Sunday, April 12, 2009

It's SELF HELP SUNDAY!!!




HAPPY
EASTER!!!



Hello there chicks!! I hope everyone is enjoying their EASTER!!
It's SELF HELP SUNDAY here at
CHIC BOOK CHICK...thanks for taking time out of your busy day to stop by...I'll try to keep this short, I know you've got chocolate bunnies to eat and Easter eggs to search for!!




FIRST, I had to pick another winner for Girls In Trucks, I wasn't able to contact one of the winners....and...

JEANNE....THAT's YOU!!! I've actually got your address so you are golden!!




NEXT...THE winners of the 5 SETS OF THESE THREE BOOKS...










AND THE WINNERS ARE...
LISAN

OK CHICKS..You've got until Tuesday morning to email me your addresses (castellanoamy@yahoo.com) or I'm going to have to pick new CHICKS!! Please put "winner" in the subject line!! Thanks!!

Thanks to Anna at Hatchette for these books!!







Living Beauty Bobbi Brown





I did not expect to like this book, but I LOVE IT! Here's the thing...I don't put a lot of thought on a daily basis into how I look, oh the condition of my skin, or whether or not I have the right haircut for my face....who has the time??

As I was reading through this book however, I had a lot of "a-ha" moments where I really thought, ok maybe it's time to start taking better care of myself.

um...DUH!..Amy...I'll be 35 on Friday...oh Gosh..yes I just admitted that....All through this book are these interviews with famous women who, at least I think of, as REAL women...about their thoughts on beauty...like Rita Wilson, Lorraine Bracco, and Anne Curry who had a quote I just have to share because I love it!

"..Above everything else, the thing that helps me make the most of my looks is my daily effort to be a good person..." -Anne Curry

The book covers everything from nutrition to exercise, The "make-up" face lift, head to toe makeovers, I especially appreciated the very detailed instruction in here on how to hide basically every flaw with carefully applied makeup...


SO WHO WANTS A COPY!!

I've got 5 to give away!!

I'm making it easy today....

Just leave me a comment here by Sunday April 19th!!
us and Canada only please no PO Boxes
Thanks to Anna at Hatchette for these books!




ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY AND


READ ON CHICKS!!!




Friday, April 10, 2009

You CHICKS ARE AWESOME!!!

Seriously....
YOU KICK BUTT!!
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart
for all the support you all have shown!
More support means more reviews and more books to giveaway!
So thanks again!!



LET'S GET IT STARTED!!



IT'S FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!




Girls In Trucks by Katie Crouch

Here we follow the story of Sarah Walters and her 3 closest friends, Bitsy, Charlotte, and Annie.
The story starts out with the four of them in a South Carolina Cotillion school and follows, mostly Sarah, into adulthood.
The four women battle drug addiction, adultery, low self esteem, cancer, and really bad choices in men.
Crouch uses different points of view throught the story giving different views into each woman's life, which was interesting. However, it seemed sometimes to me almost like a collection of short stories, which gave me a little trouble with the flow.
Sarah has a lot of wit, and I really liked her honesty, but I felt like I was missing something in her development as a character. I wanted to feel connected to her, I just didn't. I think that has more to do with me personally though than the book itself.
To be fair, it is a well told story that could have been very typical (4 women move from their home in the south to NYC) but it strays far from it. Almost a cautionary tale, if you will, of what young girls can face as they grow up and leave home.

Favorite Lines (There's a lot of quotable material in this one):"...I watched, hoping she wouldn't come out too broken. It's all you can do for people sometimes, no matter how much you love them. This is one of the many things I was only beginning to understand."

"Being unfaithful to yourself is not as hard as you'd think."


"It took us a while to shed our Southern ways, but after a few months we figured out that one's natural height should not be enhanced by one's bangs."

Thanks to Valerie at Hatchett Book Groups for these books!!


The 5 Winners of "Girls In Trucks" ARE






MARIE






You have 48 hours to get me your addresses
or I will have to choose other Chicks!!
email me at castellanoamy at yahoo dot com


I wasn't sure it was possible that there was a vampire series out there that I haven't read...turns out THERE IS!!!
Stakes and Stilettos is #4 in the Immortality Bites series!


I can't wait to sink my teeth into this one...(sorry couldn't help myself.).. and the first three...This will be next Friday's Review which is when I will also be announcing the winner's of


...YEP 5 COPIES!! Up for GRABS!!!


us and canada only please no po boxes
thanks Anna at Hatchette Book Group for these books!!
1. Leave a comment +1
2. Blog about this contest leave another comment +2
3. Follow me +1 already a follower +2
4. Put my linky on your blog +5 don't forget to link me back! ( EVERY FRIDAY I pick a random freebie winner from people who have my linky!) You can find the linky on this post HERE!!PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not forget to add your email to your entries!!!


