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Women's Fiction

The Champagne Diet

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Book review of “The Champagne Diet”

TheChampagneDietPic“The Champagne Diet” by Cara Alwill Leyba

Book Description:

This book is for the woman who wants to feel good about herself and her body, and learn how to start incorporating healthy habits into her life. It’s for the woman who doesn’t want to trade in her champagne for skinny jeans. It’s for the woman who is done with dieting, and ready to start paying attention to her health before that number on the scale. It’s for the woman who is ready to stop letting her weight define her, and is ready to understand why it always did. This is not a diet book. This is a lifestyle guide. This book will change the way you view your weight and yourself forever. You will walk away feeling empowered, inspired, and downright sexy (and probably craving a glass of bubbly). You will learn how to celebrate yourself and your body. You will learn to make your health a priority, always. And most importantly – you will learn to love yourself, exactly as you are. So get ready to embark on a complete dieting and lifestyle overhaul, sister. You are now on The Champagne Diet!

My Review:

As a champagne lover, I loved the title of Cara’s book! To have the words champagne and diet in the same sentence was music to my ears, so I was very eager to read it. The healthy tips are a lifestyle change that any type of woman could use — especially if they’re wanting to start off the new year the right way. The Champagne Diet emphasizes on choosing the right foods and living happy life, without feeling bad about yourself. Not only does it give tips on showing how sexy you can be, but also gives you tips on feeling sexy, too.

While this book was a good read and it did motivate me to be healthy while feeling sexy (with a glass of bubbly, of course), the only negative thing I can say about The Champagne Diet was that there was a lot of repetition.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves champagne, and wants a fancy and fun lifestyle change.

I give this book 3 stars!

CaraAlwillLeybaPic**About Cara Alwill Leyba:

Cara Alwill Leyba is a best selling author and life coach from New York City who encourages women to live their most effervescent lives and celebrate themselves. She runs an international private coaching practice where she works with women who are ready to make their happiness a priority. Through loving guidance, support and an expert perspective, Cara empowers women to be the change agent in their lives.

Her blog, TheChampagneDiet.com has been featured in Glamour, Shape, Marie Claire UK, Cosmopolitan South Africa, and a host of other publications worldwide. Cara’s writing has been featured in The Huffington Post, Marie Claire, xoJane, Mind Body Green, and many other sites.

Cara is the author of two books: Sparkle: The Girl’s Guide to Living a Deliciously Dazzling, Wildly Effervescent, Kick-Ass Life, which was a #1 Amazon best seller in the Happiness and Self-Esteem categories, and The Champagne Diet: Eat, Drink, and Celebrate Your Way to a Healthy Mind and Body, which was a #2 Amazon best seller in Self-Esteem.

When she’s not popping bubbly and blogging, Cara spends her days leading a digital advertising team at MTV Networks. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and dog.

**Contact Cara: Facebook   Instagram   Pinterest   Twitter

**Buy “The Champagne Diet”: Amazon – Kindle   Amazon – Paperback

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

Jennifer Zane

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**About author, Jennifer Zane: Jennifer Zane has lived all over the country–from Georgia to Maryland, New York to Colorado, including an exciting five years in Montana. Her time in Big Sky country was the basis for this book. When she’s not writing, she savors the insanity of raising two boys, is figuring out how many meals she can make with a pressure cooker, and teaches a pretty mean karate class. She currently lives with her family in Colorado.

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five words: Funny, inventive, zany, sarcastic, witty

Coffee or tea? Coffee in the am is required. Tea with dessert. Sadly, no caffeine (either coffee OR tea) after 3pm.

What is the writing/editing/publishing process like for you? (Write, revisit, rewrite, share with my critique partners, rewrite) repeat until done. Beta readers, rewrite, then editor. Publishing is a biggie and I could write two pages, so I’ll stop now.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? I love going to the library so I love a real book. I love for my kids to pick out a real book as well. But, I love my ereader for travel and for all the free books you can download and collect.

Who or what inspires your writing? Everyone around me. My kids always have an experience everyone can relate to. Friends who let something silly slip out. My dad ate sardines right from the can over Thanksgiving and my entire house smelled like roadkill for hours. That’s going in the next book, no question.

How do you come up with the titles of your books? Gnome On The Range was fairly easy since the garden gnome plays the central plot point of the story. It takes place in Montana so it was a given. As for the others, there’s mayhem in all so I wanted the titles to be playful and fun. Lighthearted, but with a hint of what’s inside.

