Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours

BOOK FEATURE: “Still Counting”

February 18, 2016 Leave a Comment

Blurb: Adam Donatello and Nina Morales share an immediate and powerful attraction, and their future together seems assured. But love is difficult enough without adding complications—real or imagined—to the mix. Nina sees life as a thousand shades of gray, while Adam tends toward black-and-white. He wants to move fast; she needs time. Nina sees her past liaisons with women as immaterial to their relationship, while her disclosure drives Adam to a state of irrational jealousy. He doesn’t know how he could compete with a woman, and his suspicions—which Nina views as hypocritical—lead them both to make decisions they may live to regret.

EXCERPT

Nina came to me and touched my face with her hands. “There’s nothing sweeter than an anchovy kiss.”

She leaned in and our lips fluttered against each other before proceeding to a full-frontal embrace. I’ve always viewed first kisses as a blindfolded ride on a runaway roller coaster. You never know where it’s going or when it’s going to end. So you just have to have faith and abdicate control to your partner. That’s my philosophy at least. A lot of guys would disagree. They like to take charge, set the pace, and make the next move. Some women prefer that approach as well. They like strong men who know what they want. I’m more of a girlie man. I need permission and encouragement. I want to get laid as much as the next guy, but I want to make sure that’s what the woman wants as well.

Our kiss was more like a pillow fight than a bare-fisted brawl. It was soft and gentle like the kiss of long-separated lovers.

Nina pulled away but kept her eyes closed for a long moment. “We need to go.”

I took her hand and we walked to her car. She opened the passenger door for me and got in the driver’s side. We made it to Starbucks in less than five minutes and neither of us said a word. She pulled her car alongside mine and turned towards me.

“I’m really sorry about Casey,” she said.

“I know you are.” I paused and tried to read her eyes. “I had a good time tonight.”

“Me too.”

“Could I see you again?”

“I’d like that. Give me your phone.”

I handed her my cell and she tapped in her contact information.

“I’ll call you,” I said.

“Please.”

I leaned towards her for a goodbye kiss, but she pushed me away. “I don’t kiss in cars,” she said. “It’s gross.”

**About the author: I sold my first article at the age of 16. Since then I’ve written and published a wide variety of books, articles and essays. After many years as a corporate marketer, I left to pursue endeavors that were more fulfilling personally and more contributory on a societal level. Today I focus my time on writing and teaching. I’ve often said “I live the American dream” and that is indeed how I feel. With a wonderful wife, two grown children, great friends and a couple of rambunctious Labrador retrievers, I can’t complain about a damn thing.

**Contact Phil: Facebook Twitter Blog 1 Blog 2 Website 1 Website 2 Goodreads YouTube Video Trailer

**Buy Link: Amazon

**Click HERE to see other stops on Phil’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour!

EXCERPT of “First & Goal” & GUEST POST by Laura Chapman

November 18, 2015 1 Comment

“First & Goal” by Laura Chapman

Blurb: When Harper Duquaine’s no-nonsense approach to work unintentionally ruffles the wrong feathers at her new job, she joins her co-workers’ fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way).

Embroiled in a world of lineups, stats, and trades, Harper’s quest to make nice topples when her competitive streak emerges. And her promise to herself that she’ll be a strong, independent woman and leave the drama and heartache behind is seriously tested when she catches the attention of her two biggest competitors: J.J., a local celebrity determined to win a fantasy championship, and Brook, the mild-mannered coach who seems too good to be true. Both threaten her resolve to remain single… and, more importantly, her chances at winning the prize pool.

With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.

**Buy “First & Goal” now: Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo

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EXCERPT

While I dig through piles of green and yellow shirts, I call my younger brother, Christopher. I need advice before the draft. I may not be in this for the glory of victory or the money, but I don’t want to embarrass myself by coming off as an idiot.

His sleepy voice answers a second before it goes to voicemail. “What’s going on?”

Not wasting any time, I explain the situation. After giving him a minute to get the laughter out of his system, I tell him what I need from him. “I need a crash course in drafting a team.”

“Why do you care if it isn’t about winning?”

“Pride?”

He snorts. “Fair enough. Do you have a pen and paper?”

My hands freeze on a long-sleeved green and yellow rugby style shirt. “Not on me. Should I grab some?”

He busts out laughing again. This time I struggle to stay patient while he pulls himself together. “Can we get through this?” I ask. “Today if possible?”

“Calm down, BK.”

I glare at the pile of shirts. “I told you not to call me . . . that.”

“Technically, you told me not to call you—”

“Don’t even say it. And don’t pretend saying BK is any different.” I walk over to a rack of jerseys. “Tell me your ‘rules.’”

Christopher clears his throat and begins. “Rule number one: Don’t draft a kicker or defense until the last few rounds.”

“Why not?”

“It doesn’t matter if they show up as the highest-rated available player or if someone else makes a grab for kickers and defenses early. It’s a wasted pick. The guys in your league will make fun of you for the rest of the season if you do something so amateurish.”

Noted. Saving myself humiliation is the primary objective.

“Number two,” Christopher continues. “Don’t try to draft every player from your favorite team.”

“Why not? The Packers are good.”

“Yeah, but what happens if they have a bad week?”

I feign mock outrage. “Are you actually suggesting our beloved Packers would have anything less than a perfect season? What would Dad say?”

“Trust me on this one, Harper. Your Sunday . . . or Thursday or Monday will be a million times worse if you’re dealing with a Packers and fantasy loss.”

“Okay, avoid drafting the entire Packers starting lineup. Got it.” I’m going to have to do some fast research to find out who else I might want on my team. Basically, all the players I know are in Green Bay. “What’s next?”

“Have you found out what pick you have?”

My eyebrows furrow in confusion. “Pick?”

“Where are you in the draft order?”

Oh. “Fourth.”

“The first three people have selected the top three running backs in my mock drafts.” I want to ask what he means by ‘mock draft,’ but there’s no time. “You can have a little fun with being fourth, but I say you should take the Pope. You’ll impress the guys in your league.”

“Who’s ‘the Pope?’”

“John-Paul Massa. An underrated but totally badass running back.”

“Massa it is.” I stare at the Chad Baker jersey in front of me. “When can I draft Baker?”

“No sooner than the second round, but try to hold off until the third. You want to make sure you get a solid wide receiver, and they tend to go fast after the top six running backs are off of the board.”

“But I want Baker.”

“He’ll be around,” Christopher assures me. “And if things get hairy during your draft, you can always text me.”

“Is there a fourth rule?”

“Yes.” He clears his throat again and hesitates. Content with my clothing selections, I walk toward the checkout line. “My fast and final rule: Don’t let the guys seduce you into giving them the best players.”