THIS WEEKS RANDOM LINKY WINNER IS:


CHRISTI



email me your address for some happy mail...from me!



There is still time to enter the



SELF HELP SUNDAY giveaway

And

The Jennifer Crusie giveaway

Join us on Goodreads.com

Group Name "Chic Book Chick"

Next Book: Agnes and The Hitman by Jennifer Crusie

COME BACK SUNDAY FOR ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!!

READ On CHICKS!!!


Wednesday, April 8, 2009

All of Me by Lori Wilde...GIVEAWAY ALERT!!




Yes, Chicklets...
it's that time AGAIN...
for another review AND
GIVEAWAY!!!....
Can you hear 6 Flags
music playing in the backgroud?...

Anyway...
Onward...


All of Me By Lori Wilde





This is the last installation in the "Wedding Veil Wishes" series. I missed 1-3, but will probably go look for them now, as this was a pretty enjoyable piece of chicklit.



We have Jillian, a hardened big city attorney who doesn't believe in love, or magic, or fairy tale endings. She's never really had a family, just a law school mentor who took on the role of surrogate father, Blake. When she loses Blake to a brain tumor , Jillian inherits his lake house in Salvation, Colorado. With no one to stay for and nowhere else to go, Jillian decides that this is her chance at starting a new life.



Tuck brought his wife Aimee to her family's lake house in Salvation, Colorado as her last wish before she died two years ago and he never left. Once a celebrity architect, he has lived the past two years in mourning, in the house he promised his dying wife he would rennovate.



When Jillian shows up at the door ready to start he new life, she's of course suprised to find her new home already inhabited by her mentor's estranged daughter's widower. Who, by the way, also has a deed to the lake house. If he could just find it.



Tuck and Jillian decide to live as room mates while they try to figure out who the rightful owner is, all the while spending their time either fighting with each other or trying not to end up in bed...or in love.



I really enjoyed it. There is nookie, but the author makes you wait for it, sometimes, as in this case, that makes it better. Thanks to Anna at Hatchette Book Group for this book and giveaway promotion!



I've got 5 copies to giveaway!! (US and Canada Only No PO Boxes Please)



1. Leave a comment +1



2. Follow Me +1 already a follower +2



3. Blog about this contest and link me back +1



4. Put my linky on your sidebar +3 (you can scroll down to pick up the linky or email me at castellanoamy@yahoo.com)



LEAVE A COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY



Winners will be announced on April 15th. LEAVE YOUR EMAIL IN YOUR COMMENT PLEASE!!



READ ON...CHICKIES!!



Join our group on Goodreads.com!



"Chic Book Chick"



It's free and open to anyone who wants to join and talk about chick books!!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Hey There CHICKIES!!!



I want to talk to you about Jennifer Crusie.

She's probably one of my favorites...Whenever I am in the mood for fun, lightweight chick reading, I have never failed with her.
A Couple of my faves by Jennifer Crusie are




1. Agnes and The Hitman (she wrote this one with Bob Mayer)
I promise I have never, ever read a book that made me laugh out loud
like this one did. I actually had tears running down my cheeks.
Cranky Agnes is one of my all time favorite heroines,
a regular girl with a great big streak of crazy in her.

2. Faking It there is a whole lot going on in this one and
it is SO much fun! This is also one of her older books. Tilda and Davy are so fun together and again I totally cracked up the whole way through.
I love that Jennifer's characters always remind me of actual people I know.
I would also recommend the following Crusie books when you're looking for some reading fun and laughs! And just so you know, there is always nookie...
Bet me
Fast Women
Crazy For you
Welcome to Temptation
Getting Rid of Bradley


I'm sure the other ones are great too I just haven't gotten to them yet..If you've read them feel free to tell me what you think!


I've got a very gently read (just by me) Hardback copy of

Faking It
up for grabs!
I'll be closing entries for this one April 14th
Please leave a comment here with your email!!
If you want an extra entry
place my new linky below on your sidebar and link me back!!
Don't forget we've got a great group of Chicks over on Goodreads.com!!


Come join us!


Group name is Chic Book Chick!!


Here's the LINKY for anyone who wants to add it to your blog

If you do, it will mean random acts of mailbox happiness in your future! Just make sure to link me back!! (If you need help figuring out how to do this email me at castellanoamy at yahoo dot com)

Don't forget I'm giving away 5 copies of Girls In Trucks on Friday!!


AND


5 Sets of the three books I reviewed on Sunday!!


Just scroll on down....


Later CHICKS!!



Saturday, April 4, 2009

SELF HELP SUNDAY!!!





Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy day to visit!!

I have read very few self help books in my time...

BUT

I though these 3 sounded pretty interesting













1. "Throw Out Fifty Things" by Gail Blake

Here's what I can tell you...I am sending my copy of this book to my Best Friend Stephanie in Japan... I don't think she's thrown anything away since 1975...which was the year she was born (I am not a hoarder of crap, pretty paper and stamps and things that sparkle maybe, but not crap) However, if I was a hoarder of crap, not just "crap" crap (like the strawberry Kissing Potion that's been in your makeup bag since 1984- Chapter 2) , but also emotional life "crap"...(like maybe "Letting go of the Need to Feel Secure" Chapter 18)...ooh did I say I wasn't a hoarder...? OK...I really loved the funny little stories in every chapter, and how she added a score card at the end of each one for you to fill out...a sort of journal of "crap" if you will. From your bathroom to your brain the author leads you on a journey of getting rid of all the things weighing you down. For me, I had some serious moments in the second half of the book "Attacking the Mental Mess"...where I thought..."seriously,does this woman know me?"...The point is well taken. Thanks Gail!


2. "Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home " by Mrs Thelma Meyer

Um, personally I think cleaning is over-rated...what's the point it's all just going to get dirty again, right?...Ok Just kidding...well kind of...What I liked about this book is that it

a. gives you recipies for cleaning products from your own kitchen which are also chemical free and very "green"

b. has an actual schedule by day, week and month of how to tackle different cleaning projects, from your kitchen (daily) to your gutters (monthly) I will never be this organized

c.It has a VERY HANDY index so if say I needed to get some red wine and chocolate out of a blouse...welllll that's on page 168-169...very helpful (not that I've ever had to do that)

To me, this book is a great reference book for the index alone.


3. "How To Mess Up Your Child's Life" by Olivia and Kurt Bruner

I laughed a lot reading this book, and I hope I can explain it well..The authors Olivia and Kurt Bruner are married and the parents of 4 children. Kurt is a Pastor with the "Focus on the Family" movement and Olivia is a former Schoolteacher and you can read all about them and their other works here. This is a very different take on a parenting book, (which I typically avoid because I don't want to be a better parent...) in that first, it's entertaining. And second it shows several (ok 7) really good examples of what we are all probably guilty of in one way or another in our parenting, and then kind of shows us the light, if you will....it was informative and very funny without being overly preachy or making me feel guilty.
OK THAT's IT!!

I am giving away 5 sets of each of these books...yes that's right there will be 5 winners and you're each getting all three books (us and canada only no po boxes) Thanks to Hatchette Book Group for these books.

...I know, you love me

AND I'm going to make it easy

1. leave a comment +1

2. refer a friend who's not already a follower, and get them to become one +5 (this friend can also then refer...Please leave a second comment and have your referral state in their comment who referred them)

Please leave your email in your comment

Winners will be announced here Next Sunday April 12th...where I will be announcing another self help giveaway..hooray!!


Friday, April 3, 2009

FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!





















I've just given you another reason to LOVE FRIDAYS!!

IT'S FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!!

Free Books...few things could make me happier...



First, I'd like to tell you about this book "GIRLS IN TRUCKS " By Katie Crouch....and I will as soon as I read it ...which will be by next Friday, April 10th...


When I will also be announcing the
FIVE LUCKY WINNERS OF A COPY OF "GIRLS IN TRUCKS"!!! um, yeah I said FIVE!!!

Special thank you to Hatchett Book Group for these books!!


What do you have to do to win?
1. Leave a comment on THIS post = 1 entry
2. Follow this blog = 1 entry Already a follower =2 entries
3. JOIN Goodreads book Group "Chic Book Chick" = 3 entries (please leave an extra comment)
4. Blog about this contest = 2 entries (please link)
5. Blog about this contest AND Chic Book Chick Group on Goodreads (anyone can join the group!)
= 5 entries!!! (please link)
Winners will be announced on April 10th, winners will have 48 hours to claim their prize or it goes to another CHICK!!
This contest is open to residents of US and Canada Only. No PO Boxes Please. Thank you!

Have you joined our Book Club yet? All you have to do is go sign up at Goodreads.com, (WHICH IS FREE) , then search the "Groups" for "Chic Book Chick" and click join...and you're in!!

Note to current members: I will be adding a blog roll here very soon with all the members of Chic Book Chick on Goodreads! Please let me know if you DO NOT want to be added. Watch your Goodreads.com mailboxes for more info soon.



Now the moment you've been waiting for
Links to more free books!!
Check back periodically through the day I often add more offers!!
Kaye is giving away a copy of The Chosen One, by Carol Lynch Williams
Wendy is giving away 5 copies of 3 different Beauty Books
Drey is having an EARTH DAY Themed Giveaway 5 sets of 6 books...HOLY COW!Socrates is giving away a copy of The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson
JKaye is on some kind of a role here...she's also giving away 3 Audiobooks by James Patterson (Maximum Ride Series)
The Book Nook is giving away a copy of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ZOMBIES by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith (and no you didn't read that wrong)
Brimful Curiosities is giving away a children's book Otto Grows Down by Michael Sussman



That's all I've got for you for now...
Make sure you try and Stop by on Sunday for
SELF HELP SUNDAY!!
and yes...
that means more free books!!!















Wednesday, April 1, 2009

The Girl She Used To Be By David Cristofano

WELCOME!!!

I am so glad you are here and that we are going to read together!!

Here's My First Review!

"How do you know who you are if you can't reveal who you've been"

This is the story of Melody, a 26 year old woman who has been caught up in the Witness Protection Program since she was 6. In her entire life she has never known security, trust, or love, only fear and uncertainty. Now, on the run again, she meets up with Jonathan, a member of the very family she's being protected from and decides to change the hand that fate has dealt her. Both Melody and Jonathan are characters so much deeper than what they seem on the surface, and David Cristofano does an amazing job with their development.

Does who we are inside really have that much to do with the names we are given?

Let me just start by saying this story is not what you think it's going to be. I stayed up until 2am reading this book, I simply could not bring myself to put it down. I fell in love with Melody and Jonathan, and now over a week later am still wondering to myself, what happens next? I LOVE IT when a book stays with me like that.

The story is by turns full of action, romance, humor and some sadness. It ends up ending, I think, in the only way it can. It SCREAMS movie to me, and I only hope that if it happens the screenwriters don't ruin it. Melody's insecurities, humor and need to be noticed are attributes I think every woman can relate to.

This story has romance in spades. In fact, I think Jonathan should give lessons. The simply complicated LONGING between Melody and Jonathan really made me wish my husband hadn't been out of town the night I read it.

I LOVED this book. I hope you will pick it up and give it a read. I've placed it on my favorites over there on my Amazon carousel.......-------->>>>>>>>


Favorite Lines: I actually had a lot of them, but this is the one I keep playing in my head.


I stare at the shellfish and the creamy pasta and the bottle of wine. "We've got a table full of aphrodisiacs here."


"I don't need them."


I cock my head and sigh. "Neither do I."


I think I let out a little sigh too just reading it...

Seriously... A man wrote this book, in first person...

how was a man able to get inside a woman's head like that?? Amazing!!

I would love to know what you think of this book! Please join my group "Chic Book Chick" on Goodreads.com. It's free to sign up for a Goodreads account, and then search under "groups" for "Chic Book Chick" and join. I will be opening the discussion starting today, feel free to stop by anytime and add your 2 cents. If you blog about it please link me up in the comment section of this post, or just tell me what you think in your comment.

Now for an amazing treat!!

The author David Cristofano, was gracious enough to let me interview him!!! You can read all about him here. He's been incredibly nice and helpful in answering all my questions.

1. Name 3 things you've read this year.

THE RAW SHARK TEXTS by Steven Hall, ELLA MINNOW PEA by Mark Dunn, and NIGHTS IN RODANTHE by Nicholas Sparks. You can't say I don't try to diversify. I thoroughly enjoyed all three--and for three completely different reasons.



2. Name a character from a book you've read (no matter how long ago) that you still find yourself wondering what happens next.

Reuben Land from Leif Enger's PEACE LIKE A RIVER. What a journey Reuben had! I did not want that story to end, even after the fourth time I'd read it. I'd love to get a look at Reuben's diary. He's just the kind of person you would want for a friend.



3. If you could pick a theme song or songs, a soundtrack if you will, for "The Girl She Used To Be" what are some of the songs you would choose?

Funny you should ask. I did just that over at Largehearted Boy.


(It's totally worth your time to go check out the link either before or after you read the book)


4. If you were casting for the movie based on "The Girl She Used To Be" who would you cast as Jonathan and Melody?

Boy, that is a tough call. I always thought I would envision specific people playing the parts as I wrote the story, but that never happened. I can see Jonathan and Melody in my mind's eye looking and sounding a specific way, but I can't find a pair of actors to match identically. I suppose it would be easier to say those I would not cast.


5. Are you working on anything right now?

Yes, I am working on two different novels concurrently. Both were started before THE GIRL SHE USED TO BE went to print, and now they are vying for the same slots for time and attention. It's been quite difficult to decide which one will be brought to completion first, but it has been fun writing them both.


Dave, I can't thank you enough for your time


AND


I can't wait to read whatever comes out of that brain of yours next!!


AND NOW


THE AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF


"THE GIRL SHE USED TO BE" by David Cristofano goes to

Random.org #17

Fibrejunky!!!

That's you girl!!

You have 48 hours to send me your mailing address or some other lucky CHICK is going to get your copy!!!

Don't forget to come and join us at Goodreads.com

and come back here for FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!!