Every writer must have a…: an ability to type VERY fast. I’m a speed typer. My kids are stunned at how fast my fingers can go. If I had to hunt and peck all the time I’d still be on book 1.

How did you celebrate when your first book was published? My critique group had a dessert potluck. It launched over the Christmas holiday so we were a little behind. It was fairly anticlimactic because when you hit that publish button, no fireworks go off. I think I thought they would!

What is something about yourself that people would be surprised to know? I stubbed my middle toe on some table leg or something and didn’t realize I’d broken the top little toe knuckle. It healed funny and fused so that that little toe knuckle doesn’t bend anymore when I curl my toes. So my middle toe stays out. It’s possible for me to give you the ‘finger’ with my right foot. Not many people can do that!

What time of day do you work best? The minute the school bus picks up the kids and then for the next 6.5 hours.

What is the best advice you’ve been given? Go with your gut. It’s always right.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? I’m very excited to have Liar, Liar, Hearts On Fire come out on 1/16/14.

GUEST POST

Liar, Liar, Hearts On Fire
Cast Of Characters

Violet Miller- 1st grade teacher, identical twin of Veronica. Single. Looking for Mr. Right but, so far, only found a bunch of Mr. Wrongs.

Mike Ostranski- Podiatrist and Bozeman’s most eligible bachelor (due to the fact that he’s a ginger-haired, super-sized hottie). Feeling the pressure to provide his mother with a grandchild.

Goldie West- Owner of Goldilocks, Bozeman’s adult store. #1 meddler in the lives of everyone around her, especially those who are single. Wreaks havoc on a daily basis; especially generous with her gift boxes of sex toys (as seen in Gnome On The Range, Plumb Crazy and Mischief Under The Mistletoe)

Jane West- Goldie’s daughter-in-law and heroine in Gnome On The Range. Engaged to Ty Strickland (hot fireman hero of Gnome On The Range). Works at Goldilocks.

Zach West- Jane’s young son who bought George the Gnome at a garage sale (in Gnome On The Range) and is slightly obsessed with his little ceramic friend.

Mrs. O– aka- Claudine Ostranski. Mike’s mother. Retired karate instructor on a do-or-die mission to have her son married and giving her grandchildren.

Mr. O- Mike’s dad. Has a helmet of white hair. Quiet, likes Alaskan wildlife.

Banks, Trish and Alex- Mike’s cousin, wife and young son. Banker, lawyer and Kindergartner.

Uncle Bob– aka- Jubal Early. Mike’s uncle, retired Air Force man stationed at Elmendorf in Alaska. Biggest Civil War buff in his time-zone.

Jean-Luc and Marc- Uncle Bob’s identical twin (yes, a very attractive coincidence) nephews on his ex-wife’s side. Very French, very hot and very interested in Violet. Neither speak a word of English. Have a very strong penchant for sharing.

Susan- Psycho woman with perfect breasts who lives next door to Uncle Bob. ‘Interested in Mike’ would be a serious understatement.

Veronica Miller- Violet’s identical twin sister. Works part-time for Goldie, runs her own plumbing business. Heroine in Plumb Crazy.

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**Blurb of “Liar, Liar, Hearts on Fire”:

Violet Miller is a teacher savoring her summer break until she’s been called in as emergency reinforcements—of the dating kind. She volunteers to help an old flame by pretending to be his girlfriend. In Alaska. At a family reunion. Since the guy is a handsome, lumberjack-sized doctor she’s never quite forgotten, faking a relationship won’t be hard work.

Mike Ostranski is a desperate man on vacation. His mother wants grandchildren and sees a crazy Alaskan woman as a candidate for daughter-in-law. Mike needs Violet by his side to deflect the lady’s advances.

A week in Alaska as boyfriend and girlfriend should be easy for them. They grew up together, even had a brief fling. What could go wrong?

Everything.

**Want a sneak peek at the first chapter of “Liar, Liar, Hearts on Fire”? Jennifer will share it with subscribers only, so be sure to sign up for her newsletter! Click HERE to sign up!

**”Liar, Liar, Hearts on Fire” comes on on January 16th, 2014, but click HERE to read early reviews on Goodreads!

**Contact Jennifer Zane: Email: jennifer@jenniferzane.com   Website   Facebook   Twitter

The Christmas Spirit

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The Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan

Blurb of “The Christmas Spirit”:

Christmas is coming, but not everyone is looking forward to it.

Rebecca has just been dumped and the prospect of spending the holiday period with her parents is less than appealing.

Eighty- two year old Stanley lost his beloved wife, Edie, to cancer. How will he cope with his first Christmas without her?