My gasp of outrage draws attention from the person standing in front of me. I dart an apologetic grin, before hissing at my brother. “Why would you even go there?”

“Harper, you’re smart and driven.”

“But . . .”

“You’re an idiot when it comes to men.” He releases a heavy sigh. “Maybe it’s because deep down you’re a sweet person or maybe you’re too trusting, but you have a talent for giving it up to douchebags.”

I want to argue back on principle. I am a strong, independent woman, who doesn’t need a man to succeed. But, a glance back at my dating track record gives Christopher’s commandment some weight. Maybe I should tell him I’m a new woman after what happened with the last guy. Instead, I thank him for his advice and pay for the new football gear.

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**About the author: Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, The Marrying Type, and Hard Hats and Doormats. Her work also appears in Merry & Bright, A Kind of Mad Courage, and All I Want For Christmas. A native Nebraskan, she loves Huskers and Packers football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Laura is currently in pursuit of a fantasy football championship while penning her next novel.

**Contact Laura:

Website Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram

YouTube Goodreads Sign up for Laura’s newsletter

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GUEST POST

No two days are exactly alike. That’s the beauty of being an author. One day you’re plotting, another you’re navigating your way through a tricky passage, and on the next you’re swearing at your computer, because your marketing plan hit a hiccup. While I’m a big plotter, one of my favorite parts about being an author is that it challenges me to adapt as the situation changes—which is every day.

When Isabella asked me to write about my life as an author, I found I couldn’t put it succinctly, because it’s always evolving. Rather than speak in generalities on the subject, I figured I’d share a few days that illustrate the world of Laura Chapman: My Life as an Author.

November 30, 2010

Only 1,000 more words to go. I note the time on the display in the corner of my computer monitor. It’s after seven—plenty of time to meet my deadline, yet it doesn’t seem like enough. It won’t be the end of the world if I don’t finish. No one will die, no wars will break out, and no one will care. Except for me. I will care.

When I started National Novel Writing Month on the first (Has it really been a whole month?) I was out to prove something. I had to show myself that I could do it—I could write a book if I sat down and made myself finish what I started. Finishing would be the key difference this time. The partial manuscripts rotting in a folder on my desktop were evidence of my inability to complete what I began. “Laura Chapman likes to start stories,” they seem to scream. “But she doesn’t have the follow-through to reach the end.”

Not this time. This time, I will hit the 50,000-word mark. And then I will keep at it until the story is done.

With only 1,000 words more words needed and a few hours until midnight, when I have to verify my word count online, I pack my laptop and drive to Indigo Bridge Books. The local bookstore has the vibe I need. People are always writing there, and productivity sizzles in the air. It will be good to spend some time around like-minded people. The bookstore also has another distinct advantage over staying home: it has Internet.

I’m two years out of college, and I’m still in a financial crunch. The recession hit mere months after I earned my diploma. I’m lucky to have a job, even if it doesn’t pay much. Tack on the student loans, rent, and the debt I accrued when I moved to and from Houston during the past eighteen months, and Internet is a luxury I can’t afford.

But I need the Internet tonight to verify my words. And I need to finish writing those words.

Settled in at a small table with a mocha latte and my laptop, I type away furiously. I can do this, I can write 1,000 more words tonight. I can paint the picture of Lexi Burke’s quirky world on the Gulf Coast. I can show her chemistry with Jason Beaumont. Oh man. Jason Beaumont. I may have broken the mold with this character. To my twenty-four-year-old self, he’s the epitome of male perfection. He has a good job, the motivation and drive to succeed, a sense of humor, and the everyday southern charm I witnessed countless times while I lived in Texas. And like Mr. Darcy, he has a pretty bitchin’ house. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a big sprawling home with a pool? I bet he has Internet, too.

And so I type and type away, giving pause every so often to check the time and my word count. What would Lexi do? Write it down. Keep going. Around nine, I do it. I pass the 50,000-word mark with some change. Adrenaline pulses through my veins. I did it. I wrote 50,000 words in one month. I still have a ways to go until I type “the end,” but this is a huge step in that direction.

Feeling like I just scored a six-figure advance from a major publisher, I pull up the NaNoWriMo website so I can let them know I finished. The page takes a full minute to load, and another minute passes before I get to the word verification section. I copy my document and paste the contents into the form. Blood pumps loudly in my ears. I click “verify my word count.”

And nothing happens.

The spinny wheel of death pops up and still nothing. I refresh the page, only to find I have to copy and paste my text once more. This time I wait longer. I’m about to break a pencil in half when an error message appears on the page. What the eff. I try a few more times without success. I hit up Twitter to see if anyone else is having issues. Just as I expect, the frustrated tweets flow on screen. Due to an influx of traffic, the NaNoWriMo website is having problems loading.

Well hell.

Not one to sit in my failure for long, I call a few friends with faster, stronger Internet connections until I find one who can help.

“CanIsendyoumynoveltoverifyformeplease?”

“Sure.”Of course Aja will help. We’ve been friends since first grade. We were in the same Brownies troop. Aren’t the Girl Scouts always preaching preparedness? Or is that Boy Scouts? At the very least, I’m quite certain we sang a song about being friends until the end. And this is as close to the end as I’ve ever come.

Staying on the line, I give Aja my password to log-in. I send her my document, and she runs through the same motions I had earlier. Only this time, instead of a spinny wheel of death or an error, a congratulatory message pops up on her screen.

“’Congratulations,’” she reads to me. “’You did it.’”

While she enters in the necessary information to complete my winner certification, the excitement returns. My eyes burn with unshed tears. For the first time ever, I feel like an author. I can do this. I can live my dream.

September 10, 2015

This isn’t a great time to be leaving town. My third novel launched yesterday, and there’s still a lot to do in the way of promotion. But I did my best to plan ahead. I sent out interviews and guest posts to more than thirty bloggers, and I scheduled my tweets and Facebook posts during the next few days. For the most part everything has gone like clockwork.

Except for one crucial element: one vendor still doesn’t have First & Goal available for sale. Oh, they say it’s available on the publishing dashboard, but the null searches on the purchasing side beg to differ. I suppose this isn’t a big deal—or so I keep telling myself to avoid having a stroke. It doesn’t look terribly professional to have to keep saying “It will be up soon,” to waiting readers, but what can you do?

You can have a heart attack or cry. I’ve come close to both, but to what end? I have a flight to catch for a previously planned business trip. Death and hysteria aren’t practical options.

