Book Review: Family Pieces


Away at college in Arizona, Karsen Woods is living a picture-perfect life until the unexpected death of her mother turns her world upside down. When she goes back home to Indiana, she discovers that there is a missing piece of her treasured necklace, a family tradition started by her grandfather when he handmade each immediate relative an interlinking puzzle piece charm. Karsen’s brother and father dismiss her concerns about the pieces not fitting perfectly together anymore, but her uncertainty and curiosity propel her to search for answers. Addison Reynolds’ life revolves around running Urbane, the magazine empire built by her father, in New York. She is known to push people away out of fear of her own vulnerability. At thirty nine years old, Addison finally tells her most safely guarded secret to her lifelong, closest friend Emily. Karsen and Addison are hundreds of miles apart but their lives will intersect in a very profound way, forcing them to face the truth and learn to forgive in order to love again. 

Family Pieces deals with issues of family, friendship, romance, heartbreak and mystery. Karsen and Addison are two women at very different stages in life but their unforeseen bond allows them to discover more about themselves and their families. This novel is an engaging read that is humorous but also has depth. There are several surprises along the way that will keep readers wondering what will happen next. The realistic situations and dilemmas faced by the characters allow readers to connect to the story and become emotionally invested. Family Pieces has some of the typical elements of chick lit but enough originality to make it stand out. It is an enjoyable read that really emphasizes the importance of family. 

Misa Rush competed in gymnastics for eighteen years, including four on a full-ride scholarship to Eastern Michigan University. She graduated from Arizona State University with a master's degree in business administration. She currently resides in Gilbert, Arizona, with her husband and two children. Family Pieces is her first novel. For more information, connect with Misa on http://misarush.com, Facebook and Twitter.

This Is Chick Lit

CHICK LIT IS...

friendship, romance, family, growing, learning, fun, courage, beautiful, happy, sad, funny, change, empowering, encouraging, heart, soul, uplifting, hope, joy, support, comfort, insightful, charming, perseverance, inspiring, unforgettable, strength, forgiveness, compelling, motivating, witty, delightful, intelligent, whimsical, adventure, sassy, smart, captivating, real, emotional, self-discovery, surprising, me, you, life, LOVE.  

Book Review: Diary of a Mummy Misfit


Libby and Ned Marchant are determined to send their son to private school, despite their financial situation. They decide to make sacrifices in their own lives to make sure their son gets the education they desperately want for him. As her family enters the world of private education, Libby keeps a daily diary of the events that occur and the observations that she makes along the way. She quickly discovers the distinct divide between the haves and have-nots when she joins school committees and begins to socialize with the other, wealthier mothers. Adding to the pressure, Libby and Ned want another child, even though they continue to struggle financially. Luckily for them, they become friends with affluent couple Fenella and Josh, who are a breath of fresh air compared to all of the other stuck up parents, including those who would like to see the less fortunate kicked out of the private school. Libby and Fenella form an unlikely friendship quickly, helping each other through life’s challenges. As Libby navigates her new world, she takes readers along on her journey.

Diary of a Mummy Misfit is a quick, easy read. It is presented in diary format so there aren’t any chapters, just diary entries. Libby is an easygoing character who shares very realistic commentary about the situations she finds herself in. It's great that she is also a witty, clever, and delightful character to follow. The diary format allows readers to get to know Libby very well. Even though the book is based on British private education, there are universal themes that readers worldwide can relate to. As expected in chick lit, there are plenty of quirky secondary characters like relatives, friends, neighbors, and other parents who add humor, intentionally and unintentionally, to Libby’s world. Anyone can enjoy the entertaining Diary of a Mummy Misfit.