Jacob’s university degree hasn’t helped him get a job, and it looks like he’ll still be signing on come New Year.

Workaholic Meredith would rather spend December 25th at home alone with a ready meal and a DVD box set. Can anything make her embrace the spirit of the season?

The enigmatic Natalie Hope takes over the reins at the Sugar and Spice bakery and café in an attempt to spread some festive cheer and restore Christmas spirit, but will she succeed?

Chapter 1 tease

D-Day!

Well, my D-Day anyway, thought Natalie.

Every year on this day, December 1st, her raison d’être and her job, as such, began. It only lasted a month, but her personal deadline was always twenty-four days. The other week was just to ensure there was no unfinished business.

Natalie hoped Christmas 2013 would be a good one for everyone. If she had anything to do with it, as in the past, those she chose would have a Christmas to remember.

This year she would be working in the small town of Winstanton about twenty miles north of Glasgow; more of a village really, with its carefully tended lawns, idyllic cottages and splendid views over Loch Lomond.

Each year Natalie had to choose a different country. This was her first visit to Scotland. She hoped she would get used to the Scottish accent and that her own would go unnoticed. Speaking several languages came in handy, but it was even better to blend in like a local.

Although Natalie’s job actively only lasted one month per year, her preparation lasted ten months. Well, she did get some holidays. Ten months in which to research, narrow down and shortlist her candidates. It was no easy task, as although a small town, Winstanton still had fifteen thousand residents and Natalie could only choose four. Now, she couldn’t possibly check them all out, could she? No. Natalie had a gift which helped her. She could feel other people’s happiness. The downside was, she could also feel their unhappiness. Marvellous, eh?

Natalie readjusted her handbag on her shoulder and grabbed hold of the handle of her carry-on case, dragging it along the deserted platform of Winstanton train station. She had picked up the keys to her new one-bedroom cottage earlier that day in Glasgow. Now all she had to do was make her way there. There wasn’t a taxi in sight; not surprising, since she was the only person who had got off at the station. Fortunately there was a phone box, an old style red one – how quaint. Even luckier, it hadn’t been vandalised and it had a Yellow Pages in it, which hadn’t been ripped to shreds. Natalie had never got around to getting a mobile phone. There was no reception where she lived most of the year, so there seemed little point. Taking out a piece of paper from her purse, she dialled the first taxi number she’d come across in her research of the area; she was nothing if not prepared. In her job she had to be.  She was looking forward to her new role. Her job was always a job within a job; a little difficult to explain, but it was kind of like a secondment.

The taxi arrived soon after. Natalie could imagine there wasn’t much doing for a taxi driver on a Sunday night. A cheery old man, probably in his sixties, greeted her. ‘Miss Hope?’

‘The very same.’

‘Let me help you with your case.’

‘Thanks,’ said Natalie, when he swung it with some effort into the boot.

‘What have you got in there, bricks?’

Natalie laughed and said, ‘Wouldn’t you like to know!’

He looked as if he would indeed like to know, but was too polite to push it further.

They arrived at Rose Cottage within ten minutes.

‘Five pounds eighty, hen.’

‘Worth every penny,’ Natalie pronounced. She handed him seven pounds and told him to keep the change.

‘Do you want me to wait until you see if anyone’s home?’ asked the driver, eyeing the darkened cottage.

‘No, it’s OK, thanks, although that’s kind of you to be so thoughtful. I have a key.’

‘No problem. Have a nice night.’

‘You too. Hope it’s a busy one for you.’

The driver’s expression conveyed that was unlikely to be the case.

She noticed he didn’t leave until she was safely inside the cottage and she’d switched on the hall light.  Nice soul, obviously a happy man. He wouldn’t be needing her help.

Natalie closed the door behind her and surveyed her new living quarters. The darkness had made it difficult to notice much about the garden outside and the driving rain had made her keen to get inside as quickly as possible. She found herself in a small hallway, with a deep pile carpet, mocha in colour. She couldn’t wait to slip off her boots and luxuriate in the feel of the pile between her toes. Her feet ached from the journey; it was rather a long way.

An antique mirror, was it real? she wondered, hung from a hook in the hallway, which was dimly lit by a fake gas lamp. Off the hall were five doors. The first turned out to be a cupboard, also home to the boiler. The second led her into a country kitchen, complete with French dresser and pine table and chairs, with an Aga taking centre stage; well-equipped and quite spacious, considering it was a one bedroom cottage. Natalie exited the kitchen and tried the next door – her bedroom for the next month. A double bed, a large wardrobe and two bedside cabinets made up the room, nothing special, but comfortable enough. On the other side of the hall, the first door she tried led into the bathroom.

