Recommended Weekend Read: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

I love Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling and highly recommend that you pick up a copy of this New York Times bestseller. It's funny, charming, heartfelt, and just such a fun read. For those who don't know, Mindy is an Emmy-nominated writer and actress on NBC's The Office.

Here's more about the book:

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?” Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly! In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is a Girl Next Door, not really literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

To find out even more, you can visit Mindy's website www.theconcernsofmindykaling.com.

Happy reading! Have a great weekend!

Book Review: Blank Slate Kate

Nancy’s Review of Blank Slate Kate by Heather Wardell

*This review is part of the Blank Slate Kate blog tour hosted by the author. 

To celebrate the tour, Heather's Amazon-exclusive book Seven Exes Are Eight Too Many is free through January 27th. 

Kate Anderson realizes that she lost her memory when she wakes up one morning next to a strange man. She feels like she is seventeen years old, but she is actually thirty two years old. Fifteen years have completely vanished from her mind, causing her to struggle to figure out who she is. Kate learns that the strange man’s name is Jake and he helps her try to piece her life back together. She is completely shocked when her husband, Ryan, finds her and wants her back. She can’t believe she is married, since she doesn’t remember Ryan or their life together. Kate wonders if she should continue to delve into her past or try to move forward. She finds that sometimes the past needs to be revisited in order to fully embrace the present and the future. She has been given another chance, a blank slate, but what will she do with it?

Blank Slate Kate takes readers on a journey to self-discovery through Kate’s eyes. It is an entertaining read yet confusing at times. The confusion is understandable, though, because Kate is faced with so much uncertainty in her life. She used to be known as Donna, so now as Kate, she is having an identity crisis. There are a lot of unanswered questions throughout the story, so the reader will want answers just like Kate wants them. The main question Kate wonders is, “Who am I?” The story and characters develop gradually, but there are surprising moments that will keep the reader engaged. Blank Slate Kate is a worthwhile read about second chances. 

Heather Wardell planned on becoming a high school music teacher but ended up at a major Canadian bank as a software developer for several years before she went back to school to become an elementary school teacher. After teaching for four years, Heather participated in the National Novel Writing Month challenge and successfully wrote a novel in a month, realizing her love of writing. She left teaching and hasn’t looked back since. When Heather isn’t writing, she reads, runs, swims, crochets, and plays drums and clarinet. To learn more about Heather and her novels, please visit www.heatherwardell.com and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.  

To read an excerpt of Blank Slate Kate, please click here.

Book Review: Year of the Chick

Nancy’s Review of Year of the Chick by Romi Moondi

*This review is part of Romi Moondi's blog tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours.

Romi Narindra does not want an arranged marriage. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be up to her when her parents inform her of their plans, but they want her to lose weight before they find a match for her. That gives Romi time to find a mate on her own without her parents’ interference or rules. If she can do that, then she won’t need an arranged marriage, right? It seems so simple, but finding love within a strict time frame isn’t so easy as Romi discovers in what she dubs “the year of the chick.” Actively looking for a boyfriend, Romi decides to chronicle her journey to find love on a new blog she starts, which also helps her get in touch with her love of writing that was tossed aside when her parents made it clear that she needed to find a “real job.” She receives a comment on her blog from a reader named James, a British guy living in Spain. They start communicating by email and eventually on the phone. This kind of relationship, if it can even be called that, is new territory for Romi and was totally not what she had in mind. But she is smitten with James from the start and he encourages her to write and follow her dreams, despite her parents’ strict rules. A long distance relationship is hard to maintain, but the “year of the chick” is all about living life to the fullest and getting out of the comfort zone that put Romi in a rut. When the chance to meet James in person arises, Romi can’t pass it up, but is he really who she thinks he is?

Year of the Chick is a hilarious, lighthearted novel about self-discovery amidst the standards set by others and pursuing true happiness no matter what anyone else thinks. It is full of wit and very realistic situations that readers are sure to relate to in one way or another. The characters are portrayed with such honesty and familiarity that they seem like real people. Romi’s sense of humor is the best part of this novel. Dating, especially online dating, can seem hopeless at times, but she manages to find comedy in everything. She looks at life through a lens of sarcasm, making light of whatever comes her way. The story also explores Indian culture and gives readers a sense of what it is like to be an Indian girl in her twenties living in Canada. Year of the Chick is a charming, very enjoyable read. Highly recommended for chick lit lovers everywhere.