At least the screening lines at the Lincoln Airport are fast. The small municipal airport usually gets you in and out without much fuss. That’s a good thing. I didn’t sleep much last night—or the night before. In addition to releasing a novel, I spent the previous day wrapping up a bunch of projects at my other job. Then I had to do laundry and pack my suitcase. As icing on the cake, I had to draft a crappy fantasy football team at almost midnight. It wasn’t my best draft, and there’s a lot of opportunity for heartbreak this season.

There’s always next year, I suppose.

Successfully through the TSA search, I park at the gate and pull out my laptop. Maybe there’s something I can do to help my book’s cause before I fly to Indianapolis by way of Chicago. Sure enough a new email appears from my publisher. Great news. The rogue distributor finally has First & Goal up on its site.

“We’ll begin pre-boarding for Chicago, please…”

With limited time, I update my blog and website. I post to Facebook and Twitter. Hopefully this helps me with a few more sales. Almost as quickly, I repack my suitcase and board the airplane. Crammed into the tiny puddle jumper, I check my social media pages and email until we are collectively asked to turn off our mobile devices. We taxi around the tiny tarmac then come to a halt.

A few minutes later, the captain’s voice booms over the intercom. “We’re experiencing some slight delays getting into Chicago. They’re a little backed up on account of some weather in the area. We’re going to hang out here for half an hour, but we’ll get you there as soon as possible.”

Sneaking out my phone, I check the status on my other flight. Still on time. Normally that would be great, but I only have a forty-five minute layover. And my gates are on opposing sides of the airport.

I guess that’s why the phrases “just one of those days” and “it’s always something” exist. Hell.

February 23, 2020

“Just five more minutes,” I plead. “I’m almost done with this scene.”

I said the same thing ten minutes ago, but this time I mean it. I know we should be out the door an on our way already, but there’s no stopping inspiration when it strikes. I’ve always written when the mood arises. I did it ten years ago when my stories were ideas, and I do it now that I’m a best-selling novelist. I can’t change who I am just because someone is in a hurry to hit the Red Carpet.

Not that I can blame him. My husband is up for an Academy Award—again—but this time I have no doubt he’s walking away with Oscar gold. He’s deserved it every time he’s been nominated, but the Academy would have to be crazy not to reward his ingenuity on screen. Besides, this year he has his good luck charm—me. At least that’s what he told me when he walked away with his Golden Globe and SAG awards earlier this season. I’m not sure if there’s any truth to the superstition. But if there is, well, my lucky charm skills can only be stronger now that we’re good and truly married.

(That’s between us right now, though. How we managed to sneak off to Germany for a simple, but beautiful, wedding with only our families and closest friends without alerting the media is still a mystery to me. But it will only be a secret for a few more hours. I snuck a peek at his acceptance speech—the one he won’t carry on stage, but has memorized. I distinctly saw a note to thank his “magnificent wife.” He actually called me magnificent. I’m living a fairy tale.)

I guess luck really is on our side this year. I’m married to one of the sexiest and most brilliant men alive—who is hours away from having “Academy Award winner” attached to his name—and my last five novels have hit number one on the bestseller lists.

And not to toot my own horn too much, but the screen adaptation for one of those books begins filming next month. The hubby and I are headed to the set after we take our overdue honeymoon. I helped pen the screenplay, so who knows? Maybe I’ll be adding “Academy Award winner” to my list of accolades one of these days too. For the moment I’m perfectly content with everything I have, including the scene I am just about to finish—

“My dear,” he calls out. “You know I could sit here and watch you write all day, but the studio will kill me if I don’t make a couple of stops on the Red Carpet. I’d hate to have Harvey tell me I’ll never work in this town again.”

I tear my eyes away from the screen and freeze. No matter how many times I see him in a tuxedo, I never seem able to keep myself from gaping. It’s hard not to—the man looks like he was born wearing an Armani suit.

Swallowing hard, I find my voice at last. “I’m done.” I slam the laptop shut, not caring whether or not I’ve saved the current draft or finished the scene. I rise from the desk in our hotel suite and gently smooth out any wrinkles that might have formed in my vintage Oscar de la Renta gown. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

He captures my hand and raises it to his lips. “Worth waiting for.”

My stomach tumbles. It’s just like I’m seeing him for the first time when we met at that bookstore in London. He was picking up a couple of books to take on a shoot. I was finishing up a signing. That was almost two years ago, and here we are now.

He nods toward my laptop. “Are you at a good place for stopping? We can take a few more—”

“It’s good—great,” I correct myself, squeezing his hand. “And anyways, we can talk about the book later. You won’t have much of a choice when we’re on our way to Fiji. But tonight is about you.”

I can’t resist straightening his already perfect tie, just because I can.

“Your phone is charged?” I nod. “Then you can sneak in another scene in the car or during the commercials. And if any of the acceptance speeches go too long . . .”

Laughter about to erupt, I silence him with a kiss. We pull apart at last, and I can’t even remember what we were talking about. He does that to me. With my thumb, I smooth off the lipstick I inadvertently left on his lips. My shade of red does look nice on him though.

“Shall we?” he asks, taking my hand in his once again.

I nod. He leads me out of the room, down the elevator, and through the lobby to the waiting town car.

The driver scurries to open the door for us. “Ms. Chapman. Mr. Fassbender.”

If this isn’t living the dream, I don’t know what else could possibly compare.

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**GIVEAWAY**

**Click HERE to enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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**Click HERE to see other stops on Laura’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours!

EXCERPT: “This One’s For You” by Brandy Jellum

November 4, 2015 1 Comment

“This One’s For You” by Brandy Jellum

Blurb: All alone in a new state, Brennan Daniels has only the memories of her best friend, Reagan, to keep her company as she starts college.

Reagan is the reason for everything Brennan does—before she died, she made Brennan promise to stay good until she found a man worth keeping. No boys, no dating, and definitely no falling in love—those were the rules for college, and Brennan carved them into the brick walls guarding her heart…

But there’s a fire burning behind those walls, and when Brennan meets Owen Scott, the (mysterious) new guy across the hall, she can’t deny the pull between them. He is everything she should never want. Everyone warns her to stay away—even Owen himself—but the heart wants what the heart wants, even if it knows that it’s going to get hurt—even if it means throwing old promises to new flames…

EXCERPT

My body started to shake as the first tears streamed down my cheeks. I slid down to the floor, pulling my knees to my chest, and rocked back and forth. As more tears fell, my sobs became louder. Everything I had been holding in until that moment burst free from the dam I had carefully built.

Every emotion: anger, sadness, guilt, desperation, fear, anxiety, remorse, and rage overcame me in that single second. Everything I was afraid to let myself feel, I was feeling all at once. My body shook violently as the tears continued to stream down my face, and my throat was hoarse from crying.