Oh, what a treat! A tiled wet room.

For a cottage, it was modern; a rare mix of old meets new.

The last door led her into a large living room with a bay window overlooking the front garden. She hadn’t been aware of how far up the hill the driver had come, but now she could see, even in the dark, the splendid views over Loch Lomond. Lights twinkled in the distance; she assumed they were from moored boats, or a boathouse perhaps.

The living room welcomed her with a coal fire. Lovely. It required extra effort, but was definitely worth it. Natalie planned on cosy nights in after work, although she did expect to be working long hours, relaxing in front of the fire with a good book, or cooking on the Aga. Bliss. The corner sofa wasn’t to her taste, but was new and clearly from the period when corner sofas were back in fashion recently. Heavy curtains hung over the bay window, keeping out the cold.

Yes, this’ll do nicely.

She returned to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Aw, the lady who had leased her the house and the bakery had put a few goodies in for her first night. How sweet, and much appreciated. Natalie realised she was worn out from the journey, and checked out the cupboards to see about pots and pans. Two bottles of red wine greeted her when she opened the first door and she made a mental note to thank the landlady; just what she needed to go with her first meal and help her unpack. Tomorrow would be a long day and a new start.

**Buy “The Christmas Spirit”: Amazon – US   Amazon – UK

SusanBuchananPic**Contact the author, Susan Buchanan

Blog   Facebook   Twitter

**Also by Susan Buchanan:

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Don’t Tell the Groom

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“Don’t Tell the Groom” by Anna Bell

Don’t Tell the Groom is funny, heart-warming and uplifting. For all brides to be, those who love to splash the cash and fans of contemporary literature! Don’t Tell the Groom has sold more than 11,000 copies in the UK as a self-published Ebook, before being taken on by Quercus, a leading Independent Publisher. It is a reader favourite on Amazon and has garnered 122 reviews, averaging 4.5 stars.

Penny has big dreams for her wedding day. She wants an unforgettable celebration, perfect down to the last detail, and has been saving for ages to make her dream a reality. When Mark finally pops the question, it’s the best moment of her life.

Until Penny checks her wedding fund and is horrified to discover that something has gone terribly wrong. There’s far less money there than she’d thought . . . and it’s all her fault. She can’t tell Mark the truth about what she’s done, he knows nothing about how much time she spends gambling online. Her only choice is to seek help for her addiction and get married on a drastically smaller budget.

Working under the pretence of surprising Mark with her plans on their big day, operation ‘Don’t Tell    the Groom’ rolls into action, with surprising, hilarious and often moving results.

**”Don’t Tell  the Groom” is in paperback today!

AnnaBellPic**About author, Anna Bell: Anna Bell currently writes the weekly column ‘The Secret Dreamworld of An Aspiring Author’ on the website Novelicious. She is a full-time writer and loves nothing more than going for walks with her husband and Labrador. Contact Anna on Twitter.

**Publicity contact:

Lauren Woosey – Children’s Media Communications Executive

Email: laurn.woosey@quercusbooks.co.uk

Website   Facebook   Twitter

COVER REVEAL: Love Illusion

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“Love Illusion” by Chineka Williams

Blurb of “Love Illusion”: Lucy is a confident PR professional, who is fearful of her troubled ex-boyfriend Charles. He is in denial about their breakup. With issues of alcoholism and abandonment, he spirals out of control.

Meanwhile, Lucy’s best friend Jade has found love and is about to get married. She is a loyal friend who is there for Lucy every step of the way.

Feeling trapped, Lucy is determined to fight back against Charles, but it won’t be without complication. After great debate, she optimistically accepts a new job offer miles away. Lucy soon embarks on an uncertain journey all connected to love.

**The release date for “Love Illusion” is February 3rd, 2014!

ChinekaWilliamsPic**About author, Chineka Williams: Chineka Williams found a love of reading and writing early on as a child. She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Books and Stilettos is the blog that she maintains for all things women’s fiction and writing updates. Outside of reading, her hobbies include baking, playing the clarinet, and photography. She can always be seen with a cup of tea close by. Love Illusion is her debut novel.

Samantha Tonge

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About author, Samantha Tonge: Samantha Tonge lives in Cheshire, England with her lovely family and two cats who think they are dogs. She spends her days writing, willing cakes to rise and avoiding housework. She has sold over 80 short stories to mainstream women’s magazines. Doubting Abbey is her debut romantic comedy novel, out now from digital-first CarinaUK Harlequin.

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five words: fun, accessible, fast-paced, readable, punchy

What do you love most about writing? The thrill of making a sentence sound just right and the buzz from getting reader-feedback.

Who or what inspires you? For short stories, everyday life and the tabloids inspires me – just tales of ordinary life that have an unexpected twist to them. For novels, it tends to be bigger issues like society’s obsession with celebrity and looks, or why a show like Downton Abbey has become so popular.

What is your writing/editing/publishing process like? I usually need six months, all-in, to write the first draft and then go over it several times looking at different aspects to improve on, and continuity. I enjoy both processes. My first drafts aren’t really rough, but always need a good polishing.

If you could meet another author, who would it be? Jane Austen – I would love to tell her how much her books still mean to women, all these decades on.

Where did you get the idea for your book, “Doubting Abbey?” The public’s obsession with a period drama, the series Downton Abbey, really intrigued me – it has become massive on both sides of the pond. This made me wonder how a thoroughly modern girl, like my main character Gemma, would cope with suddenly being thrust into a stuffy, aristocratic atmosphere where she would have to reign in her care-free behaviour and emotions…

Hard/paperback or eBooks? E-books – I love my Kindle. The books are cheaper and it is brill being able to read with just one hand and snack with the other! Plus there are some great bargains to be had on e-readers, with free books and heavily reduced ones – at the moment, Doubting Abbey is only 79p/$1.28!

What was the most difficult part to write? The detail of the setting – I wanted to get it just right so did a lot of online research into stately homes and visited one.

What are you reading right now? Mad about the Boy by Helen Fielding – it is brilliant!

What time of day to do you seem to work best? Morning, definitely – if I can keep away from social media!

Every writer must have a…: an online group of fellow writers they can turn to when they need support, eg after getting rejections. I wouldn’t still be writing nowadays, if it wasn’t for my writer friends who’ve picked me up and brushed  me down!

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? I have just started a sequel to Doubting Abbey! I can’t say much but in this one Gemma is more bonkers than ever!

DoubtingAbbeyCoverPic“Doubting Abbey” by Samantha Tonge

Blurb of “Doubting Abbey”:

Swapping downstairs for upstairs… How hard can it be!?

Look up the phrase ordinary girl and you’ll see a picture of me, Gemma Goodwin – I only look half-decent after applying the entire contents of my make-up bag, and my dating track-record includes a man who treated me to dinner…at a kebab shop. No joke!

The only extraordinary thing about me is that I look EXACTLY like my BFF, Abbey Croxley. Oh, and that for reasons I can’t explain, I’ve agreed to swap identities and pretend be her to star in the TV show about her aristocratic family’s country estate, Million Dollar Mansion.

So now it’s not just my tan I’m faking – it’s Kate Middleton style demure hemlines and lady-like manners too. And amongst the hundreds of fusty etiquette rules I’m trying to cram into my head, there are two I really must remember; 1) No-one can ever find out that I’m just Gemma, who’d be more at home in the servants quarters. And 2) There can be absolutely no flirting with Abbey’s dishy but buttoned-up cousin, Lord Edward.

Aaargh, this is going to be harder than I thought…

**Contact Samantha: Website   Doubting Abbey blog   Facebook   Twitter

**Buy “Doubting Abbey”: Amazon – US   Amazon – UK

Modogamous Holiday Hop

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Today, I’m thrilled to bring you the first stop of the

“Modogamous Holiday Hop”!

(Be sure to see other stops and enter to win prizes in the links below!)

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“Modogamous” by Karen Martin

Blurb of “Modogamous”: Kate Adams has it all figured out. Five years out of college, she’s got a steady job, a home she loves in the big city, and good friends who always keep her laughing:  her stylish but nosy roommate Evette, happily-married Cecie, and of course, good old Mitch, her seriously cute co-worker who’s been stuck in the Friend Zone since the day they met.

Everything is going just fine—until the night Kate crosses the line with Mitch, and the boundaries between friendship and love begin to blur. Things get even more complicated when hunky JP enters the scene. What’s a girl to do? Add to the mix a spunky little pug Kate never expected to fall for, and her neatly-ordered life is starting to look more like a dog’s dinner.  Maybe her roommate has the right idea after all:  forget the men, and stick with a canine companion instead.

It’s time for Kate to figure out what she really wants in life. But can she dig her way out of the mess she’s created before she ends up permanently in the doghouse?

Chapter 1 tease

Cecie slipped into the booth at Norm’s Eat-In, where Evette and Kate were already waiting.

“Sorry I’m late, guys. I had to drop Brigid off at the library, but she didn’t want to get out of bed to get ready. You know how it is…” she trailed off, distractedly fishing her cell phone out of the grandma-worthy purse strapped across her torso. She slid the phone onto the table in anticipation of the inevitable interruptions that continually reminded them that Cecie was a parent first and a friend-slash-person second.

“No worries,” said Evette. “You haven’t missed anything good. I was just getting ready to grill Kate about her date last night with Mr. Bowtie.”

“Ugh, Mr. Bowtie,” Kate winced. “Do we have to talk about him before we eat? I’d hate to lose my appetite.” She arched an eyebrow and made a face. “Turns out he wasn’t just Mr. Bowtie,” she said, referring to the online profile picture in which her blind date sported a scarlet bowtie. “He was also Mr. Schnauzer.”

“Mr. Schnauzer?” teased Evette. “Another dog lover? You do know how to pick ‘em.”

“I don’t see what you’ve got against dogs anyway, Kate,” said Cecie. “Dogs are great companions—everyone should have a dog! You should have a dog,” she advised in a matter-of-fact tone, flipping over the breakfast menu to view the daily specials.

“I think not, thank you very much,” said Kate. “And yes, Vetta, another dog lover. This one was a real piece of work. He spent the entire date talking about his dog, Scotch,” she rolled her eyes. “We weren’t even halfway through the first round of drinks when he pulled out his phone and started showing me this endless slideshow of the dog. Every single photo showed him and the dog on a bunch of boulders. Get it? Scotch on the rocks.”

The girls groaned audibly.

“Yeah, that was my reaction, too. ‘Look, here’s Scotch on the rocks at Red Rocks. Here’s Scotch on the rocks at the summit of a fourteen on the Rocky Mountains. Here’s Scotch on the rocks at Rock City, Tennessee.’ I didn’t even know there was such a place as Rock City, Tennessee, but apparently there is, ‘cause I saw fifty zillion pictures of the place, dog’s eye view. Black and white. Very artistic,” she deadpanned.

Cecie wiped away a tear as the girls finished laughing. “Okay, Okay, so he was a little dog-obsessed. Maybe he was just nervous and needed to talk about something he felt comfortable with.”

“Oh, don’t give him that much credit,” Kate grumbled. “I’m pretty sure that man was a one-dog show.” She winked, and the girls erupted into giggles again.

“Well, I adore dogs,” Evette sniffed. “If I were ever going to date again, I’d tell you to send the guy my way.” Two pairs of wide eyes turned to her.

“What do you mean, if you were ever going to date again?” said Kate. “Since when aren’t you going to date again?”

“It’s something I just decided recently,” she said in a chilly tone, meeting the stares of her friends with a defiant, upturned chin. “You know what it’s been like for me since that day.”

Kate and Cecie exchanged a glance, remembering ‘that day’ in June, not quite a year ago. It was Evette’s third wedding anniversary. That was the day Micah had served Evette breakfast in bed—and then served her divorce papers. As if the breakfast would cushion the fucking blow. What an asshat. Kate clenched her teeth and silently fumed, remembering the countless hours she and Cecie had spent comforting Evette in the aftermath.

Even now, poor Evette had to endure Micah’s unforgivably happy presence at Pine Grove Elementary, where she taught fifth grade. His mistress-cum-wife, Louisa, had a daughter in first grade there, so it was impossible to avoid them. They were there for every pageant, every art show, every parent-teacher conference.

And to think, he met the tramp at the school’s Spring Social! Apparently, Micah and Louisa had gotten a bit too social during the behind-the-scenes tour. And then Louisa wound up pregnant. Evette was devastated when she found out. It was all downhill to a quick divorce after that.

“I’ve decided that I’m through with men,” Evette continued. “I don’t think it’s in man’s nature to be faithful. They simply can’t be monogamous. And I…well, I couldn’t bear it if a man ever cheated on me again.” She lowered her head into her coffee cup to hide the morose tears that welled up in the corners of her eyes. Blinking rapidly and drawing in a breath, she lifted her head again and continued. “Nope, from now on it’s going to be just me, myself, and I. And maybe a dog.” Her eyes lit up. “Yes—a dog! A man may not be loyal, but a dog sure is.” Evette looked delighted with the idea; Kate, less so, since it was her condo they shared.

“So much for monogamy. I guess you’ll be modogamous instead,” Cecie wisecracked.

“Yes,” said Evette resolutely, then she smiled broadly at her friends. “Modogamous.”

“Well then,” Cecie raised her coffee mug, “here’s to being modogamous.”

“Modogamous!” the girls said in unison, knocking their mismatched cups together with the earthy clank of glazed pottery.

KarenMartinPic**About Karen Martin: Karen E. Martin, M.Ed. is a full-time freelance writer/editor. She has been in the publishing business since 2004, working on books and publications for major and independent publishers, universities, businesses, and private individuals. Prior to entering the field of publishing, Ms. Martin worked as a Senior EFL Fellow (English as a Foreign Language) for the U.S. Department of State in Romania, a Junior EFL Fellow for the U.S. Department of State in Jordan, and a teacher-trainer for the U.S Peace Corps in Mauritania, Jordan, Romania, and Morocco. Ms. Martin served as a Peace Corps volunteer for two years, teaching English in the Errachidia Province of Morocco.

**Contact Karen: Blog   Facebook   Goodreads   LinkedIn   Pinterest   Twitter

**(Click HERE to see other stops on the Modogamous Holiday Hop, and be sure to check out the Facebook event by clicking HERE!)

**Buy “Modogomous” now!: Amazon   Smashwords

**GIVEAWAY**

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Between Boyfriends

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“Between Boyfriends” by Sarka-Jonae Miller

Blurb of “Between Boyfriends”:

At first glance, twenty-one-year-old Jan Weston has it all: a gorgeous boyfriend, fun friends, and wealthy parents who take care of all those pesky credit card bills.

Then her boyfriend dumps her, her friendships fall apart, and her parents cut her off. Suddenly without money, without a man, and without a plan, it’s time for Jan to grow up.

Determined to get her life back on track, Jan decides it’s time to make it on her own. Can she find her way as a single lady in San Diego? Can she fix her friendships, her job prospects, and her hair? And can she keep her vow that she’ll never date again, even after she meets a guy who just might be perfect for her.

BETWEEN BOYFRIENDS is a sexy, hilarious story of living life, finding love, and growing up… but not necessarily in that order.

Praise for Between Boyfriends

“This book is the ultimate chick-lit read–a light-hearted romp focused on the travails of Jan, a college student dumped by her boyfriend, an SDSU student. The moment proves an epiphany, as Jan resolves to stop dating and find fulfillment as a single woman.” – East County Magazine

Between Boyfriends “presents a unique twist on the chick lit genre.” – Hollywood & Vine magazine

“The book teaches both subtle and obvious lessons about friendship, relationships, responsibility and decision making.” – The Masquerade Crew

“Between Boyfriends is a delicious slice of chick-lit! Snappy dialogue sets this story apart from the pack as it follows a young woman who, financially cut off by her parents when she fails to attend school, learns that life is more than her Amex card, and reunites with a mother who has endured her own brand of pain.” – Jan Moran, bestselling author

“BETWEEN BOYFRIENDS is a great read. It’s got everything you’d expect in a chick-lit book: good friends, fun, and a little romance, but the thing Sarka-Jonae adds to this story is a journey.” – Caroline Fardig, bestselling author

sarka**About Sarka-Jonae Miller:

Sárka-Jonae is a novelist, publicist, and journalist, among other “ists” there aren’t room for. Her novel writing career began with Between Boyfriends, an edgy chick-lit book for women who’ve been ”between boyfriends”, which is much cooler than being single.

SJ is a graduate of Syracuse University. Before writing full-time, she was a personal trainer and massage therapist, helping people tone up, slim down, and chill out. In her free time, Sárka-Jonae loves to dance in flash mobs, in music videos, on speakers, or at home in her underwear. She practices kung fu and yoga, was briefly a Buddhist nun, and travels extensively for ”research”. She’s a huge animal lover and has been vegan since 1999. She’s committed to respectfully unveiling the truth about the horrific way factory farms abuse animals. SJ lives in San Diego with two cats and two dogs.

**Buy “Between Boyfriends”: Amazon   B&N   Goodreads

(Links to the print, Kobo, Sony, and Apple iBooks versions coming soon.)

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Dolls Behaving Badly

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“Dolls Behaving Badly” by Cinthia Ritchie

GUEST POST

“A Very Unintended Chick Lit Novel”

I didn’t set out to write a chick lit novel.

What I envisioned was a literary masterpiece, a book so lyrical and true that reviewers would praise it and readers would love it and everyone would talk about it in hushed tones, the way people speak in church.

