, “There are two types of pies, and you…have made the other kind.” You know that line went straight into the book!)

MA: If "The Bake Off" were made into a movie, who would you cast as the lead roles?
BK: The key would be finding the right chemistry between the two sisters--Linnie’s so serious and guarded and Amy’s so open and spontaneous. I think Mad Men’s January Jones would make a great Linnie. As for Amy, maybe Grey’s Anatomy’s Jessica Capshaw?

MA: What is your favorite song from the past year?
BK: It’s a tie:
1. Cee Lo Green’s “Forget You”. I like to drive around the suburbs in my pint-sized SUV, singing along to this song at the top of my lungs. Who needs personal dignity when you have lyrics like “I guess he’s an Xbox; I’m more Atari”? Total. Genius.

2. Sugarland’s “Stuck Like Glue”. It’s just so happy and bubbly, and it actually sparked the idea for a new book proposal I’m working on. Thank you, Sugarland!

MA: What are you looking forward to this summer?
BK: Going to the RWA writers’ conference in New York City. I’ll have lunch with my amazing editor, hang out with all my writer friends who live far away, and have cocktails at my favorite bar in all the world: Dive 75. (They have bowls of miniature Snickers and Milky Ways on the bar instead of pretzels or nuts! And board games! And an aquarium! I would live there if I could.) The only potential hazard is that large groups of jet-lagged writers + fruity alcoholic drinks = occasional lapses in judgment. I hope I don’t come home with a tattoo.

MA: If you were to bake us a cake, what kind would you make?
BK: Rose Levy Beranbaum’s The Cake Bible has a recipe called “Perfect All-American Chocolate Butter Cake.” I made this for my husband’s birthday and it baked up beautifully and tasted like the love child of a sponge cake and a Hershey bar. I would make that for you guys, and then slather it up with chocolate buttercream frosting. (Moderation? Never heard of it!)

(Side note from MA: Remind us to come over to your house if I'm ever in town to visit MP!)

MA: What is the oldest piece of clothing you own and how long have you had it?
BK: I have an ancient, threadbare Chicago Bears T-shirt I swiped from my grandfather when I was a teenager. For years, it was my favorite thing to wear while writing, but now it’s literally starting to fall apart at the seams, so I only break it out when I’m really sweating a deadline and need a double dose of good karma.

MP: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
BK: I've always wanted to spend a winter weekend in a luxurious subzero suite at the Ice Hotel in Sweden. (Think the Four Seasons meets an igloo.) My feeling is, you really haven't lived until you've slept in a bed made of reindeer pelts and polar bear ice sculptures.

MP: You live in Arizona with your husband and dogs, are you an Arizona native? Or did you escape from a frigid climate like most of us Phoenicians?
BK: I grew up all over the Northeast, then went to college in Minnesota. After 4 grueling Minnesota winters, I conceded defeat and headed to warm, sunny California for grad school. Now I’m in Arizona, and like many Phoenix residents, I cannot tolerate temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. All molecular movement in my body ceases. Scientific fact.

MP: What are some of the places that you take visitors to when they come to Arizona?
BK: I always try to make time for a drive up to Sedona to see the red rocks and go hiking.
In the Phoenix area, I like to drop by the Poisoned Pen, which is a very cool independent bookstore in Scottsdale. They have signed first editions of lots of titles, and they host great writers’ events. All the big authors in mystery/suspense stop by for a signing while touring for a new release. I’ve learned a ton about writing from attending the author Q & As.
Oh, and our guests invariably end up lounging around the pool in my backyard. I live a few blocks away from a resort, and the hotel puts on a huge extravaganza every year for the fourth of July. We can sit in the pool, drinks in hand, and watch the fireworks directly overhead. It’s so awe-inspiring, it almost makes one forget that the midday temperatures will be over 110 degrees for another 10 weeks straight.

Special thanks to Beth for chatting with us today and for offering the books for the giveaway.

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

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite song from the past year? (All this talk about food is making us hungry, so it was time for a change of pace!)
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.)

Be sure to remind them about editing their settings. :)

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends May 31st at midnight EST.

More by Beth Kendrick:

Book Review: The Baby Planner

By Melissa Amster

I really enjoyed Josie Brown's last book, "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives" (reviewed here), so I was excited to dig right in when I received "The Baby Planner" in the mail. It was well worth the wait!

After Katie Johnson loses her job working for SafeCalifornia, she stumbles upon her own company when her sister refers her to someone as a "Baby Planner." Soon she's up to her ears with expectant mothers making various demands and having to deal with all their drama. This doesn't help her personal life, as she wants to have a baby, but her husband refuses to even try. (He even requests double protection!) To complicate matters even more, she takes on a single father through her business to help him get his life on track. Meanwhile, her life is unraveling around her and she begins to figure out what family and love really mean to her.

I have a thing for books featuring female entrepreneurs with their own companies. I love when women get creative and earn lots of respect from peers and strangers as a result. This novel was no exception to the rule, as Katie's business was interesting on a personal level, as well as provided great entertainment value. I love what she did with her business and how she developed it and watched it flourish. Even though she was being restricted from conceiving, her job was her figurative "baby."