It happened—I finally broke.

For the first time in almost a year, I let myself feel something—really feel something. The tears I had shed in the past were nothing compared to the ones I was crying now. The pain was unbearable. I wanted it to all go away. I wanted to rewind the clock just a little bit. I’d rather deal with my brothers acting like fools than to feel this.

This was the moment everyone close to me was waiting for, the moment when I finally let everything sink in. They were waiting for me to break. I was surprised it wasn’t sooner.

My sobs echoed the breaking of my heart. Speaking for the things I couldn’t say—the one thing I wanted to shout loud enough for everyone to hear; it wasn’t fair! Why was the most beautiful person I’d ever known stripped from this earth before it was her time?

Seeing Ronnie, hearing his plan, brought everything to the surface. Why couldn’t he stay away? Everyone was constantly pushing me, and this time they pushed me too far. I went right over the cliff, and there was no end in sight.

I barely heard the soft knock against the bathroom door over the sound of my own sobs. I held my breath, waiting to see if it was just my imagination, when there was another rap against the wooden door.

I heard a loud sigh and a soft thump against the sturdy wood. My chest heaved as I kept as quiet as I could, my face soaked with tears. I wiped at them furiously, trying to get them to stop. The more I fought against it, the faster they seemed to fall.

My mouth was dry. I licked my lips, tasting the saltiness of my broken heart.

“Brennan . . .” Owen said.

“I’ll be out in a moment.”

I bit my bottom lip. I had to get myself together. I needed to get up off the floor, put a smile on my face, and go on like nothing happened. There was a reason why it had taken so long for me to break—I kept pretending I was fine. It wasn’t healthy, but staying on the cold bathroom floor bawling wasn’t either.

I had to go back to the way I was prior to this. I had to grin it and bear it. Like nothing in the world could get me down. It was the only way I was going to survive.

**Find “This One’s For You”: Amazon Barnes & Noble Goodreads

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**About author, Brandy Jellum: Brandy’s passion for writing began long before she actually sat down to write. As a child, she has had an obsession with reading, everything from the classic stories by Jane Austen to YA Fiction by Richelle Mead. Finally, in 2012, she decided to create her own stories for people to fall in love with. Brandy bounces back and forth writing both Romance and Young Adult Fiction (which is mainly just for fun). At the beginning of 2014, Brandy signed a contract with publishing company Booktrope. She is very excited about the next chapter of her life and cannot wait to share her books and passion with readers. When she isn’t writing, she can be found chasing after her husband, her four children and her black lab, Diesel. Or curled up on her favorite corner of the couch with her newest book.

**Contact Brandy: Website Facebook Twitter

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**GIVEAWAY**

**Click HERE to enter to win the Rafflecopter giveaway!

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**Click HERE to see other stops on Brandy’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour!

Playing All the Angles

April 16, 2015 3 Comments

“Playing All the Angles” by Nicole Lane

Blurb: Dominic Phillips is an enjoyable distraction from fashion designer Eve D’Amico’s loneliness, but there’s never been anything more between them than hot sex. Since he desires no commitment from her either, it’s pretty much the perfect arrangement…except for the fact that he’s dating her sister Isabelle.Eve’s grown used to being the promiscuous black sheep of her family ever since an unplanned pregnancy at age fourteen, and Isabelle is the only one in the D’Amico clan who doesn’t treat her like a second class citizen. Eve doesn’t exactly revel in the idea of hurting her sister if the truth ever comes out.Just when she starts hitting it off with the sexy new neighbor next door, her world is turned upside-down when Dominic reveals his plans to marry Isabelle. As if things weren’t complicated enough, life decides to throw another surprise her way, and Eve is suddenly trapped with another secret to add to a much more shocking one from her past, both of which threaten to destroy every relationship she’s ever hoped to have. She must soon decide whether to reveal the truth and save her sister from a man who’s incapable of commitment, or to keep her lips sealed and secure her own place in the family. For now, though, she will dance around that decision for as long as she can, keeping everyone in check by Playing All the Angles.

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Excerpt:

“Your sister is a right piece of work, you know that?” Dominic said, looking up from the paper to watch Isabelle at the stove as she made breakfast.

“Which one?”

“You know which. The one who hates me.”

Isabelle turned to look at him. “Eve doesn’t hate you.”

“She doesn’t much like me, either,” he said, folding the paper. “Of course, she’s not fond of her own family, so I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”

She frowned. “They’re too hard on her. She’s living her life the way she wants to. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“She’s living life to spite them, more like. Doing whatever she can to piss them off.”

“If she wanted to do that, she’d flirt with Doyle. That’s the one thing that would send Alora over the edge.”

“You think?” Dominic laughed. “I think her ignoring him sets Lora off. If she gave him attention, it would validate Alora’s taste, especially since she’s always on about what a slag Eve is. Ignoring Doyle makes Alora look like a fool.”

Isabelle put her hands on her hips. “You’ve thought a lot about this.”

“I’ve been watching, yeah.”

“She ignores you, too. I don’t feel any less validated.”

“Well, look at me. Then look at Doyle. Of course you feel validated.”

She snorted a laugh. “Is that what all this was leading up to? You want me to tell you how handsome and wonderful you are?”

“Maybe.”

“You don’t have to ask, you know. Didn’t I make it clear last night…and this morning?”

“Hmm, I dunno. It’s still a bit fuzzy. I think you might need another demonstration for it to really stick.”

She leaned over and kissed him. “After breakfast.”

“Now.” He pulled her over by the ties on her robe, then dug his hands into her hair as he kissed her. He had managed to get the robe off and had her on his lap when the smell of burning bacon interrupted, and Isabelle leaped away to move the frying pan from the stove. He followed, flicking off the burners before grabbing her and carrying her back into the bedroom.

From the bed, Isabelle watched their reflections in the mirror above the dresser as Dominic drove himself into her, his face buried in the curve of her neck. Her eyes traced the lines of his body from his muscular shoulders, down his back, to his thrusting hips, and she marveled that this man was in love with her.

A glint from the stone in her engagement ring caught her attention, and she slid her left hand down his bicep, watching the diamond solitaire glitter. Her hand looked so small on his arm. He was cut out of marble, tall and broad, making her long angles soft by comparison. Everything about him made her soft, she thought as she wound her arms and legs around him, pulling him closer, wanting more. She could never get enough of the feel of his skin, his body rocking against hers.

Dominic lifted his face to look into her eyes, tender and warm, before dropping his mouth to hers. For a few seconds, Isabelle lost track of everything but her building tension and the sound of her own breath. He made her feel things she hadn’t felt before. He made her forget there had ever been anyone else.