Romi Moondi is a Canadian independent author of The Book of Awful, a parody to The Book of Awesome, NOT Love Poems for Real Life and Year of the Chick. Year of the Chick is book one in a trilogy, and book two currently exists in the form of a screenplay entitled Best Before. It was the silver prize winner at 2011 Oregon Film Festival, received an honorable mention at the 2011 LA New Wave International Film Festival, and an honorable mention at the 2011 LA Movie Awards. Additionally, it was a finalist at the 2011 Colorado Film Festival, a drama finalist at the 2011 Hollywood Screenplay Contest, a semi-finalist at the 2011 Independent Film Quarterly New Media Festival, and it advanced to the semi-finals in the 2011 American Screenplay Competition. When Romi isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, running, baking, and observing strangers who she eventually writes about. For more information, you can visit Romi’s blog and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Book Review: Princess of Park Avenue

Nancy’s Review of Princess of Park Avenue by Daniella Brodsky

*This review is part of Daniella Brodsky’s blog tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours.

Lorraine Machuchi is a Brooklyn girl who has settled into her life in the same surroundings she has known forever. Now in her late twenties, she is still pining after her longtime on-again off-again boyfriend, Tommy. She can’t seem to get over him, which prevents her from moving on and moving out of Brooklyn to get her own life. But when Tommy tells Lorraine that he doesn’t see a future with her because she’s a “round-the-way” girl, she decides to finally take matters into her own hands and figure out where she really belongs. Lorraine gets an opportunity that she can’t pass up to work at a hair salon in Manhattan. She even gets to live in an amazing Park Avenue sublet. As she discovers the differences between Manhattan and Brooklyn, she discovers a lot about herself. Tommy continues to send her mixed signals, especially now that her life is going in a different direction, but a new love interest has Lorraine wondering if Tommy is right and they really don’t have a future together. The questionable motives of the socialites who accept Lorraine into their group further complicate her life. Is this Brooklyn girl really meant to be a Princess of Park Avenue?

This novel is a modern version of the classic Cinderella tale. Lorraine is just a regular girl trying to find her prince charming. When she gets the chance to go to the ball, or rather to go to Manhattan, she finds much more than she ever expected there. The socialites are like the evil step sisters and there are plenty of other quirky secondary characters that fill the pages. The story runs a bit long since some of the scenes are too convoluted with flashbacks and unnecessary details. Lorraine is a likable main character who is funny and interesting. The format of the novel is unique, including eBay auction items to help tell Lorraine’s story. Overall, Princess of Park Avenue is a fun, entertaining novel that will likely please chick lit fans. 

Daniella Brodsky is the author of six novels, including Diary of a Working Girl, which was adapted into the film Beauty & the Briefcase starring Hilary Duff. She was also a freelance magazine journalist and has been featured on Good Day New York, The WB Morning News, NPR, and in The New York Times, The New York Post, and The Hartford Courant. Her nonfiction work has been published in leading publications such as Time Out New York, The New York Post, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Shape, and Self. Daniella teaches at Australian National University's Centre for Continuing Education and at her Captain Cook Studio. A native New Yorker, she currently lives in Canberra, Australia where she is writing her next novel, The Book Code, which has been awarded a 2012 Varuna fellowship. For more information, please visit www.daniellabrodsky.com and connect with Daniella on Facebook and Twitter.

Valentine's Day Flash Fiction Contest

We're so excited to announce our Valentine's Day Flash Fiction Contest! 

Here are the details:

• Women's fiction only
• Valentine's Day theme
• 500 - 1000 words (If you aren't familiar with flash fiction, it just means a really short story)
• Submissions are open now and stories will be posted from now until February 12th
• Winners will be announced on February 14th
• Nancy and Shannon will choose the winners based on comments from readers. So, if you love a story, be sure to comment and let us know!
• First place prize is a $25 Amazon gift card, second place prize is a $15 Amazon gift card and third place prize is a $10 Amazon gift card

We hope you'll submit your Valentine's Day flash fiction to our contest!