The other things I loved about "The Baby Planner" were the how realistic the characters seemed, the humor value and the way Ms. Brown was able to get the reader to connect to and sympathize with Katie. Ms. Brown never uses exaggeration to get her point across. Her characters thrive on their own and take on various personalities, based on their role in the story. They always give off a familiar feel that makes me think they're standing right in front of me. The humor is pretty obvious and altogether enjoyable. It doesn't feel forced at all. There's a certain sarcasm to it, as well. (Plus, I love that she referenced a Jen Lancaster book. You'll know it when you see it.) Finally, Katie is down to earth, but also going through the longing for children that many women can relate to. And even if they can't, she's still someone you want to hug, laugh with and cry with, all at the same time. I love how she keeps herself together when she has to, but also shows her vulnerable side.

However, I do have to point out a criticism I have with this book. Just like Katie, I don't want to deceive the reader when it comes to important matters. When I was still pregnant, Ms. Brown told me that this book would be perfect for me to read as a "new" mom. (I'm on my third child now, but it still feels like I'm starting all over again.) I didn't get a chance to read it until a couple of months after my baby was born. I'm glad this was the case though. I could not read it as an expectant mother, as there were some sad and dark parts involving both childbirth and death of infants due to poorly made baby gear. My heart went out to the people it affected in this story, but I would have been a basket case reading it if this was prior to my baby being delivered safely into the world. (And even within the month following her birth, I still cried at the thought of anything bad happening to babies.) I wouldn't say I'm desensitized now, but it's easier for me to say "it's only a book" three months down the line than it would have pre- or post-birth. I want to put this out as a warning to expectant or new mothers that there are some parts that are hard to read on an emotional level. Ms. Brown does handle those parts tactfully without being dismissive, but I do want people to know that they are there and that if they have any concerns about how emotional they get during birth, they should give it a few months, as it is a great story overall. There are some people I'm hesitant to recommend it to for this reason, as well as a few other reasons that I don't want to reveal for fear of spoiling the story. I suggest you read at your own risk.

Having said that, I really did enjoy this novel and had a hard time putting it down. If I weren't super busy this past week, I would have read it in a couple of days. There was a lot of suspense and intrigue. One part of the story was predictable, but only if you've read any of Ms. Brown's previous stories and know her style. Even so, the way my suspicion was confirmed was not in the way I expected and she still managed to surprise me. She also threw a few other surprises in there to keep me on my toes. This story is really Ms. Brown's "baby," as she put a lot of love into it to share with her readers. I hope you will feel it as much as I did and will even get teary-eyed the way I did. (The same way I get teary eyed when a friend shares baby news with me or when someone gives birth on "A Baby Story." Both are good things.)

Thanks to Josie Brown for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book of the day: "In Her Shoes"

In honor of International Chick Lit Month and our one year blogoversary, we're bringing you a book a day (and then some). If you've read the book and want to comment on this post with your thoughts, please do. If you haven't read it yet, we hope you'll take interest in it after hearing our thoughts. To make this fun, anyone who comments on any of these posts has a chance to be entered in a drawing for a special prize. The more posts you comment on, the more chances to win! (See here for contest details.)

"In Her Shoes" by Jennifer Weiner:
Rose is a thirty-year-old attorney with a secret passion for romance novels. She's going to start exercising next week, and she dreams of a man who will slide off her glasses and tell her she's beautiful. Maggie is twenty-eight and drop-dead gorgeous. Although her stardom hasn't progressed past her hip's appearance in a music video, she dreams of fame and fortune. These two sisters claim to have nothing in common but DNA, a childhood tragedy, and a shoe size, but when they're forced into cohabitation, they may just learn that they're more alike than they thought. (Summary courtesy of Simon & Schuster.)

Melissa P:
I loved the dynamic between Maggie and Rose and how they were so different from one another. I also loved seeing their relationship play out throughout the book.

Melissa A:
Just when I thought nothing could be better than "Good in Bed," Jen Weiner outdid herself. I was engrossed the whole way through. While I could relate more to Rose, I loved reading Maggie's side of the story. The book is better than the movie, although I did like Toni Collette as Rose.

More by Jennifer Weiner:

Book of the day: "What I Thought I Knew"

In honor of International Chick Lit Month and our one year blogoversary, we're bringing you a book a day (and then some). If you've read the book and want to comment on this post with your thoughts, please do. If you haven't read it yet, we hope you'll take interest in it after hearing our thoughts. To make this fun, anyone who comments on any of these posts has a chance to be entered in a drawing for a special prize. The more posts you comment on, the more chances to win! (See here for contest details.)

"What I Thought I Knew" by Alice Eve Cohen:

At age forty-four, Alice Eve Cohen was happy for the first time in years. After a difficult divorce, she was engaged to an inspiring man, joyfully raising her adopted daughter, and her career was blossoming. Alice tells her fiancé that she's never been happier. And then the stomach pains begin.