**Buy “Playing All the Angles” now!: Amazon Barnes & Noble

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**About author, Nicole Lane:

Nicole Lane is a graduate of the Danielle Steel and Judith Krantz school of romance. The grander the drama, the higher the stakes, the better! This balances out the fact that her everyday life with her little family in North Texas is extremely mundane and quite contented.

She blogs intermittently at www.nicolelaneromance.com.

Find her on Facebook at TheOutsideLane!

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**Click HERE to check out Nicole Lane’s other stops on her Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours!

If I Say No

February 17, 2015 1 Comment

“If I Say No” by Brandy Jellum

Blurb: Reid Harder thought his life was seemingly perfect. He had the woman he loved and nothing could go wrong. The only exception comes in the form of his brother—Rhett.

Set on revenge, his brother will stop at nothing to make Reid pay for his past mistakes. Teaming up with the FBI, Reid is determined to put an end to his brother once and for all. But sometimes, fate has other plans in store. His relationship with Liza is falling apart, enemies become friends, and family becomes his worst nightmare. With the future unknown, Reid must figure out a way to make amends with his past if he wants to move forward with his future.

EXCERPT

“You have to tell her, Reid.” He looks me in the eye. “You’re going to lose her if you don’t.”

“That’s easy for you to say.” My tone is harsher than I intended it to be. “I’m the one who could lose everything.”

“The worst thing that could happen is that Liza leaves you, which is going to happen anyway if you do nothing.” He’s always the sensible one. “You can’t expect her to give you her all and give only her a little of you in return. She’s been through too much already. She deserves to know the truth.”

“It’s not an easy truth to tell, Marco.”

“You were young; you made a mistake. Isn’t that what you’re always preaching to her? You’d end up a hypocrite if you didn’t feel the same about yourself.” I say nothing. “Or, you can just let her stay gone. That’s easier, right? Safer for her, too.”

Bastard.

“Better, though?” he asks pointedly. “I think we both know the answer to that.”

I know he is right. Liza leaving me tonight is only the beginning. The longer I keep her in the dark, the worse it’s going to get. Liza knows about the women in my past and how little they meant. But if she knew my true darkness—if she knew how much like my brother I once was—she’d walk away without looking back.

No. She’d probably run.

“Your choice,” Marco says before he heads back to his room. “I wouldn’t wait too long if I were you.”

Find “If I Stay”: Amazon Barnes & Noble Goodreads

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**About author, Brandy Jellum:

Brandy’s passion for writing began long before she actually sat down to write. As a child, she has had an obsession with reading, everything from the classic stories by Jane Austen to YA Fiction by Richelle Mead. Finally, in 2012, she decided to create her own stories for people to fall in love with. Brandy bounces back and forth writing both Romance and Young Adult Fiction (which is mainly just for fun).

At the beginning of 2014, Brandy signed a contract with publishing company Booktrope. She is very excited about the next chapter of her life and cannot wait to share her books and passion with readers.

When she isn’t writing, she can be found chasing after her husband, her four children and her black lab, Diesel. Or curled up on her favorite corner of the couch with her newest book.

**Contact Brandy: Website Facebook Twitter

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**Click HERE to see other stops on Brandy’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour!

**Click HERE to enter a chance to win “If I Say Yes” (book 1)

C.C. Solomon

September 1, 2014 1 Comment

“The Mission” by C.C. Solomon

Rule #6: Be mysterious, but always approachable…keep him wanting more!

Rule #11: Always remember, no sex in the beginning. Make him wait!

Rule #19: You’ve got to give a little to get a little. Be giving of yourself, and it will make a lasting impression to keep your Mr. Right.

Sheila and Denise are successful, funny and attractive, but very single women. Not that being single is horrible; but when Denise is hassled to have a date to an old friend’s wedding-of-the-century, and Shelia needs an escort to an industry banquet where everyone who’s anyone will be in attendance, being single loses its perks. To add to the dilemma, Sheila tells a little white lie to her workplace nemesis about dating a successful music producer, which explodes into a career-threatening rumor. Under extreme pressure from family, friends and coworkers, they resort to making a pact. Their Mission: Get A Man in Three Months. They will use “proven” rules to finding their Mr. Rights. Rules that worked for a friend of a friend …how hard could it be?

Join them in their hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking adventures as chapter by chapter they follow a new rule, and delve into the treacherous world of Washington, D.C. dating. The gal pals suffer through speed dating (Sam Needs-a-Bath). They allow themselves to be set up on blind dates (Bitter Crying Kevin). They try a dating service (Apron-Strings Adrian). They try the bar scene (Smoky the Bear who smokes more than cigars). They even meet men in the beauty salon (Javier Not Quite Straight). And there’s more, much more. Surrounded by family drama, workplace stressors and their own hang-ups about love, will the rules actually help them find their Mr. Rights in time for their events?

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GUEST POST

My Inspiration to Write the Mission

You know that part in Sex and the City where the girls are at breakfast and Charlotte says (through a hangover) that she’s been dating since she was 15 and wants to know where he (the proverbial “One”) is? Yeah, well after one too many conversations like that I decided to write The Mission. Not an endless gripe about wondering when Mr. Right would show up but based on conversations with gal pals about our dating adventures (and I say adventures on purpose).

Crazy enough I first started this book several years ago when I was younger than the characters now I’m slightly older and can still relate. And I do mean relate. I’ve been in many a scenario in dating, some of it so crazy that instead of getting upset about yet another mishap, I decided to write about it. I mean when a date rear ends your car when you’re leaving the restaurant you can’t help but think, this has gotta be good for something (either that or cry).

So I took to writing. No, I’m not throwing guys I’ve dated under the bus. The tales in The Mission are simply inspired by actual events but not real play by plays. Kind of the way The Exorcist was inspired by actual events. We don’t really believe a kid was spitting up pea soup do we? Well actually yeah, I could see a kid doing that (I still hate peas).

But I digress. I not only wrote The Mission as a cathartic way to vent about dating and serve as a creative outlet for my dating experiences but also as an ode to the ever growing genre of chick lit. And boy am I a chick lit (and chick flick) gal. From popular ones like Confessions of a Shopaholic to lesser known ones like His Insignificant Other, I eat up a good chick lit novel.

These are not your sappy romance novels. Sure romance is always in there in some way but what defines chick lit is a story of a woman doing any of the following: finding herself, struggling with family and friendships or overcoming an obstacle to reach a better self. And it’s always done with a little (or a lot) of humor. It’s about female empowerment. Yes the fairy tale ending is cute but I love a story that takes me somewhere emotionally or one I can truly relate to. So yes, I was inspired by other chick lit novels.

