WHAT'S NEW
COMING SOON
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We're back:The Chicklit Club is back from its month vacation. Watch out for lots of reviews, news and interviews over the next few weeks.
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RECENT RATINGS
BOOK NEWS
Originally self-published in 2006, Maryann McFadden's The Richest Season is being released by Hyperion in June. It focuses on lonely corporate wife Joanna who flees her husband Paul and New Jersey life and heads to vacation spot Pawleys Island in South Carolina. There she meets widow Grace who has come to the island to live out her days alone. In three parallel journeys, Joanna, Paul and Grace walk away from lives they always thought they wanted, only to rediscover a part of themselves they'd all but forgotten. For McFadden's take on how a self-published book landed a major book deal (“winning the literary lottery'), head to her website.
TEEN LIT
Coming soon is the third book of Lisa Samson's four-part Hollywood Nobody series. Romancing Hollywood Nobody continues the story of teenager Scotty Dawn, who documents her life on the road, travelling to movie sets with her mother Charley, in her blog Hollywood Nobody. This time as more family secrets unravel, there may be some romance on the cards.
NEW RELEASES
All Eyes on Her - Poonam Sharma (2008)
Monica, a junior associate at a Los Angeles divorce and mediation firm, is hoping her handling of superstar clients Cameron and Lydia Johnson - aka Camydia - as they discuss a trial separation will score her a promotion. But she has her work cut out for her with rival colleague Stefanie giving her the evil eye and trying to undermine her on the job. To further complicate her life, her fiancé is away in London, her former boyfriend is back in her life as a client and her drama queen mum is returning to town. A tale of female rivalry, celebrity shenanigans and being true to yourself.
6/10
Catch up with Poonam Sharma in our Interviews section and find out why she wrote a book about rivalry between female co-workers.
MAKING HER DEBUT
Out this month from Amanda Hearty is Are You Ready?, a tale of four friends facing their 30s. Is Ali ready to become a wife? Has Molly made a big mistake by changing jobs? Isn't it time for Ben to move out of home? And will Sarah ever find someone to love? Dublin-based Hearty is the daughter of best-selling author Marita Conlon-McKenna.
CHICK MEMOIR
Trish Ryan was a successful 30-something lawyer who became fed up with “men who cheated, who left her, who made her a lesser version of herself”. After years of trying everything out there to make love work - new age philosophy, feminist empowerment, self-help programs - she finally decided to turn to God in her search for the right guy. Her memoir about this soul-searching journey, He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, is out now.
BOOK NEWS
What happens when you discover that your dream man is not playing with a full deck of cards? In Elaine Szewczyk's I'm With Stupid, Kas meets hunky park ranger William while on safari in South Africa. After their fling, Kas returns home to New York wondering if she'll hear from him again. So when he finally sends an email, she's delighted. But it soon heralds William's arrival on her doorstep as he's under the impression that Kas has offered him a place to stay while he makes his fortune in Manhattan. New York-based Szewczyk is fiction editor at Kirkus Reviews.
COVER STORY
From Jane Fallon, the author of one of our favourite books of 2007, Getting Rid of Matthew, comes her follow-up novel, Got You Back, which has the tag line “Hell hath no fury like two women scorned . . .” When Stephanie discovers that husband James is having an affair with Katie, she decides to track the mistress down and together they hatch the perfect plan. But is revenge really sweet? And can your husband's mistress ever be your friend? Here's a preview of the cover. Got You Back is out in August.
MAKING HER DEBUT
Get set to join the Dublin jet set with Amanda Brunker's Champagne Kisses, out in June. It explores the lives of celebrity reporter Eva Valentine, model Maddie Lord and their gay pal Parker. Eva is stubborn, sexy and sassy, but underneath her hard-nosed facade she's just a regular girl who craves a love to call her own. After close-circuit camera images of her in a clinch with her married boss make news headlines, her world begins to crumble. Brunker is a former Miss Ireland and newspaper columnist.