Please email submissions and any questions you have to Nancy at editor@chicklitbee.com. Thank you! We look forward to reading your stories!

Book Review: A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis

Nancy’s Review of A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis by Irene Woodbury

Wendy Sinclair’s life goes from stable to completely overwhelming when she moves from Los Angeles to Houston and marries Roger, her longtime boyfriend. They move in together, but married life is not what she expected at all. In fact, she’s miserable from the start. When Wendy’s friend Paula invites her to Las Vegas for the weekend, Wendy can’t pass up the opportunity to escape her problems, if only for a few days. Roger is less than thrilled that recently unemployed Wendy is going to Sin City since he had arranged an interview for her and was actively encouraging her to get back on her feet. She isn’t interested and opts for a break to have some fun instead. What is supposed to only be a weekend getaway turns into a much longer stay when Wendy refuses to go back to Houston. She winds up getting various jobs in Vegas and the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months. Roger checks in on her by phone and, as expected, they argue every time they talk to each other. No one can really blame Roger, though. He wants his wife to come home, but Wendy is stubborn. She strings Roger along, even though she has no intention of going home to him. New men enter her life while she’s away and at forty five years old, she is faced with the inevitable question. What, or rather who, does she really want? And more importantly, who does she want to be?

A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis is a humorous, lighthearted novel. Anyone who loves Las Vegas or longs to go there will enjoy the detailed descriptions of the city. Wendy is a very confused character who acts immaturely since she can’t seem to make any choices regarding her life, except to escape it. She is adamant about not going back to Houston yet she won’t let Roger go. Her indecisive tendencies may frustrate readers. It is clear that Wendy’s and Roger’s relationship isn’t working, but it takes an awfully long time for them to come to any resolution. The novel takes place over more than two years, leading up to an ending that will not please everyone. A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis falls short in a few areas but overall, it is an entertaining read.   

Irene Woodbury graduated from the University of Houston in 1993. Her writing has appeared in many newspapers, including the Washington Post, London Daily Telegraph, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Toronto Star, and Nevada and The Affluent Traveler magazines. Her first novel, A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis, was inspired by her love of travel writing. One of Irene’s favorite destinations is Las Vegas. In 2006, she came up with the idea for her debut novel and four-and-a-half years and many visits to Vegas later, she completed it. Her husband, Richard, a retired Time Magazine correspondent, edited her novel. They live in Denver. For more information, please visit www.irenewoodbury.com and connect with Irene on Twitter.

Book Review: Beatrice Munson

Nancy’s Review of Beatrice Munson by Lorena Bathey 

Marissa Lyons, divorced mom of two, is less than thrilled when she finds out that her high school rival, Beatrice Munson, has moved in across the street. All those years ago, Beatrice was popular and pretty and everything Marissa wasn’t. Marissa still harbors negative feelings toward Beatrice but reluctantly goes to Beatrice’s house to welcome her to the neighborhood. She is completely surprised to find out that Beatrice is nothing like what she remembered from high school. Beatrice is the exact opposite and quite likable. She begins winning over all the women in the suburban neighborhood Vista Heights, spending time with them and really getting to know them. She has an engaging personality and remarkable strength that all the women want to emulate in their own lives. They realize that instead of competing with Beatrice or being jealous of her like Marissa was in high school, they can actually learn from her to live their lives to the fullest. 

Beatrice is a dynamic character with a contagious free spirit. It’s likely that readers will really enjoy her lessons. It would have been nice to get her point of view, perhaps alternating by chapter between Marissa and Beatrice as narrators instead of Marissa as the only narrator. Marissa is a genuine character who is in desperate need of a change in her life but doesn’t know how to go about it until Beatrice motivates her. The supporting characters are solid as well, but it is really Marissa and Beatrice who are the main focus. The pace slowed down a bit due to some overly descriptive scenes that were bogged down with details. There were also some extraneous scenes that didn’t quite flow as well as the rest of the book and probably could have been cut. Overall, Beatrice Munson is an inspiring story of courage, perseverance, and love, showing that it is not too late to follow your dreams. 