I was also inspired to fill a gap that I hadn’t found too many authors to fill. That of the minority chick lit novel. Truly it wouldn’t be vastly different from your regular style of chick lit but once in a while it’s nice to have a character that looks like yourself around. Not only that, there are some differences to acknowledge from the point of view of a woman of color when it comes to romantic comedy. Especially in a town like D.C. Sure we all have our dating war stories and rules for love but try being a single, successful brown gal in a political, transitory and predominantly female town like D.C. What stories could come from that perspective? Could The Rules, Think(ing) Like a Man and Tough Love really work in this town? Well those questions inspired me to write the Mission.

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About the author, C.C. Solomon: C.C. is originally from Baltimore, Maryland and has actively written fiction since the age of eleven. She is an avid “chick lit” reader and urban fantasy fan. In 2012, she participated as a writer and actress in the 48 hour film project. In her other life, she works in Equal Employment and Civil Rights for the Federal Government. Before becoming a public servant, C.C. briefly practiced law after graduating from the University of Maryland School of Law. C.C. currently resides in the Washington D.C. area and is an active blogger. The Mission is C.C.’s first novel and she is working on her next novel in the genre of urban fantasy.

**Contact C.C.: Website Facebook Twitter

**Book links: Amazon Barnes & Noble

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**Click HERE to see other stops on C.C.’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours!

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**GIVEAWAY**

**Everyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases a copy of The Mission by September 8 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at)ChickLitPlus.com will receive 10 bonus entries!**

Karyn Rae

August 20, 2014 1 Comment

About author, Karyn Rae: Karyn Rae is an emerging Romantic-Suspense author. Her debut novel, The Achilles Heel was released in May 2014. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, and the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild. Karyn resides in Missouri with her husband, son, daughter, and chocolate lab- Augusta Mae.

The first part of Karyn’s life was spent in the South, and the last fifteen years have played out in the Midwest, but she’s still holding on to a shred of her Southern roots. She is a wife, mother, daughter, and sister who has made it her mission in life to carve out a career for herself, while keeping the husband and the children happy.

**Contact: Website

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five words: I write from the heart.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? Paperback or eBook. Hardback books seem too grown up for me, but I love holding an actual book in my hands. EBooks are helpful because of the lit screen, and I have a child that likes to sneak into my bed at night. At that point, turning on a lamp is out of the question; never wake a sleeping kid!

Tell us about your writing/editing publishing process: In one word- long! I’m working on my second book (the sequel to The Achilles Heel) and I’ve already found a process that feels right. Every time I sit down to write, I go back three chapters and begin reading from there. It helps to put me back into the story, and by the time I get to my last stopping point, I’m ready to move forward with the writing. After I finished my first book, one of the best pieces of advice I got was to step away from the story. I took a month off before I went back to do my first round of edits, and I felt like a reader not just the author. I’ll definitely keep that as part of my process.

When writing, what is your favorite snack or drink to have beside you? I don’t like to eat when I write because I hate sticky fingers. I usually have a glass of water on my side table, but I get so engrossed into the story, I forget to drink any of it.

In your writing, what are some of your strengths and weaknesses? Strengths- writing about real and relatable people, even if the situation isn’t. Romantic suspense is my genera, so I want the readers to be in the story, feeling the highs and lows with the characters.

Weaknesses- punctuation and run-on sentences. I wasn’t a journalism or English major, so I have a lot of work to do in the mechanics department of writing.

Do you have any writing ritual? I used to need everything perfectly in place to be able to write, but then summer hit. I have two kids that are out of school for summer break and perfection was thrown out the window. It’s good though. I’m glad I’ve been able to adapt to my environment. Life is always changing, and you either need to get on board or you’ll get left behind.

Which author inspires you? There are so many answers to this question. On a world-wide level- Gillian Flynn. Gillian is a Midwest girl who has conquered the world. She continues to raise the bar higher, and I love that. On a local level- Liz Schulte. Liz has self-published numerous novels and makes a comfortable living as a full-time author. She writes what she wants and keeps her own schedule.

What is your favorite word? Baby. I grew up in the south and the word baby has so many different meanings. It’s an all-encompassing term of endearment that makes my heart smile when I call my daughter, baby, but also makes me swoon when I hear it from a man. I love that one word can make me feel so many emotions.

Is the social media a help or a hinder? For me social media is a God send. I’m a no-name, first time author, trying to break into a billion dollar business. I’ll take all the help I can get.

What is your favorite topic to write about? I love a good mystery. As a reader, I love to figure out the mystery as soon as possible. I’m uber competitive, so I feel a sense of accomplishment if I can guess the ending. As a writer, my agenda is the complete opposite. When I wrote a five year plan for myself, I specifically wrote that I would have no less than five twists in each book. I love leading readers on, stroking their confidence, and making them think they have the ending of the book figured out. Then, I sweep the legs at the end, blindsiding them with another twist.

What do you want your readers to take away from your books? I’m a mom who lives an ordinary life. I want to be taken away from fighting, cleaning, bills, cooking and basically working for other people (mostly small people). When someone chooses my book, I feel as though I have a responsibility to take them away from their life. My books probably won’t make you smarter or change your life, but they will certainly help you escape it.

What are you working on right now? Right now, I’m halfway through the sequel to The Achilles Heel. I have seven notebooks, each filled with the details for another story. I have the material; I just need to find the time to write them all.

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“The Achilles Hell” by Karyn Rae: Annie Whitman’s ordinary Midwest life is shattered with the sudden death of her husband Jack. Thirty-five and failing at life as a widow, she turns to the comforts of vodka in an attempt to camouflage the cold sheets of an empty bed. The necessary inebriation helps her to cope with Jack’s death, but proves to be a deterrent in recovering any sense of normalcy. After spending several months at the bottom of a bottle, Annie stumbles upon a lockbox in the crawl space of her basement. Opening this box also opens her eyes to the likelihood that Jack Whitman might not have been the honest and doting man she married.

Annie embarks on a mission to the Virgin Islands to uncover the truth about her husband’s past and seek safety from her brother-in-law, who seems to be the captain of his own sinking ship. While settling into paradise, she meets the wickedly handsome, but surprisingly reserved Kessler Carlisle, who is struggling with his retirement from country music superstardom. With Kessler’s help, Annie discovers the heart’s uncanny ability to heal, and the possibility that dead men don’t always keep their secrets-even if they’re buried in the Caribbean waters of St. Croix.

The Achilles Heel delves into the formidable fact that everyone harbors darkness, and some will go to the depths of the ocean to keep their secrets hidden.

**Buy “The Achilles Heel”: Amazon

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**Click HERE to see other stops on Karyn’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour!

(Also, everyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases a copy of The Achilles Heel by September 1 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at)ChickLitPlus.com will receive 10 bonus entries!**

Glynis Astie

July 8, 2014 4 Comments

GlynisAstiePic

About author, Glynis Astie: Glynis never expected in her wildest dreams to be a writer. After thirteen years in the Human Resources Industry, she decided to stay at home with her two amazing sons. Ever in search of a project, she was inspired to write the story of how she met and married her wonderfully romantic French husband, Sebastien, in six short months. The end result became her first novel, French Twist.

As this novel is only the beginning the story, Glynis has just released the sequel, French Toast and has begun writing the final chapter in the trilogy, French Fry. When she is not writing, she is trying to keep the peace amongst the three men and two cats in her life, finding missing body parts (Lego pieces are small!), supervising a myriad of homework assignments and keeping a tenuous hold on her sanity by consuming whatever chocolate is in the vicinity.

Contact Glynis: Website Facebook Goodreads Twitter

Buy “French Toast”: Amazon Google Play iTunes

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five sentences: Yikes! You started me off with a difficult question. My writing style is very casual. I let the thoughts spill out of my head, sarcasm and all, for the reader to enjoy. I speak directly to the reader often, encasing my questions and rants in parenthesis. I do not have the flair for the dramatic, but prefer to make people laugh. And look at that! I did it in four sentences!

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? While I love the feel of a book in my hands (and yes, there is a wonderful smell to a book), I prefer the volume of books that I am able to carry with me on my Kindle. A girl has to have options! I am also very happy with the fact the my mischievous three-year-old son cannot lose my place by snatching out whatever random scrap of paper I could find to mark my page in a paperback, so that I could deal whatever his urgent issue happens to be. (Another Angry Birds puzzle, anyone?)

What made you want to become an author? Oddly enough, I never had aspirations to become an author. Truth be told, I HATED writing when I was younger. Over the years, writing became an integral part of my job as a Human Resources Manager (those disciplinary actions can be very tricky) and I found that I had quite an affinity for the written word. After a year of being solely a stay at home mom, I sought a personal project and somehow ended up writing a book! I still remember telling my sister that I had decided to take my adorable meet-cute with my husband and turn it into a Chick Lit novel and thinking that she was going to tell me that I was crazy. Instead, she encouraged me all the way through that book and was an amazing editor. She is also the creative mind behind my gorgeous book covers.

Who or what inspires you? My beautiful boys inspire me on a daily basis. Granted, they often make me want to tear every last hair out of my head and the only thing that prevents me from actually doing this is that I totally cannot pull off the bald look. But they are also wonderful, charming and insightful. They make me strive not only to be a better mother but to be a better person. They give me a unique perspective of the world that I would not trade for anything.

Between writing/editing/publishing, which was your favorite process? I love the process of writing. The concept of pulling a story out of nowhere and nurturing it until it is just the way you want it to be is amazing. (Not to mention REALLY hard.)

How did you celebrate when your first book was published? I jumped around like a little school girl for a good ten minutes and then went out for ice cream with my three boys (husband included.) Nothing says celebration like a brownie sundae!

How do you come up with the titles of your books? My current book titles are fairly easy, since they all start with the word “French” as a reference to my relationship with my very romantic French husband. 😉 I am a big fan of playing on words. I called my first book French Twist since my husband was a most unexpected plot twist in my life. I chose French Toast for the second book as a question for the reader – would Sydney and Louis be raising a glass in celebration or would their marriage be toast? And the next book, will be called French Fry. I am going to leave that one a mystery…

Describe your typical day? A typical day means dropping my older son off at school and running to the gym with my younger son. He gets to play with his friends while I force myself to exercise in an attempt to keep the stress at bay. We then come home, have lunch and I try to convince him that a nap would be a great idea. He absolutely needs the rest (cranky much?) and I need the time to work. Eventually I get him to sleep and I hurry around Twitter, Facebook, blogs and my email account doing my best to catch up with everyone and everything so that I can work on my book. Unfortunately, I never seem to get to it! Before I know it, my older son comes home from school, we do homework, have dinner, play games and get ready for bed. Then I try to make myself do work before falling asleep by 10pm.

What is the most challenging part of being an author? Finding the time to write! At least, that is my current predicament. I try so hard to get everything else done so that I can concentrate on my story, but inevitably life interferes. One of my kids gets sick, a friend needs some last minute help or my house is just so messy that I can’t even look at it anymore. On the rare occasions that I have time to write, inspiration will not always strike. My characters are as tempestuous as I am and I’m guessing that they are pouting after being ignored for so long.

If you could meet any author, who would it be? That is such a tough question. There are so many good choices! My top three would be Agatha Christie, Lucy Maude Montgomery and J.K. Rowling. (I am a HUGE Potterhead.) Since J.K. Rowling is the only one that is still living, that would have to be my choice since I am not currently in possession of a time machine.

What do you want readers to take away from your books? I want them to laugh! As a reader, I tend to go for light, fun books since my life is so busy and can be quite stressful. When I actually have five minutes to myself and I decide to be decadent and read, I would like to laugh out loud. It is such a wonderfully cathartic feeling that I would like to share with as many people as I can.

What are you working on now? I am currently working on the last installment in my French Twist series, French Fry. Sydney and Louis have finally gotten through their three weddings (intrigued, aren’t you?) and are ready to settle into a quiet married life. Given that their courtship and marriage was quite the rollercoaster ride, it is highly unlikely that this will happen for them…

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Blurb of “French Toast”: Sydney Bennett is back! And her pursuit of perfection is alive and well. Naïve to the core, Sydney believed that when she finally married the man of her dreams, the hard part was over. Following a civil ceremony as a means to keep Louis from being deported, Sydney continues to plan the fairytale wedding that she had dreamed of since the age of five. Much to her chagrin, she discovers that her mother-in-law is planning what seems to be a rival wedding in France that SHE has been dreaming about for her only child since before he was born. How will poor Sydney be able to ensure two perfect weddings in the midst of Louis’ fruitless job search? Especially when her mother-in-law’s idea of perfection appears to be having Sydney embarrass herself in front of hundreds of French people that she has never met?

As if she didn’t have enough on her mind already, Sydney finds herself faced with the trials and tribulations of being a wife. Sydney had always heard that marriage was hard, but she thought that this was just a ruse that married couples portrayed in a bid to make single girls feel less desperate. But as the bills pile up and emotions run high, she realizes that there may just be some truth to this statement. And as she watches Louis’ perfection fade away before her very eyes, she begins to wonder if she made a rash decision in marrying a man that she had known for a mere six months.

With all of the obstacles that Sydney and Louis will encounter, will they be raising their glasses in celebration or watching their impulsive marriage crash and burn? One thing is for certain, Sydney and Louis Durand are headed for one hell of a toast…

Excerpt of “French Toast”:

Meet Sydney Durand

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. She couldn’t possibly be serious. Could she? I opened my eyes, looked over at Louis and tried to smile. I can only imagine the look that registered on my face, but I highly doubt it was anything remotely positive. Louis had just finished telling me about his mother’s latest plans for our wedding. I took another deep breath and reminded myself, yet again, that I had agreed to let her plan the wedding in its entirety (with the exception of choosing my wedding dress.) Why would I agree to something so completely insane? It might have had something to do with the fact that this would be our third wedding.

That’s right, I said THIRD wedding and no, I do not have an Elizabeth Taylor complex. And I can prove it! Allow me to give you the short version. After a disastrous romantic history dating back to college, I, Sydney Bennett, was swept off of my feet by the incredible Frenchman, Louis Durand. Louis was in California on business, but following our first week together, he accepted a transfer from his company’s Paris office to the San Jose office. To the great shock of our families and friends, we became engaged a few weeks later. We began planning a beautiful wedding in Monterey for the following September, only to be thwarted by Louis’ unexpected job loss in January. In order to avoid his deportation, we were married shortly thereafter in my home town of Haverstraw, New York. So that my dreams of a beautiful wedding would not be crushed, we elected to have the originally planned event in Monterey as well. Everyone needs gorgeous wedding photos! The first wedding was definitely more practical than gorgeous.

One would think that two weddings would be more than enough for one couple in love, but due to Louis’ status as an only child with an extremely large extended family and his mother’s dream of a wedding that his whole town (population four hundred) would attend, we simply had to have one more wedding. Besides, a wedding in the beautiful French countryside sounded amazing, right? This way my family and I would have the opportunity to experience the wedding customs of Louis’ country as he and his family would experience the customs of ours at the wedding in Monterey. (The first wedding was kind of light on customs as it was predominantly a vehicle to keep Louis in the country.) My mother and siblings were thrilled at the prospect of a trip to France, while my father bemoaned the fact that he would have to set foot in traitorous territory. He is German and likes to complain. Although I was absolutely sure that he was practically drooling at the prospect of the gastronomic experiences in his future.

While three weddings did afford a certain amount of stress, in the end, I think that it helped me. My mother had planned the first wedding (in the span of one week), I was planning the second wedding (in the span of one year) and Louis’ mother was planning the third (in the span of Louis’ lifetime.) This allowed for all parties to end up with a wedding they were happy with. I must admit that the idea having three different wedding dresses is kind of fun. Hey, now! There is no need to judge! The three events are very different levels of formality. The first was an informal town hall wedding, the second would be a formal evening wedding and the third would be an afternoon wedding in the French countryside. If you really think about it, you will realize that having three wedding dresses is an absolute necessity.

Now that my seemingly ludicrous statement of three weddings has been explained, we can return to the problem at hand. Louis has just informed me that his mother, Simone, has purchased an ensemble for me to wear to the rehearsal dinner. (Honestly, this is becoming comical. This will be our THIRD rehearsal dinner.) Let me remind you that Louis’ mother has a very…particular fashion sense. All of the garments she wears are short, tight, brightly colored and/or bedazzled. Given the fact that she is sixty years old, my hat goes off to her. I hope that I have the guts to wear miniskirts into my sixties. She is my hero! Having said that, I have never been one to dress that….um…how do I put this? Let’s just say that my taste is slightly more conservative.

Louis was practically in tears from laughing so hard as he described the dress to me. Simone had chosen a gold sequined halter mini dress with red satin roses on the straps and red satin ruffles along the bottom of the skirt. She also saw fit to purchase red satin stilettos with matching red satin roses on the toes. I resisted the urge to strangle my husband and began to pace the room. Clearly I made a serious error in judgment when I allowed Simone to make all decisions for the wedding except for my wedding dress. In my defense, I really didn’t think that her purview extended to my wardrobe choices for pre wedding events. It was becoming quite obvious that I had a lot to learn about her…

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**Click HERE to see other stops on Glynis’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour!

**Click HERE to enter to win a $35 Amazon Gift Card!

The End of the Blog Tour

June 30, 2014 7 Comments

Hello, everyone, and happy Monday!

Well, family, friends and followers, today is the last day of my Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour, but it seems like it just started. Bloggers have shared excerpts, guest posts, interviews, have written reviews of “The Right Design,” and I can’t thank them enough. It was an amazing experience. As a new author who published in March, the attention my book has received has been wonderful, mostly thanks to this tour. My sales increased (get your copy now for only $0.99!), the book was shared with more people than I could have ever imagined, and I was received into authorhood with open arms. Without Samantha, who made it so much fun, was professional and in charge of it all, I couldn’t have done it without her, (and yes, when the time comes, I will be working with her again for my next tour).

Now that I’m back from a week-long vacation (one I desperately needed) and am feeling better (YAY!), for the next few weeks, I will be working on my second draft of my next release, CARDS FROM KHLOE’S FLOWER SHOP, its blurb, and other publishing details. Wish me luck!

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Anyway, if you haven’t had a chance to check out all the stops, here they are:

June 16- Keep Calm and Blog On – Review

June 17 – Relatively Yours – Guest Post & Excerpt

June 18- eBook Addict – Guest Post

June 19 – Storm Goddess Book Reviews – Review & Q&A

June 20 – Karen’s Korner – Review

June 23 – Jiha’s File – Review

June 24 – Samantha March – Q&A & Excerpt

June 25 – Clippings in the Shed – Guest Post & Excerpt

June 27 – Elke Feuer – Guest Post

June 30- Chick Lit Plus – Review

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Here are just a few comments from reviews:

“The Right Design is a quick, fun read that could help you relax during an afternoon by the pool.” Keep Calm and Blog On

“The Right Design is a light story of relationships, self discovery and finding real love.” Storm Goddess Book Reviews

“The Right Design is full of humor, drama and romance – the ultimate chick lit book.” Karen’s Korner

“I highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys reading chick lit!” Jiha’s File

“A wonderful combination of light-heartedness but with several poignant moments, The Right Design delivers something for everyone.” Chick Lit Plus

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SALE ENDS TODAY!

“The Right Design” is only $0.99!

AMAZON * BARNES & NOBLE

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**Everyone who leaves a comment the Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour page (click HERE) will be entered to win a The Right Design prize pack! Prizes include an eBook of The Right Design, plus a mug and pen! Please note this is open to US/CA residents only!**

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