HOLIDAY READ
School's Out - Sarah Tucker
For once, Amanda has a fail-safe plan to survive the summer holidays with her three kids. She is joining fellow mum Suzanne on a holiday to Cornwall where their one-time playground comrade Skyler has opened a B&B. But their holiday spirit is quickly dampened when the friends find themselves crammed into a two-bedroom cottage with Skyler's business in dire need of a helping hand. This latest schoolyard offering from British TV presenter Tucker is out in July.
SNEAK PEEK
The Beach House - Jane Green
Widow Nan is quite happy living alone in her beach house in Nantucket. But, when she discovers that her money is running out, she rents out rooms for the summer. Her guests include a recently divorced father, Daniel, and single mother Daff. As the house comes to life again, Nan's son comes home for the summer and an unexpected visitor turns up, turning all their lives upside down.
AUTHOR NEWS
Canadian author Robyn Harding's new book, Chronicles of a Mid-life Crisis, examines the disintegration of a 16-marriage. After building the perfect life together, Lucy is blindsided when Trent tells her he's leaving. But she holds it together for her teenage daughter Samantha, and throws herself into her career. Then a shocking rebellion from Sam causes Trent and Lucy to reunite as parents and forces them to examine what they want for their own futures. It's out in May.
HOLIDAY READ
Holly Would Dream - Karen Quinn
Fashion historian Holly Ross is obsessed with Audrey Hepburn and often wishes she lived in a simpler time, when the clothes were glamorous, the men debonair and the endings happy. But with both a wedding and a big promotion coming up, her own happy ending seems assured. So then how does it all go wrong in a day? She is left jobless, penniless and single, cruising the Mediterranean in pursuit of real estate tycoon Denis King. Can she track down a suitcase of stolen Audrey Hepburn gowns before Interpol tracks her down? With the Mediterranean and Rome as the backdrops, Holly's adventures begin to resemble one of the 1950s Hollywood movies she so adores.
PS Watch out for more than 125 hidden references to Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant movies.
AUTHOR NEWS
Sweet Love is the latest release from Sarah Strohmeyer. TV reporter Julie Mueller has been fired for the sin of being 40. Broke and struggling to raise a teenage daughter alone, she receives the gift of some dessert classes that spark not only a new burst of culinary creativity but a burning passion for fellow student Michael Slayton, a true love she once let slip away.
SNEAK PEEK
Life Begins - Amanda Brookfield
Charlotte Turner is freed at last from an unhappy marriage and looking towards a better future. But if life begins at 40, then she's not off to the best of starts. Her house won't sell, her son gets into trouble at school and the husband of her closest friend is showing a bit too much interest in her. Besieged by complications, Charlotte realises that she can no longer blame a floundering marriage for her woes.
AUTHOR NEWS
Kathy Lette, the Australian-born author, former Savoy Hotel writer-in-residence and lady of the killer quip, will be serving up another novel in September, To Love, Honour and Betray (Till Divorce Us Do Part). Lucy's husband Jasper has left her for her best friend, the chic interior decorator Renee. And Lucy's teenage daughter Tally blames her mum for driving her dad away by letting herself go. Lucy's quest to win back her husband sees her learning to be a surf life saver, lose weight and get a job. She also falls in lust, torn between an older and a younger man. But then Lucy discovers that her toy boy is also dating her daughter!
BOOK NEWS
Palm Beach author Patrice Wilton's new release Replacing Barnie tells the story of divorce lawyer Lydia O'Reilley, who doesn't believe in love. While out celebrating her birthday, she meets Jed who she thinks makes a more-than-satisfactory replacement for her broken sex toy Barnie. But then she discovers that not only is Jed her new client's soon-to-be ex-husband, but that she's also pregnant. It's out in June.
NEW RELEASES
You Had Me at Good-bye - Tracey Bateman (2008)
Book two in the Drama Queens series focuses on Dancy Ames, who lives with Laini and Tabby and works as a book editor at Lane Publishing. Her brother's best friend Jack Quinn not only took her dream job at the firm, but ends up having to fire her because of a change of company direction. Meanwhile, Dancy helps out her friend Nick at his coffee shop and works on her own novel, called Fifth Avenue Princess, whose main character is torn between two men - one sounding remarkably like Jack. Dancy also is dealing with a teenage half-brother who has just arrived on the scene and jealousy that her engaged brother is getting the family condo. Not sure if I read a different book to what the blurb and advance reviews promised - what happened to the storyline about Dancy being dared to send Jack a book, under an assumed name, about a romance between a mean editor and a coffee barista?
5/10
SNEAK PEEK
What's Love Got to Do With It? - Lucy Broadbent
Running away from her awful childhood, all Isabella is interested in is getting to LA, working for the super-rich, then marrying one of them. And it's all going to plan, with a rich husband, richer father-in-law and a bottomless bank account. But then it all comes crashing down around her and it's time for her to learn that it's who you love - not what you love - that gets you through life.
BOOK NEWS
Valerie Frankel, author of The Accidental Virgin and Hex and the Single Girl, is releasing a weight loss memoir in September. Thin is the New Happy is about the quest to fit into the size of her dreams.
TAKE TWO
It's time to catch up with Tracey of Wendy Markham's Slightly Single, Slightly Settled, Slightly Engaged and Slightly Married series. In Slightly Suburban, Tracey has had enough of life in New York so she quits her job at the advertising agency and moves with Jack to the suburb of Westchester. But they quickly discover they're in way over their heads. Their fixer-upper is unfixable, the stay-at-home mums are a bore and Tracey even misses work. So which life does she really want?
Expect another release from Wendy Markham in July. That's Amore is about a reluctant groom, two psychic sisters and true love. It's part of a series that includes Bride Needs Groom and The Nine Month Plan.
BOOK NEWS
The Overnight Fame of Steffi McBride by AJ Crofts is the story of a young soap star who has to face the consequences that fame brings. When Steffi lands a part in Britain's most popular soap opera, the whole country falls in love with her, including the pop star she had a crush on as a teenager. Her star is rising fast, including having the coveted No. 1 Christmas single. But someone knows a secret about Steffi's past and heartless media revelations blow apart everything she ever believed to be true about her family and about herself. The book is out in September.
AUTHOR NEWS
Texan author Sarah Bird's new book, How Perfect is That, tells the story of Blythe Young, whose divorce and failing catering business sees her kicked out of Austin's high society. Blythe has made lots of dubious moral choices and is now facing bankruptcy, public humiliation and a drug habit. In disgrace, she returns to the boarding house she lived in during college and has to find a way to make amends. How Perfect is That is out in June.
HOLIDAY READ
The Gap Year for Grown-Ups - Annie Sanders
After 20 years of marriage, and with twin daughters finally off to university, Sarah Lewis realises she needs an adventure - like a gap year for grown-ups. With husband David happy with the status quo, Sarah takes off for France alone where she finds a renewed passion for life - and a gorgeous French man. But then a catastrophe threatens to de-rail much more than Sarah's little adventure.
INSPIRATIONAL LIT
Oh Baby! - Judy Baer
From the author of The Baby Chronicles comes this new novel about a birthing coach. Obstetrician Clay Reynolds has no respect for Molly MacKenna or her profession. How can Molly change Clay's attitude towards doulas in general - and her in particular?
Daring Chloe - Laura Jensen Walker
When Chloe Adams' fiance dumps her the night before their wedding, two friends convince her to live the adventures from her book group's latest selections. Hiking. Sailing. River rafting. Travelling to new places and eating exotic food. Say goodbye to the play-it-safe Chloe.
The Prince Charming List - Kathryn Springer
Heather Lowell moves into town to take over a beauty salon and - hopefully - to discern God's plan for her. She creates “The List,” outlining the criteria for the perfect man. But it doesn't seem to help when Jared Ward and Ian Dexter both come into her life.
Blue Heart Blessed - Susan Meissner
After being jilted just before her wedding day, Daisy Murien opens a secondhand bridal boutique, Something Blue. She finds a friend in the retired Episcopal priest who blesses the tiny, blue satin heart she sews into each dress. But when Father Laurent has a heart attack, his son arrives with plans to take his ailing father away and a contest of wills begins.
AROUND THE WORLD France
From French author Agnes Desarthe comes Chez Moi (or Mangez-moi in French), a tale of a woman who turns her love of cooking into becoming a Parisian café owner. Myriam has cut herself off from her past life as a wife and mother. When she opens Chez Moi, she has no idea how to run a business. Barely able to pay the rent, Myriam sleeps in the dining room and bathes in the kitchen sink. But soon enough her cuisine attracts some customers, and Myriam finds that she may get a second chance at life and love.
AUTHOR NEWS
From former Rolling Stone journalist and VJ Jancee Dunn comes this story of a woman's past and present colliding when she moves back in with her parents (where her Duran Duran posters still hang on the wall) and confronts her 80s nostalgia and all the people she thought she'd left behind - including her high school boyfriend. Don't You Forget About Me is out in July. Dunn has also written a memoir about her life as a celebrity interviewer, But Enough About Me.
AUTHOR NEWS
Get ready for a real heart-wrenching story from Jane Moore in her latest book, Perfect Match. Its synopsis says: “Could you choose between your marriage and your child? Just when Karin and Joe Eastman thought they had it all - the perfect marriage and the perfect family - they learn that their young son, Ben, has a terminal illness. The only cure is for them to have a “designer baby” to provide him with a perfect match bone-marrow transplant. But in the process, a devastating family secret is revealed that not only jeopardises the one hope of their son having a future but also threatens to destroy their marriage.” Perfect Match is out in June.
SNEAK PEEK
How To Be Single - Liz Tuccillo
Julie Jenson is a 37-year-old book publicist in New York. When her friend Georgia's husband leaves her for a samba teacher, Julie gathers her closest single friends for a girls night out. There's Alice, who, after a five-year failed relationship, quits her job as a lawyer so she can start dating. Serena finds she doesn't have time to date in between her new-age workshops and African dance classes while Ruby's too busy mourning the death of her cat. The night leaves Julie disillusioned with the New York single scene, so she quits her job and sets off around the world in search of the elusive secret of romantic happiness.Tuccillo was the co-author of dating tome He's Just Not That Into You.
TEEN LIT
For those looking for a smart, feisty new heroine for teenage girls, a new release by The Boyfriend List author E. Lockhart may be just the ticket. In The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, high school student Frankie uncovers the existence of a boys-only secret society at her elite private school, whose members include her senior boyfriend Matthew and his friends. She infiltrates their Loyal Order of the Bassett Hounds by email through which she directs them into performing various pranks.
TAKE TWO
Late Night Shopping, by Carmen Reid, is the sequel to 2007's The Personal Shopper and sees Annie Valentine jet off to Italy. The mother of two and personal shopper at a London store wants to set up her own shoe and handbag empire. But she puts her relationship with Ed on the line when she risks their house. And he's not convinced that a family holiday to Italy is the answer - especially when a dashing Italian businessman promises to fulfill Annie's every dream.
Carmen Reid has her first YA title out in September - Secrets at St Jude's: New Girl.
AUSTRALIAN MADE
Australian actress and broadcaster Elly Varrenti has written a memoir, This Is Not My Beautiful Life, which shows you can live life at full tilt, even if it's a life unlike anything that you've dreamt of. Varrenti details how her childhood dreams gave way to ill-fated careers, desperate loves, complex co-parenting arrangements and crazy family lunches.
AUTHOR NEWS
Harriet Evans is back with The Love of Her Life, being touted as the new When Harry Met Sally. Out in June, it’s about Kate Miller who has transformed herself from a geeky teenager into a career woman planning her wedding. Then on one catastrophic day, it all falls apart and she takes off to New York for a lowly job at a literary agency. But when her father falls ill, Kate returns to London and has to face the friends she left behind, including Mac - the man she thought was the love of her life.
BOOK NEWS
Want to read about women who go the extra mile to achieve perfection in their lives - and not feel guilty that you are nothing like Martha Stewart. Then The Woman Who Is Always Tan And Has a Flat Stomach: And Other Annoying People, by Lauren Allison and Lisa Perry, may be the book for you. Based on a series of “non-motivational” seminars for women, this book has a collection of stories about various over-achievers. There's fitness fanatics, obsessive scrapbookers, nutrition nazis, grating couples, soccer and stage mums, competitive hostesses and hypochondriac husbands.
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Copyright © 2007 Craig Pegler
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