Born and raised in London, Amanda Egan was trained professionally as an actress and now writes chick lit. Her debut novel, Diary of a Mummy Misfit, is a tongue-in-cheek look at the easily recognized types of self-centered mums you can find at prep schools anywhere in the world. In her spare time, Amanda reads anything from Maeve Binchy, Jill Mansell, and Penny Vincenzi to Noel Coward, Dostoevsky and Zola. She also loves crafts and entertaining, particularly hosting themed dinner parties. For more information, you can connect with Amanda on Twitter, Facebook, and by visiting her blog.
--
What do you think of this review? Have you read Diary of a Mummy Misfit? If not, do you want to? Share your thoughts with us. Thanks!

Announcement: Lauren Alaina Week

Editor’s Note

Hi everyone! 

I’m excited to announce that The Chick Lit Bee will be hosting 'Lauren Alaina Week' in October to celebrate the release of Lauren Alaina’s debut album Wildflower. Lauren was the runner-up on American Idol this year. When I first saw her audition, I was sure she would be in the finale and was so happy she made it there alongside eventual winner and fellow country singer, Scotty McCreery. I wanted a Lauren and Scotty finale from the time that I saw them perform their first duet together. I’m so impressed with how Lauren and Scotty have handled their quick rise to fame. They are so humble and even though they are still teenagers, they present themselves with such maturity, grace, and integrity. Scotty’s album, Clear As Day, comes out on October 4th. Since this blog focuses on stories by and about women, Lauren Alaina Week is a great way to share stories with each other. At just sixteen years old, Lauren’s dreams are coming true. One of her biggest dreams is to release an album and when Wildflower comes out on October 11th, her dream will be realized. Lauren is an incredibly talented young woman with a heart of gold.  

Calling women’s fiction authors! 

For Lauren Alaina Week, I’m going to post inspirational stories written by women’s fiction authors who have had their novel(s) published. Share your own story of how you achieved your dream, what the obstacles were, how you overcame the odds and persevered, what success means to you and how you have affected the lives of others with your novel(s). The stories don’t have to be long (400 – 750 words), but they do have to show an inspirational journey. Send your story ideas to me by email at editor@chicklitbee.com before you begin writing. You can change the names of those involved if that makes you more comfortable, but please base it on your own true story. I’m going to post a story each day for five days, starting on Monday, October 10th. Each story contributor will receive a copy of Lauren’s album Wildflower. Additionally, at the end of the week I will randomly choose two winners to also receive Wildflower from all of the comments received on the stories. 

There will be other fun stuff throughout the week like trivia, videos, and more. I’m so excited about Lauren Alaina Week and really hope you’ll participate! 

I look forward to hearing from you!

Nancy

Book Review: South Beach Solution


When Camryn Bozeman loses her Wall Street job and finds out that her husband is gay, her world is turned upside down. To make matters worse, her husband is in a relationship with a popular baseball player, resulting in tabloid coverage of the story. Camryn escapes to Florida with her best friend Monika to relax, unwind, and try to figure out what to do with her life. While they are in South Beach, Camryn meets a very attractive bartender who asks her out. She is reluctant to get involved with anyone, but with Monika’s encouragement, she decides to give him a chance. Despite having a great connection with him, Camryn fears that he will leave her heartbroken too. She decides that she has to figure out exactly what she wants in life and go for it. This is the solution to her problems and all it took was a trip to South Beach to help her realize it. Camryn must find herself in order to find true happiness. 

South Beach Solution is a humorous novel about having to start over just when everything appeared to be perfect. It shows how things aren’t always as they seem and sometimes you need look past the surface to figure out the reality. Camryn embarks on a transformational journey that allows her to accept her divorce and move forward. She is a strong character who learns a lot of important lessons as she searches for meaning and fulfillment in her life. This novel is an enjoyable, fun summer read. 

Cora Porter lives in Northern New Jersey with her husband, three kids, two cats, a bearded dragon and a few tanks full of fish. She has a degree in mass communication and has worked in recruiting, public relations, marketing and sales. South Beach Solution is her first novel and she is currently writing her second novel. For more information, please visit http://coraporter.blogspot.com. 


What do you think of this review? Have you read South Beach Solution? Will you read it? Leave a comment to let us know. Thanks!