But that didn’t happen. Dolls Behaving Badly was chick lit from the opening, though I fought against it. I fought my own book’s nature. I struggled and cursed and added clever literary devices and deep, philosophical allegories throughout a book that never asked for or needed such nonsense.

But I needed such nonsense. I was writing for all the wrong reasons, as if to gain approval of those unflinching critics from my graduate workshops. I wanted to impress. I wanted to feed my ego.

My book had other ideas, though (and thank god for that). It wanted to be simple and gritty and real, and I wanted it to be lofty and complex and pretentious.

I wasted months in this struggle, months I can never have back, months where I produced page after page of forced and stilted prose that stuttered and balked and wore my confidence to the edge.

Finally, one night I admitted defeat. I said, out loud (for I was talking to myself by that point), in a weary and wobbling voice, “Okay, you win. Have it your way.”

I spent the next day writing like mad. I wrote through the night, slept a few hours, got back up and wrote some more. I couldn’t stop. It was as if by admitting defeat, by laying myself bare and pushing aside my ego and expectations, I freed myself to write the book that was inside me, not necessarily the book I wanted to write but the book I needed to write. The one waiting for me to find it.

It didn’t take me long to love this book, love it with the messy, doomed, exhilarated love a mother has for her child, a love made even stronger by imperfections and doubt. I knew Dolls Behaving Badly would never be serious literature, but so what? It was filled with characters that were flawed and made bad choices and never quite resolved their issues. It was real. It was written for real women, who live real lives and face real conflicts and who, at the end of the day, want a bit of escape. They want to laugh. They want to feel better about themselves and their lives, they want comfort; they want to feel as if they aren’t alone, and how can I blame them when I want to feel the very same thing?

Dolls Behaving Badly will never win a literary award; it’s not that kind of book. But I’m banking that it will win something more important, something more real: Readers’ hearts.

Excerpt of “Dolls Behaving Badly”

Thursday, Sept. 15

This is my diary, my pathetic little conversation with myself. No doubt I will burn it halfway through. I’ve never been one to finish anything. Mother used to say this was because I was born during a full moon, but like everything she says, it doesn’t make a lick of sense.

It isn’t even the beginning of the year. Or even the month. It’s not even my birthday. I’m starting, typical of me, impulsively, in the middle of September. I’m starting with the facts.

I’m thirty-eight years old. I’ve slept with nineteen and a half men.

I live in Alaska, not the wild parts but smack in the middle of Anchorage, with the Walmart and Home Depot squatting over streets littered with moose poop.

I’m divorced. Last month my ex-husband paid child support in ptarmigan carcasses, those tiny bones snapping like fingers when I tried to eat them.

I have one son, age eight and already in fourth grade. He is gifted, his teachers gush, remarking how unusual it is for such a child to come out of such unique (meaning underprivileged, meaning single parent, meaning they don’t think I’m very smart) circumstances.

I work as a waitress in a Mexican restaurant. This is a step up: two years ago I was at Denny’s.

Yesterday, I was so worried about money I stayed home from work and tried to drown myself in the bathtub. I sank my head under the water and held my breath, but my face popped up in less than a minute. I tried a second time, but by then my heart wasn’t really in it so I got out, brushed the dog hair off the sofa and plopped down to watch  Oprah on the cable channel.

What happened next was a miracle, like Gramma used to say. No angels sang, of course, and there was none of that ornery church music. Instead, a very tall woman (who might have been an angel if heaven had high ceilings) waved her arms. There were sweat stains under her sweater, and this impressed me so much that I leaned forward; I knew something important was about to happen.

Most of what she said was New Age mumbo-jumbo, but when she mentioned the diary, I pulled myself up and rewrapped the towel around my waist. I knew she was speaking to me, almost as if this was her purpose in life, to make sure these words got directed my way.

She said you didn’t need a fancy one; it didn’t even need a lock, like those little-girl ones I kept as a teenager. A notebook, she said, would work just fine. Or even a bunch of papers stapled together. The important thing was doing it. Committing yourself to paper every day, regardless of whether anything exciting or thought-provoking actually happens.

“Your thoughts are gold,” the giant woman said. “Hold them up to the light and they shine.”

I was crying by then, sobbing into the dog’s neck. It was like a salvation, like those traveling preachers who used to come to town. Mother would never let us go but I snuck out with Julie, who was a Baptist. Those preachers believed, and while we were there in that tent, we did too.

This is what I’m hoping for, that my words will deliver me something. Not the truth, exactly. But solace.

CinthiaRitchiePicture**Contact Cinthia Ritchie:

Website

Email: cinthiaritchie@aol.com