In her unflinchingly honest and ruefully witty voice, Alice nimbly carries us through her metamorphosis from a woman who has come to terms with infertility to one who struggles to love a heartbeat found in her womb - six months into a high-risk pregnancy.

What I Thought I Knew is a page-turner filled with vivid characters, humor, and many surprises and twists of fate. With the suspense of a thriller and the intimacy of a diary, Cohen describes her unexpected journey through doubt, a broken medical system, and the hotly contested terrain of motherhood and family in today's society. (Summary courtesy of Goodreads.)

Melissa A:

This was a very well told memoir from start to finish. There's even some humor amidst the serious tone. I am glad I had the opportunity to read it and I highly recommend it. See my review for more details.

More with a similar theme/plot:

Interview with Michael Lee West and book giveaway

By Melissa Patafio

**Giveaway is now closed**

Today, author Michael Lee West has stopped by CLC to chat about her latest book, "Gone With a Handsomer Man". She also took the time to make us laugh with her tales of farm life, her love of food, and how she deals when a book is particularly challenging. We enjoyed meeting Michael and want to thank her for visiting Chick Lit Central!

Anne Staszalek from AuthorsOnTheWeb has two copies of "Gone with a Handsomer Man" to give to some lucky readers in the US or Canada.

Visit Michael on Facebook and Twitter and check out her blog.

Watch the trailer for "Gone with a Handsomer Man":

How did you come up with the story for "Gone With a Handsomer Man?"

A dream. My first novel, Crazy Ladies, came to me in a gothic Southern nightmare. Many writers pay attention to their dreams because the subconscious is a collaborator. We wait for the moment when a dialogue begins with the book—because that means a dialogue with the main character can’t be far behind. I was delighted when a character named Teeny Templeton wandered into my dreams. She was a sassy, brown-eyed blonde with a penchant for throwing fruit at her wayward boyfriend. Teeny had a strong voice from the get-go and she led the way.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing "Gone?"

This requires a meandering answer, so please bear with me. When I'm working on a book, I need time alone or I can lose the character's voice. Then it takes forever to call it back, or the book can shift permanently. This has happened so many times, I've learned to protect the work, and I'm not shy about going to extremes. I hunker down on the farm with stockpiled food and Diet Coke, apocalypse-style, then I inhabit the book. I don't have an office--I write in a corner of the den and I use music (love my iPod) as a sort of wall. While I wrote GWAHM, our house fell apart--leaky roof, fried HVAC, termites, broken appliances. The farm went a little wild, too, with goats escaping into the road. Every day, concerned neighbors called to report the latest escapee. We also dealt with foxes, possums, and rabid skunks. Sometimes these events found their way into the book. A heart-tugging challenge came when my mother had complications after back surgery and came to live with us for a few months. She couldn't walk. She'd always been a fiercely independent woman, and she fell into a slump. With the help of my younger son, Tyler, we nursed her back to health. Now, she's not only walking, she's going to her beloved garage sales. Without my son's help, the book might not have been finished. I dedicated the book to him.

What is your usual writing routine?

I write from 9 am until I drop, seven days a week--I end up taking way too many breaks because I'm always chasing escaped goats and dealing with household malfunctions.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I'd like to go back to Ireland. I love the people, the pubs, the culture.

How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?

I take photographs of food. My amateur shots can be seen at Tastespotting and Foodgawker.
http://www.tastespotting.com/profile/designs+by+gollum
http://foodgawker.com/post/archive/designsbygollum/

Do you ever suffer from writers block? If so, how do you remedy it?

Yeah, but not for long. Usually it signals a problem with the book. I go back to the characters and dig deeper.

What do you enjoy most about living on a farm?

I love watching the geese and ducks waddle from the big pond to the little pond and back again. No matter what I'm doing, I stop to watch the sunsets--and also twilight--l'heure bleue.

If you had to choose a profession other than writing, what would it be?

I have a B.S. in Nursing. But I'd really love to be a pastry chef.

Which authors have inspired you the most?

All Southern authors, past and present. I owe a debt to author and poet Marge Piercy--her poem,"For the Young Who Want To" kept me going through rough patches.

If you had to pick a theme song for your life, what would it be and why?

Oh, this is a hard one. I'm a child of the 60s and 70s, so music shaped my worldview. I've got playlists for every novel--sometimes multiple lists. My current theme song is "Both Sides Are Even" by The Boxer Rebellion. To me, it's about fighting losing battles, maybe with love or a career, and realizing that no matter what you do, there is no right or wrong side. And we struggle alone.

Special thanks to Michael for talking with me today and to Anne from AuthorsOnTheWeb for facilitating this interview and for sharing the books for our giveaway.

How to win "Gone with a Handsomer Man":

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

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What is one recipe/dish you would love to know how to make?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.)

Be sure to remind them about editing their settings. :)

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends May 29th at midnight EST.

More by Michael Lee West: