Books are food for my soul! Pull up a beach chair and stick your toes in the sand as the Jersey surf rolls in and out, now open your book and let your imagination take you away.

Monday, July 30, 2012

What A Texas Girl Wants by Kristina Knight (Author Guest Post / Book Review)

In association with Chick Lit Plus, Jersey Girl Book Reviews welcomes Kristina Knight, author of What A Texas Girl Wants!



















                                
                                                                Author Kristina Knight




Author Guest Post

You know that old saying, "Put your hear in a book?" Well, for me, that saying is all about setting. Not theme, not plot, not even characters so much as setting. And, I think that is why, more often than not a beach plays an important part in my books. You see, I love the beach.

When I was a kid - a mid-western kid - we would visit my great-grandmother in North Carolina every summer. I would go from flat land, can see for 500 miles to rolling sand dunes where you knew there was something 'over there' but you just couldn't see it. For 2 weeks every year, I could live in my bathing suit (yes, it was washed often!), drink in the smell of sunscreen, wear flip-flops everywhere (even church) and not get odd looks. I could be anything on the beach - a girl with a broken heart, a funny life-of-the-party girl, a heart-breaker girl ... it just depended on my mood. I could walk out to the beach in the middle of the night, feel the cool sand between my toes and stare out into nothing. I could be a pirate, watching for unsuspecting ships. Or I could be an investigator for the Dutch East India Company, escaping my captors.

The beach was an escape from my seemingly boring life back at home. Home where there were chores to do and the same old people to see day in and day out. For 2 weeks I could be or do or see anything I wanted. It was a kind of release. I could be anonymous and alone and yet surrounded by people from ten different countries, big cities or towns even smaller than mine. It enabled me to try on different hats to figure out who I really wanted to be. Even now, as a 30-something grown up, when I need to think I escape to the beach (good thing we live with a beach about 10 minutes away). Listening to the waves, watching the water come in and go out ... it's relaxing.

The beach in What A Texas Girl Wants happens to appear in the beginning ... it's the place Jackson and Kathleen first get into 'trouble'. The place they both have to deal with once they're back in Texas. In my next book, The Saint's Devilish Deal, the actual setting is a beach in Puerto Vallarta.

At least so far, all of my characters have wound up at a beach. Not gratuitously. Not just 'hey, they need to be at a beach, send them!' The beach has fit the plots, I think, because it fits me. Everyone needs a place to think, to figure things out ... and what better place to do that than a beautiful, wave-filled, sunscreen-smelling beach?




About The Author:

Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police - no, she wasn't a troublemaker, she was a journalist. When the opportunity to focus a bit of energy on the stories in her head arose, she jumped at it. And she's never looked back. Now she writes magazine articles by day and romance novels with spice by night. She lives on Lake Erie with her husband and four-year-old daughter. Happily ever after.





Book Review


What A Texas Girl Wants by Kristina Knight
Published By: Crimson Romance
Release Date: June 4, 2012
Format: eBook - 104 pages / Kindle - 328 KB / Nook - 614 KB
ASIN: B008195BIS
Genre: Contemporary Romance


BUY THE BOOK: What A Texas Girl Wants


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus.


Book Description:

Kathleen Witte is a down-to-earth girl. She has to be, with the family ranch on the verge of success. After seven months of keeping it all together by swearing off men, however, Kathleen needs a bit of fun in the sun. Waking up with a husband she can't remember isn't how she planned to blow off steam. The last thing Jackson Taylor wants in life is a down-to-earth girl. He has four weeks of freedom in which to find his birth mother. He's done well avoiding commitment until now, so when he wakes up on a Mexican beach with Kathleen his first reaction is curiosity. When he spies the matching wedding rings on their left hands curiosity turns to concern. Neither Jackson nor Kathleen want to stay married, but when her family shows up, they have no choice. Once back in Texas, however, can they keep this all-business marriage from turning into an all-consuming love?


Book Excerpt: 

"So the man calling you sweetheart on the patio isn't your husband?"

Kathleen blanched. "No, idiot. He's my grandfather. What do you think I am some Anna Nicole wannabe?"

 "No, but. . .Well who else would call you sweetheart besides your husband?"

She glared at him. "Start talking, Cowboy. Am I remembering last night?"

"I'm not sure, either." When Kathleen would have socked him in the shoulder, he continued. "I was sent down here on a photo shoot for Sports Weekly last Monday. It wrapped and I decided to stay for a few extra days. I have a show booked in New York in a couple of months and I thought some shots of the crowds on the Malecon would do well. That would have been. . .Wednesday. Then I woke up on the beach this morning with you. So assuming this is Thursday, yeah, we're both remembering the same night." "Kathleen?"

She ignored Grandfather and focused on Jackson. "You seriously don't remember how this"-she wagged her right index finger between their left hands-"happened?" His only response was a slow shaking of his head from side to side. Wonderful. Wait. Wouldn't that make the annulment that much simpler? All the celebrities did it. Get drunk, get married, plead incompetence because of alcohol and get a quickie annulment. If it was good enough for Britney it was good enough for Kathleen. As long as she could get the annulment ball rolling before Grandfather found out.


My Book Review:

A three day drunkfest ... a steamy beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico ... waking up naked and married on the beach ... is this really What A Texas Girl Wants?

Kathleen Witte is a twenty-seven year old manager of her family's ranch in Lockhart, Texas. After spending the last seven months of dedicating herself to overseeing the entire operation of the Double Diamond ranch in order to show her grandfather that she is committed to carrying on the family tradition, she is ready for a quick fling vacation in Mexico to blow off steam and to become a new and improved independent woman.

Jackson Taylor is a thirty year old photographer originally from Texas, now living in New York. Jackson is haunted by his past: he is the bastard son of a wealthy Texas family, raised by his mother until he was seven, he was cut off from the family money by his rich step-mother after his father died. Obsessed with his past, he is searching for his birth mother so he could get the answers he needs in order to put the past away. He was in Mexico on business doing a photo shoot for a sports magazine.

Waking up naked and hungover on the beach thinking that each other was a stranger who they had a one-night stand with, only to realize that they are not strangers at all, but two people who had an unrequited college crush on each other, and now each has a shiny gold wedding band on their finger and no recollection of how they got married! And if that wasn't enough, Kathleen's grandfather arrives at the villa she rented in search of her since she didn't return home to Texas the day before. Caught in a sticky situation, Kathleen and Jackson agree to pretend that they are married for a month until she turns twenty-eight and can prove to her grandfather that she is fit to take the reigns of the family business, then they can go their separate ways. Can their so called "marriage" arrangement succeed, can it turn into a real marriage, or will the truth of their arrangement be revealed?

What A Texas Girl Wants is an entertaining romance novel that has everything a reader could ask for: romance, steamy passion and family drama. Written in a sassy fashion, the author grabs the reader's attention in the opening paragraph and doesn't let go until the last words are read. Told in the third person narrative, the story is set in the beautiful West Texas Hill Country where cowboys, cowgirls, and horses are the backdrop for a passionate love story. The storyline is intriguing, the reader is drawn into Kathleen and Jackson's story as they embark on a journey to discover what really matters the most to them. Filled with enough drama, suspense and passion, this is one romance story that will keep your interest as Kathleen and Jackson's love story unfolds.

The characters are realistic and down-to-earth people that have insecurities and issues that are believable and easy to relate to. Kathleen and Jackson are strong, complex individuals whose sizzling interactions with each other creates a powerful story that the reader can embrace. I absolutely enjoyed both of these characters, I couldn't help but cheer for them as they overcome their struggles and become more drawn to each other.

What A Texas Girl Wants is a lighthearted and passionate love story that will carry you away to the rich West Texas countryside. Romance fans, if you want a fast-paced story that has a mixture of steamy passion, family drama and suspense, then this is the book for you!


RATING: 4 STARS ****















Sunday, July 29, 2012

Brownie Fix by Ellen Cardona (Author Guest Post / Book Review)

In association with Chick Lit Plus, Jersey Girl Book Reviews welcomes Ellen Cardona, author of Brownie Fix!



                                                                        Author Ellen Cardona




Author Guest Post

I often get the question, "Why do you write?" I usually try to avoid the answer because people would think I was a nut case.

I guess the bigger question would be, "Why don't I write?" That's an easy answer ... fear.

Before I tackle a big writing project like starting a new manuscript or even editing, I'll procrastinate in every way I know how. I'll get the house completely organized, clean out my kids' closets, and even clean out my own closet. Very scary. It's a way for me to organize the clutter before I tackle the clutter in the manuscript.

However, it's more than just procrastinating and organizing the clutter. At first, I thought that I wasn't writing because of the fear of failure. What happens if I can't do it? Will I really fail? That's stupid because I know I won't. I'm a good writer.

No, my biggest fear is the fear of success. What if I succeed? Success is scarier than failure. What if all I wanted, like to write my book and to have people actually read it comes true? It's scary for me, and yet I have to embrace success and to enjoy it.

That's what I'm learning now: to embrace the fact the people are reading Brownie Fix, and it's helping them. That's huge. Sometimes, all I want to do is go hide in a hole, but I can't. I have to put Brownie Fix out there and accept the fact that I did it. Wow.

Right now, I'm procrastinating with my next book, Raven's Return, because I'm editing, and I know once I start, I'll be sucked into the manuscript for a while and enjoy it. Yet, I procrastinate because it's not failure that I fear but success and event the feeling of satisfaction that goes into creating and editing a story.

Bottom line: it's easy to be miserable than to be happy. Happiness is hard, and some people really don't like to be around you when you're happy. That's scary.

I could easily chuck writing away and shut out my ideas and keep them all bundled in a tight ball in my head and be miserable, but that's not an option for me. It's not. I have to write.

I guess I should answer the first question now, "Why do I write?" It's ti quiet the voices in my head. If I don't let them out, then they make life very difficult, but that's another story for another blog post.

Really, I'm not a nut case. I'm a writer.




About The Author:

Ellen Cardona wrote Brownie Fix to help deal with the postpartum depression she experienced after one of her pregnancies. Through her writing, she found that postpartum depression was real but conquerable, especially when one has the help of some dark chocolate and even darker humor.

When Ellen is not writing, she teaches literature to college freshman and attempts to help them understand the writing process, though they think she's crazy because of her love for literature and writing.

Ellen graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a PhD in Humanities with a specialization in Literature. Even though she has published several academic works on Ezra Pound, she could not ignore her true passion as a fiction writer.

Ellen lives in Richardson, Texas and continues to learn daily from her husband and two children. In good times and bad, she still enjoys her brownies.






Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway


* Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift Card *



Post a comment on Ellen Cardona's Brownie Fix Virtual Book Tour Page on Chick Lit Plus to enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Brownie Fix before July 30th, and sends their receipt to Samantha@ChickLitPlus.com, will get five bonus entries!









Book Review



Brownie Fix by Ellen Cardona
Published By: CreateSpace
Release Date: August 20, 2011
Format: Paperback - 232 pages / Kindle - 544 KB / Nook - 397 KB
ISBN: 1466221518
ASIN: B005IC38EU
Genre: Chick Lit / Women's Fiction


BUY THE BOOK: Brownie Fix


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus.


Book Description: 

Chocolate. Love. Sex. Really, what else could a woman want in life? For Persey, the heroine of Brownie Fix, her days are fun-filled until what is normally one of life's most fulfilling experiences, the birth of her son, leads her straight into a dark state of postpartum depression. Wandering in her own postpartum hell, Persey meets people that are absurd, like the swinging neighbors who want a little more than a cup of sugar and a group of mothers who become whipped up in worship to a climactic furor. On top of the madness, she keeps seeing a yellow-toothed old man who acts like he wants to breastfeed from her. Or is it her imagination? Add the voices in her head that become louder and louder, and it's little wonder that Persey reaches for brownie mix to soothe her insanity. Buckling under the pressure and lack of sleep from motherhood, Persey experiences the five stages of grief that lead her to uncover a buried secret, and gradually she begins to heal with the help of her family, friends, and, of course, brownies.

Book Excerpt:

                                       Chapter Three: Not Ready

"This baby is going to live," said Persey, and the pain of another contraction jarred her into the present.

"Yes, this is a living baby, and it's coming out right now," a skinny blonde nurse, dressed in white scrubs, calmly said and rolled Persey into a labor room. A panicked Hayden followed behind his wife, and they entered the room, where another nurse was waiting for Persey. The second nurse could have been a twin of the other nurse with the same white scrubs and long, layered hair, except this nurse had red hair, like Persey.

"What?" said Persey, climbing into the hospital bed.

"There's no way I'm having a baby. I'm not ready."

Another contraction hit Persey, and she tried to breathe through it. The contractions were on top of each other, and Persey was scared.

"Where's my epidural?" she demanded and noticed that the room was in mauve again. "Ugh, mauve."

"He's coming. He's coming," Hayden said in an excited voice and squeezed her hand. He was standing at his wife's side and sweating profusely.

"Um the baby's coming," the red head explained as she reached under the bed and pulled at the metallic stirrups with a thud. "The epidural man is not."

"No," Persey cried. "I want my meds."

"It's too late," the blonde said with a smirk. "You have to deliver right now. We can give you something to knock the edge off, but the baby's coming."

Persey screamed. "I'll go get it," the red head replied and darted out of the room.



My Book Review:


Motherhood, postpartum depression and deep personal issues ... this is the story of a woman who struggles to find a stabilizing balance when her world changes with the birth of her son.

Brownie Fix is a tragic yet poignant story about a woman dealing with the daunting role of being a new mother while having a severe and debilitating case of postpartum depression. Persey has a wonderful life: a loving and supportive husband named Hayden, a wealthy lifestyle and an artistic career as a painter. But for all that is good in her life, Persey has dark personal issues from her past that continue to plague her psyche: a horrible childhood trauma and voices in her head that inflict emotional and physical pain. Persey lost her first child to a miscarriage, and the grief and loss she felt from that tragedy persists as her second pregnancy advances, she fears that this baby will also die. With the successful birth of their son Ryan, Persey feels like she isn't ready to become a mother, and the frightening tentacles of postpartum depression wraps itself around her. Persey's coping mechanism is eating chocolate brownies (usually the raw brownie mix) and the disturbing act of cutting herself. When she begins to gain weight and her self-infliction escalates and her condition worsens, Persey has to make a choice between allowing the debilitating condition to completely control her, or fight back and reclaim her life.

Brownie Fix was a very difficult book to read, it's disturbing look into the seriousness of postpartum depression and deep traumatic personal issues had me feeling the full spectrum of emotions. While I think that the story was well written, I felt that the book description was misleading, as I did not find anything funny in the portions that contained dark humor. This tragic yet poignant story pulled at my heartstrings, no one should ever have to struggle and suffer through such a debilitating condition. I applaud the author's intention to provide insight and help for other mothers that may be going through postpartum depression through loosely sharing her experience and that of the fictional character's experience, in the hope to show them that they too can get through this traumatic condition.

Brownie Fix is a story of personal turmoil and the battle to fight back, it is an insightful look into a debilitating condition written in a thoughtful way that provides much food for thought.



RATING: 3 STARS *** (My Rating) / 4 STARS **** (Amazon Rating)



















Saturday, July 28, 2012

Author Guest Post: J. W. Bull, Author of Pickin' Tomatoes

In association with Chick Lit Plus, Jersey Girl Book Reviews welcomes J.W. Bull, author of Pickin' Tomatoes!




How to Handle Rejections Positively 
By J.W. Bull


Rejections are a part of life and how you handle those rejections can be the difference between the glass half empty and the glass half full. And the difference between publication and the trash can. People say it's the journey, not the destination that's important. I say it's both. The purpose of this article is to share with you the journey of trying to get my first book published and its final destination. If I can pass along a few tips, some motivational words, a little humor - all the better. After all, life's just plain cake without the icing of a few words.

In 2007, I began to write my first book, The Chef of Hearts. I knew I wanted it to be about a middle-aged woman reinventing herself and I wanted it to include recipes. But beyond that, I had no clue. As the story progressed, my quirky voice emerged and the story morphed into a combination of Lucy Ricardo meets Bridget Jones. It was amazing. I could actually visualize the wacky scenes unfolding in my book. I was so excited that before the book was even finished, I sent out queries to multiple agents. Lo and behold, an agent nibbled ... "This is indeed fun. I would like to try to sell it for you."

Tip: Never send out your manuscript before it is done. I know everyone knows this - it's one of the golden rules of writing. Who amongst us hasn't broken that rule at least once in our writing careers? Gotten so excited about writing a book, we couldn't wait to finish it to send it out. It's kind of like Christmas - we've all peeked at those presents. But the rule is a golden rule for a purpose. Take the time to finish your book and polish it.

In a panic, I slapped together an ending and rushed it off to the agent. Before I could even comprehend what was happening, my book was sent off to a bunch of A list houses. The query immediately piqued their attention and they promised to read it, ASAP. And that's when the rejections started piling up like dirty clothes in a laundry hamper. "I liked the concept but wasn't as compelled by the story as I would have liked ... Thanks much for sending me this. An inventive idea, but I'm afraid that I just didn't fall in love with it the way I wanted to ... While Jennifer's recipes all look fantastic and the basic premise of the novel is interesting, I never developed a strong enough connection to the main character to really care about her fate or become truly drawn into the story" ... Hmmm ... not so good ... but hey, I had an agent. He could always send my book out to more houses.

Tip: Garner constructive information from your rejections; they are golden nuggets in rough form.

More rejections arrived with similar comments but I didn't care. It was like I was in bed with naivety and rolling around in my fantasy dream of getting my book published. It wasn't until I received the last rejection that I began to smell the coffee. My agent was not going to send my book out to more publishing houses and I needed to have my book edited. But I still didn't open my eyes. I fell into the trap of thinking I could fix the book myself. Like one of those "do it yourself" projects from Home Depot. The kind of project that sits in a bag on a counter, gets shoved in a corner, and is finally relegated to the junk space in your cabinet.

Tip: Hire an editor to edit your manuscript. Look at it this way: you don't give yourself a dental check up or annual physical. do you? You hire a professional. So get a professional to edit your book.

Over the next few years, my dream of getting my book published sort of dithered away. I rewrote the book a couple of times, never really getting it right. And then for some odd reason, I picked it up last year. I rewrote it once more, renamed it Pickin' Tomatoes and sent it out to multiple agents. And you know what? Once again, it was picked up by another agent. At this point, I would love to say this time around things were different, that I had learned from my past mistakes, and achieved victory - publication.

But alas, it was like that movie GroundHog Day with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. I couldn't seem to stop reliving the same situation, the same destiny - rejection, rejection, rejection ... "a fun premise, I'm afraid I just didn't fall in love with the voice ... when I started reading, I was captivated by the narrative voice. But as I continued to read, I got bogged down in too many flashbacks ... a bit light for our fiction list ... The Bull is not right for the imprint (Got to say, that one was my favorite, by far) ... I really enjoyed reading this story; Ms. Bull's writing is both touching and humorous, and her recipes sound delicious. While there is so much to recommend about this one, I'm not sure how I could make it stand out from other novels like it ... Finally, I smelled the coffee, woke up and opened my eyes. This was not going to work. Ever. I had failed.

Or had I? There's a quote from an unknown author that I love. "When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place." Why had I held on so long to my dream of publishing this book Why did I have to settle for no? Why did I have to succumb to other people's decisions regarding my book? Maybe it was time to take matters into my own hands and figure out what I wanted for a change.

So here I am. Will my dreams come true? I know one of them has - my book is published. I hired a professional editor, a graphic artist, and a book formatting company. Will it sell? I have no idea. But after all the frustrating ups and downs, almosts and maybes, it's no longer about the book being successful. It's about my personal goal to take charge of my book and my life. You can change your destiny. To me, that is success. And just maybe, I've found what I've been searching for all along ... the icing on the cake.


About The Author:

J.W. Bull lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and two sons. Although she has worked as a sous chef for Lavande Restaurant, she currently is a private violin teacher and a member of The Georgia Symphony. She is also finishing another novel, Musical Chairs, a mystery involving Maggie's cousin - Molly Malone, plucky part-time symphony player and full-time Irish fiddler. It's a hilarious spoof on symphonies, Irish fiddling, and mysteries that continues the Malone saga.






BUY THE BOOK: Pickin' Tomatoes


Book Description: Pickin' Tomatoes

Maggie Malone wants a new life. Who aspires to be a single, forty-year-old, jobless new mother? Driven by the need for an income, Maggie decides to enter a writing contest. Cooking and Women Magazine is seeking a columnist who can compare finding "Mister Right" to cooking. To qualify, an entrant must be single and an experienced chef. Maggie is neither - she can't even cook. But desperation turns white lies into tasty morsels that whet her creative appetite and she whips up an article comparing finding "Mister Right" to picking the right tomato for her homemade salsa. She wins the contest, is dubbed The Chef of Hearts, and her new life, although a bit shaky, is launched.

Women across America write to her about loneliness, infidelity, insomnia - even to complain about a boyfriend's snoring. Maggie dissects their problems with a single stroke of her pen, all the while struggling with her own issues. She dishes out therapy in recipes and funny stories and becomes an instant celebrity. As she balances learning how to cook, being a mother and writing a column, her dual lives begin to spin out of control. On the back burner, subterfuge sizzles in the skillet, threatening Maggie's new recipe for success and she finds herself in the same stew as many of her readers - lost and alone. It's only when Maggie comes clean with all her lies that she realizes pickin' the right tomato might not be simply about finding "Mister Right" - sometimes it's about making the right choices.

Pickin' Tomatoes serves up a three-course of mayhem, motherhood and middle age flavored with dashes of irony, wit, and wisdom. Throw in a liberal sprinkling of recipes geared towards those who don't cook, and  Pickin' Tomatoes becomes a must read for anyone who has searched for "Mister Right" but, most of all, wants to find herself.


Book Excerpt: Pickin' Tomatoes

Dear Girlfriend of a Snorer,

Have no fear. The remedy for snoring is a simple, nonmedical cure known secretly to women for generations and generations. Please do not divulge this remedy to the male sex as it would affect the sleep of women worldwide.

The remedy for snoring is ...

Never sleep with a man. True but not feasible. Sometimes you've got to sleep in the same bed.

The remedy for snoring is ...

Pinch a man's nostril together and cover his mouth. Okay, not a good idea to suggest murder. This is no good. My creative juices have dried up. I need guidance. A recipe. A cookbook. I need a brain transplant. Just the other day, I was looking at a book from Barnes and Noble about a woman who wanted the government to pay for a lobotomy for her. She claimed ... wait, Barnes & Noble! They'll have loads of cookbooks. Maybe even a French cookbook. I am a chef from a French restaurant after all. I'' just buy a cookbook tomorrow, try out a few recipes, pick my favorite, and I'll be good to go. A bona fide chef.








* Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift Card *



Post a comment on J.W. Bull's Pickin' Tomatoes Virtual Book Tour Page on Chick Lit Plus to enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Pickin' Tomatoes before July 30th and sends their receipt to Samantha@ChickLitPlus.com, will get five bonus entries!




Pickin' Tomatoes by J.W. Bull


Pickin' Tomatoes by J.W. Bull
Published By: J.W. Bull
Release Date: July 7, 2012
Format: Paperback - 256 pages / Kindle - 827 KB / Nook - 894 KB
ISBN: 0985884835
ASIN: B008IT6YKO
Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women's Fiction


About The Author:




J.W. Bull lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and two sons. Although she has worked as a sous chef for Lavande Restaurant, she currently is a private violin teacher and a member of The Georgia Symphony. She is also finishing another novel, Musical Chairs, a mystery involving Maggie's cousin - Molly Malone, plucky part-time symphony player and full-time Irish fiddler. It's a hilarious spoof on symphonies, Irish fiddling, and mysteries that continues the Malone saga.


AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS
J.W. Bull's Pickin' Tomatoes Virtual Book Tour Page On Chick Lit Plus


BUY THE BOOK: Pickin' Tomatoes
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
SMASHWORDS


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus.

Virtual Book Tour Event: On Saturday, July 28, 2012, author J.W. Bull participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/07/author-guest-post-j-w-bull-author-of.html



* Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift Card *



Post a comment on J.W. Bull's Pickin' Tomatoes Virtual Book Tour Page on Chick Lit Plus to enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Pickin' Tomatoes before July 30th and sends their receipt to Samantha@ChickLitPlus.com, will get five bonus entries!



Book Description: 

Maggie Malone wants a new life. Who aspires to be a single, forty-year-old, jobless new mother? Driven by the need for an income, Maggie decides to enter a writing contest. Cooking and Women Magazine is seeking a columnist who can compare finding "Mister Right" to cooking. To qualify, an entrant must be single and an experienced chef. Maggie is neither - she can't even cook. But desperation turns white lies into tasty morsels that whet her creative appetite and she whips up an article comparing finding "Mister Right" to picking the right tomato for her homemade salsa. She wins the contest, is dubbed The Chef of Hearts, and her new life, although a bit shaky, is launched.

Women across America write to her about loneliness, infidelity, insomnia - even to complain about a boyfriend's snoring. Maggie dissects their problems with a single stroke of her pen, all the while struggling with her own issues. She dishes out therapy in recipes and funny stories and becomes an instant celebrity. As she balances learning how to cook, being a mother and writing a column, her dual lives begin to spin out of control. On the back burner, subterfuge sizzles in the skillet, threatening Maggie's new recipe for success and she finds herself in the same stew as many of her readers - lost and alone. It's only when Maggie comes clean with all her lies that she realizes pickin' the right tomato might not be simply about finding "Mister Right" - sometimes it's about making the right choices.

Pickin' Tomatoes serves up a three-course of mayhem, motherhood and middle age flavored with dashes of irony, wit, and wisdom. Throw in a liberal sprinkling of recipes geared towards those who don't cook, and  Pickin' Tomatoes becomes a must read for anyone who has searched for "Mister Right" but, most of all, wants to find herself.


Book Excerpt:

Dear Girlfriend of a Snorer,

Have no fear. The remedy for snoring is a simple, nonmedical cure known secretly to women for generations and generations. Please do not divulge this remedy to the male sex as it would affect the sleep of women worldwide.

The remedy for snoring is ...

Never sleep with a man. True but not feasible. Sometimes you've got to sleep in the same bed.

The remedy for snoring is ...

Pinch a man's nostril together and cover his mouth. Okay, not a good idea to suggest murder. This is no good. My creative juices have dried up. I need guidance. A recipe. A cookbook. I need a brain transplant. Just the other day, I was looking at a book from Barnes and Noble about a woman who wanted the government to pay for a lobotomy for her. She claimed ... wait, Barnes & Noble! They'll have loads of cookbooks. Maybe even a French cookbook. I am a chef from a French restaurant after all. I'' just buy a cookbook tomorrow, try out a few recipes, pick my favorite, and I'll be good to go. A bona fide chef.



My Book Review:


Can you reinvent yourself ... even if it means telling "little white lies" to get what you want? And if you do succeed at reinventing yourself, can your fabrications come back to haunt you?


Maggie Malone is a forty year old soon-to-be divorced mother of a newborn who wants a new life. After seventeen years of marriage to Richard, a successful defense attorney who has an affair with their next door neighbor's wife, their marriage is over. Now as a single and unemployed mother, Maggie has to decide what to do next. She enters a cooking and advice column contest in Cooking and Women magazine, comparing finding Mr. Right to cooking. The requirements to enter the contest are: must be single and with experience as a chef. Ummm .... there's just a little bit of a problem: she's still married, has a daughter and can't cook! Maggie tells "little white lies" and enters the contest by claiming that she is single, was a chef at Lavande Restaurant in Paris, and that daughter Catherine is her niece. Maggie's entry of "Mister Right Salsa" recipe is a winner and she assumes the persona of The Chef of Hearts, writing a monthly column called Pickin' Tomatoes (Cooking and Men), where she is able to dissect relationship problems with a paring knife, comparing cooking to men, and serving up delicious recipes sure to win the hearts of any man! Fumbling through her charade, she manages to submit columns and recipes that gains fans nationwide. Enjoying success has a price, and for Maggie, her "little white lies" surface and she learns a valuable life lesson.

Pickin' Tomatoes is an entertaining, laugh-out-loud story that will keep you in stitches. Written in a quirky, humorous fashion, the story is told in the first person narrative by the protagonist, Maggie Malone, chef extraordinaire. In her debut novel, author J.W. Bull weaves an amusing story that any woman can relate to, I know I sure did!

Maggie is a realistic, down-to-earth, hilarious lady who is finding herself at a crossroad in her life. Who hasn't been in that situation? With a newborn daughter, no job, and no prior cooking experience, she has to find a way to reinvent herself. Maggie's foray into learning the joy of cooking is full of pure comedic relief. I found myself snickering as I read, thinking back to when I was a newly married woman who never cooked before, needless to say it wasn't pretty. Maggie's advice and recipe columns were hysterical, she ranks right up there with Dear Abby! I couldn't help but cheer for Maggie on her journey of self-discovery, in a way, there is a little bit of Maggie in each of us.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful culinary and advice quotes that the author includes at the beginning of each chapter. The quotes are a wonderful touch added to the story, who doesn't love such well-known foodies and advice columnists like Erma Bombeck and Bobby Flay, just to name a few.

Lastly, the recipes ... I am such a sucker for recipes ... okay I admit I am a cookbook addict, and author J.W. Bull has enabled my addiction with some really great recipes that are included in the story. Like Maggie, recipes were a trial and error effort for me when I first learned to cook, but the joy and challenge of creating your own recipe that is appealing and delicious is well worth it.

Pickin' Tomatoes is a witty, lighthearted comedic story that pokes fun at the trials and errors of choices made that everyone encounters at some time in their life. If you can't poke fun and laugh at yourself as you journey down life's road, then you need to lighten' up buttercup, because Pickin' Tomatoes is all about picking the right choices in life, and sometimes you pick the rotten tomatoes, and other times you pick the Heirloom tomatoes! Kudos to author J.W. Bull on a wonderful and entertaining debut novel.


RATING: 5 STARS *****







Friday, July 27, 2012

Virtual Book Tour Events: Week of 7/29-8/4/12



Virtual Book Tour Events: Week of 7/29-8/4/12




In association with Chick Lit Plus, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the following virtual book tour event:


Brownie Fix by Ellen Cardona




Sunday, July 29 ~ Author Guest Post and Book Review


Book Description: Brownie Fix


Chocolate. Love. Sex. Really, what else could a woman want in life? For Persey, the heroine of Brownie Fix, her days are fun-filled until what is normally one of life's most fulfilling experiences, the birth of her son, leads her straight into a dark state of postpartum depression. Wandering in her own postpartum hell, Persey meets people that are absurd, like the swinging neighbors who want a little more than a cup of sugar and a group of mothers who become whipped up in worship to a climactic furor. On top of the madness, she keeps seeing a yellow-toothed old man who acts like he wants to breastfeed from her. Or is it her imagination? Add the voices in her head that become louder and louder, and it's little wonder that Persey reaches for brownie mix to soothe her insanity. Buckling under the pressure and lack of sleep from motherhood, Persey experiences the five stages of grief that lead her to uncover a buried secret, and gradually she begins to heal with the help of her family, friends, and, of course, brownies. 


* Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift Card *



Post a comment on Ellen Cardona's Brownie Fix Virtual Book Tour Page on Chick Lit Plus to enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Brownie Fix before July 30th, and sends their receipt to Samantha@ChickLitPlus.com, will get five bonus entries!






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In association with Chick Lit Plus, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the following virtual book tour event:


What A Texas Girl Wants by Kristina Knight




Monday, July 30 ~ Author Guest Post and Book Review


Book Description: What A Texas Girl Wants


Kathleen Witte is a down-to-earth girl. She has to be, with the family ranch on the verge of success. After seven months of keeping it all together by swearing off men, however, Kathleen needs a bit of fun in the sun. Waking up with a husband she can't remember isn't how she planned to blow off steam. The last thing Jackson Taylor wants in life is a down-to-earth girl. He has four weeks of freedom in which to find his birth mother. He's done well avoiding commitment until now, so when he wakes up on a Mexican beach with Kathleen his first reaction is curiosity. When he spies the matching wedding rings on their left hands curiosity turns to concern. Neither Jackson nor Kathleen want to stay married, but when her family shows up, they have no choice. Once back in Texas, however, can they keep this all-business marriage from turning into an all-consuming love?