Lorena Bathey graduated with a degree in English. She then traveled, learned about life, and developed great fodder for a book. Losing her mother to cancer and her own marriage’s demise encouraged her to find herself. She wrote Happy Beginnings: How I Became My Own Fairy Godmother and found that speaking and empowering others were her passions. After writing her first book, Beatrice Munson came to life. When she finished it, she was inspired to write more novels and she knew that pursuing her passions was the best way to live her life. Today, Lorena has nine novels in her writing queue, all with screenplays in the works. When she isn't writing, she enjoys photography. After meeting the love of her life, they embarked on a path to follow their dreams, bringing their families along for the ride. Traveling, walking, enjoying new restaurants, and Italy are other loves that Lorena makes sure she has time for. To find out more and to connect with Lorena, please visit www.LorenaBBooks.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Friday Flicks: Favorite Romantic Comedy Duos

There are quite a few actors who have appeared twice or more with the same actresses in romantic comedies. Out of the duos listed below, who are your favorites? Have we left any out? Remember: They have to have appeared in two or more movies together in leading roles. Leave a comment to be entered to win You've Got Mail, The Wedding Singer, or How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days on DVD. Three winners will be chosen randomly on Wednesday, January 11th. Good luck!

Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan - Joe Versus the Volcano, Sleepless in Seattle, and You've Got Mail

Richard Gere & Julia Roberts - Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride

Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore - The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates

John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John - Grease and Two of a Kind

Matthew McConaughey & Kate Hudson - How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Fool's Gold

Steve Martin & Diane Keaton - Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride Part II

Colin Firth & Renée Zellweger - Bridget Jones's Diary and Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason

Paul Rudd & Reese Witherspoon - Overnight Delivery and How Do You Know

Owen Wilson & Rachel McAdams - Wedding Crashers and Midnight in Paris

20 Questions with Author Sibel Hodge

Sibel Hodge's first novel, Fourteen Days Later, was short listed for the Harry Bowling Prize 2008 and received a highly commended by the Yeovil Literary Prize 2009. It is a romantic comedy with a unique infusion of British and Turkish Cypriot culture. Sibel's latest novel, The Baby Trap, is based on her own experiences with infertility. She is also a qualified personal trainer, sports and massage therapist, and writes freelance feature articles on health, fitness, and lifestyle. She has dual British/Turkish Cypriot nationality, dividing her time between Hertfordshire and North Cyprus. 

Sibel joins us today to answer our 20 Questions. Enjoy! 
 

Kindle or Nook? Kindle

iPhone or BlackBerry? BlackBerry

Coke or Pepsi? I haven't had either for years but it used to be Coke.

Coffee or tea? In a naughty mood, ice coffee. In a good mood, green tea.

Ice cream or frozen yogurt? Ice cream.

Flats or heels? Flats (lurrrrrve my Uggs, they're so comfy!)

Facebook or Twitter? Facebook.

Call or text message? Text - unless I need a big girlie chat, then it's phone!

Favorite song right now? Number 1 by Tinchy Stryder and NDubz.

Celebrity crush? I had the biggest one on Paul Weller when I was younger. I had about a million posters of him in my bedroom (OK, slight exaggeration) that I used to kiss all the time! 

Last movie you saw? Memoirs of a Geisha - I think it's one of the few books turned into films that is actually as good as the book. 

Favorite television show right now? I only watch TV in the winter, and even then I'm usually working, so I don't get to see much. Anything on National Geographic Wild would be my fave, probably.

Favorite snack food? Nuts

Your most overused word or phrase? Omigod! My hubby would say something else, but I can't repeat that here!

Your hidden talent? Pole dancing - although I'm still learning, so I wear a crash helmet.

Your biggest pet peeve? Hubby when he's in a bored mood.

Favorite activity when you’re not writing? Swimming, reading, yoga, chillaxing with a DVD, and drinking wine.

Favorite authors? Oh, there are so many! Janet Evanovich, Sophie Kinsella, Lee Child, Ian Rankin, Harlan Coben - I could be here all day!

Favorite books? My fave ever would have to be To Kill a Mockingbird.

Comment heard most often from your readers? I kept getting funny looks when I read your book in public because I was laughing so much.

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For more information about Sibel and her books, please visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.