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In association with Chick Lit Plus, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the following virtual book tour event:


Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons by Denise Grover Swank





Wednesday, August 1 ~ Author Guest Post and Book Review


Book Description: Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons


When Rose reports for Fenton County jury duty she figures she's lucky to get out of a morning working at the DMV. Instead, despite a disastrous encounter with the new assistant district attorney, Mason Deveraux, she's picked as a juror on a murder case. As the trial progresses, she realizes an ominous vision she had in the men's restroom proves the defendant is innocent. And there's not a cotton picking thing she can do about it. Or is there? As if things weren't bad enough, Rose's older sister Violet is going through a mid-life crisis. Violet insists that Rose stop seeing her sexy new boyfriend, Arkansas state detective Joe Simmons, and date other men. Rose is done letting people boss her around, but she can't commit to Joe either. Still, Rose isn't about to let the best thing in her life slip away.


* Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift Card *




Post a comment on Denise Grover Swank's Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons Virtual Book Tour Page on Chick Lit Plus to enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons before August 6th, and sends their receipt to Samantha@ChickLitPlus.com, will get five bonus entries!





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In association with Goddess Fish Promotions, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the following virtual book tour event:



Vicki's Key by P.M. Terrell




Thursday, August 2 ~ Author Guest Post and Book Review


Book Description: Vicki's Key


Following a flawed CIA mission, Vicki Boyd leaves the agency to begin a new life in a new town assisting an elderly woman. But when she arrives, she finds Laurel Maguire has suffered a stroke and her nephew has arrived from Ireland to care for her. Vicki quickly falls in love with the charming Dylan Maguire, but all is not what it seems to be at Aunt Laurel's house. And when the CIA arrive to recruit Vicki for one more mission, she finds her CIA past and her new future are about to collide ... in murder.


* Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway: Gift Basket *



Author P.M. Terrell will be giving away gift baskets from the real town of Lumberton, where Vicki's adventure takes place. One gift basket will be given to a randomly drawn commenter, and one gift basket for the host with the most comments, excluding the host's own or P.M.'s comments. (US/Canada only)








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In association with Reading Addiction Blog Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the follwoing virtual book tour event:


Take This Regret by A.L. Jackson




Friday, August 3 ~ Author Guest Post and Book Review


Book Description: Take This Regret


There are some mistakes we make that we will regret for the rest of our lives. For Christian, it was the day he betrayed Elizabeth.

Christian Davison has a plan for his life. He is determined to become an attorney and to one day take his place as partner in his father's law firm. Nothing will stand in his way, not even Elizabeth Ayers and their unborn child.

After Christian cuts her from his life, Elizabeth spends the next five years struggling to provide for her daughter and willing to sacrifice anything to give her child a safe, comfortable life. 

For five years, Christian has regretted the day he walked away from his family and will do anything to win them back just as Elizabeth will do anything to protect her daughter from the certain heartache she believes Christian will bring upon them.

When Christian wrestles his way into to their lives, Elizabeth is faced with asking herself if it is possible to forgive someone when they've committed the unforgivable and if it is possible to find a love after it has been buried in years of hate. Or are there some wounds that go so deep they can never heal?

They say everyone deserves a second chance.









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In association with Chick Lit Plus, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the following virtual book tour event:


A Year To Remember by Shelly Bell





Saturday, August 4 ~ Author Guest Post and Book Review


Book Description: A Year To Remember


When her younger brother marries on her twenty-ninth birthday, food addict Sara Friedman drunkenly vows to three hundred wedding guests to find and marry her soul mate within the year. After her humiliating toast becomes a YouTube sensation, she permits a national morning show to chronicle her search. With the help of best friend, Missy, she plunges head first into the shallow end of the dating pool. Her journey leads her to question the true meaning of soul mates, as she decides between fulfilling her vow to marry before her thirtieth birthday and following her heart's desire. But before she can make the biggest decision of her life, Sara must begin to take her first steps toward recovery from her addiction to food.


* Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift Card *



Post a comment on Shelly Bell's A Year To Remember Virtual Book Tour Page on Chick Lit Plus to enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Anyone who purchases their copy of A Year To Remember before August 13th, and sends their receipt to Samantha@ChickLitPlus.com, will get five bonus entries!