Aloha to Sophie Kinsella and MINI SHOPAHOLIC - Book Review

 

Sophie Kinsella has dazzled readers with her irresistible Shopaholic novels--sensational international bestsellers that have garnered millions of devoted fans and catapulted her into the first rank of contemporary storytellers. Now her beloved heroine Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) returns in a hilarious tale of married life, toddlerhood, and the perils of trying to give a fabulous surprise party--on a budget! 

Becky Brandon thought motherhood would be a breeze and that having a daughter was a dream come true: a shopping friend for life! But it's trickier than she thought. Two-year-old Minnie has a quite different approach to shopping. 

Minnie creates havoc everywhere she goes, from Harrods to her own christening. Her favorite word is "Mine!" and she's even trying to get into eBay! On top of everything else, Becky and Luke are still living with her parents (the deal on house #4 has fallen through), when suddenly there's a huge financial crisis. 

With people having to "cut back," Becky decides to throw a surprise party for Luke to cheer everyone up. But when costs start to spiral out of control, she must decide whether to accept help from an unexpected source--and therefore run the risk of hurting the person she loves. 

Will Becky be able to pull off the celebration of the year? Will she and Luke ever find a home of their own? Will Minnie ever learn to behave? And . . . most important . . . will Becky's secret wishes ever come true?

Shopping at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet ...

Whoever said that money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping. ~ Bo Derek, Actress

Last Saturday, we flew from Baltimore to Tampa to enroll my son in the University of South Florida (USF).  Unfortunately, the regional Air Traffic Control (ATC) was down, so we sat at the BWI airport for five hours.  Many flights were cancelled but we were lucky we had an aircraft to board once ATC was operational again.  Still, we were exhausted when we arrived at my mother's condo in Clearwater.  I just wanted to read something that would make me laugh ... and I pulled out MINI SHOPAHOLIC, Book 6 in the series, from her bookshelf.  Published in 2010, MINI SHOPAHOLIC kept me laughing through to the last page.  

Becky Brandon, nee Bloomwood, is a modern day English version of Lucy Ricardo. Becky, like Lucy, sees the world from a different angle ... and finds herself in hot water, no matter the good intentions.  Becky's side kick, Suze, is akin to Ethel - she follows Lucy into trouble.  Where Lucy always sought the limelight in Ricky's productions, Becky seeks designer labels.  

MINI SHOPAHOLIC is a laugh out loud adventure into bargain shopping, motherhood, and friendship.   While the plot follows the same pattern as previous books, MINI SHOPAHOLIC is still an entertaining read laced with heartfelt moments (the last page made my heart melt).  Becky truly shines when she relies solely upon herself to rise above the circumstances.  Likewise, Becky has a good heart in helping others when she is not otherwise justifying her next purchase.

I have not read a Shopaholic book in several years - MINI SHOPAHOLIC hit the spot after our long travels.  I am excited to catch up with the series,  SHOPAHOLIC TO THE STARS (Book 7, published in 2014), and SHOPAHOLIC TO THE RESCUE (Book 8, coming in October, 2015).

Let me add the books are much more charming that the 2009 movie starring Isla Fisher as an American version of Becky Bloomwood. 

I am giving away a book choice from convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about shopping - do you battle the crowds at a sale or shop online?  Do you prefer outlet malls, flea markets, or swap meets?  I loved the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet!

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 29, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 30.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Hester Browne and THE FINISHING TOUCHES - Book Review

 

A fading English finishing school gets a twenty-first-century makeover in this "modern-day fairy tale" (Romantic Times) from New York Times bestselling author Hester Browne, whose sparkling novels are "charming and feel-good" (Cosmopolitan).

Twenty-seven years ago, an infant turned up on the doorstep of London’s esteemed Phillimore Academy for Young Ladies. Now, Betsy Phillimore returns to the place where she was lovingly raised by Lord and Lady Phillimore, only to find the Academy in disrepair and Lord P. desperate to save his legacy. Enter Betsy with a savvy business plan to replace dusty protocol with the essentials girls need today: cell phone etiquette, eating sushi properly, handling credit cards, choosing the perfect little black dress, negotiating a pre-nup, and other lessons in independent living. But returning to London also means crossing paths with her sexy girlhood crush . . . and stirring up the mystery of who her parents are and why they abandoned her. Will the puzzle pieces of her past fall into place while Betsy races to save the only home she’s ever known?

 

Finishing a good book is like leaving a good friend. - William Feather

Published in 2010 by Gallery Books, I found this 432 page trade size paperback at my library's swap shelf.  I had not read Hester Browne before but have enjoyed other "chick lit" books from British authors, including Sophia Kinsella.  In fact, Sophia offers a cover quote, "A delicious, entertaining book." As soon I finished the last page, I realized Sophia was right - it was tasty treat! 

THE FINISHING TOUCHES unfolds from Betsy's point of view after the memorial service for her adopted mother, Lady Frances Phillimore.  On the taxi ride from the service to the reception, Betsy reveals her early relationship with Lord and Lady Phillimore, growing up at the finishing school, and the events leading to her estrangement from her adoptive parents.  During the reception, Betsy realizes something's amiss at this London institution. When Lord Phillimore asks for her help to revitalize the finishing school, Betsy sees it as a way to mend the rift and pay tribute to her beloved mother.

Betsy's quest is two fold - while she reviews the school's financial books, she will also search for clues to her birth mother's identity.  It only makes sense that a former student would leave Betsy with the Phillimores to "become a lady".   Betsy calls upon a handful of friends to lend their expertise, only to find her friends need to be "sorted out" as well.  Likewise, she leans on the retired cook and retired housekeeper for moral support (in turn, her efforts will ensure they continue to reside in the cottage on school's estate).  While Betsy reaches out to the four spoiled students enrolled the school, she soon realizes they teach her something about her own community.

I read THE FINISHING TOUCHES in two sittings - an amazing feat for a slow reader like me who is often intimidated by any novel over 300 pages.  Yet I found myself among fictional friends, laughing at their antics and sobbing along with their heartbreak.

Recommended read for fans of Brit chick lit, British pop culture, and modern Cinderella story.

 

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about what a young lady should know before venturing out into the world.   I believe a young lady should know something about the classics, including literature and music, to carry on a civilized conversation.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 22, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 23.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City 

Learn more about Hester and her books at hesterbrowne.com.

My workshop at RWA - How to Promote Your Book (and Have a Life)

I mistakenly published this post earlier in the week while I am away in Florida.  I am republishing it for today, it's designated day.

I was honored to present a workshop with Kim Rocha during the 35th Annual RWA Conference - How to Promote Your Book (and Have a Life).

Bloggers are called the online gatekeepers to readers. Two book bloggers, Kimberly Rocha and Kim Lowe, offer their perspective on what works (and what flops) in promoting romance books and author brands. We’ve posted reviews and we’ve hosted blog tours. We’ve hopped over to other blogs for cross promotion. We’ve participated in launch parties on Facebook and character chats on Twitter. We’ve seen it all – the good, the bad, and the ugly – on social media. 

We have also attended industry events – RWA National Conference, NJRW Conference, Barbara Vey’s Readers Luncheon, and the RT Booklovers Convention. We’ve attended panel discussions about marketing, only to find that authors miss the main ingredient – what readers want. We know what readers want because we are readers. We interact with readers every day as “trusted advisors” through our blogs.

We created a Power Point presentation to highlight the indispensible aspects of promotion – author website, social media, and face-to-face interaction. We will use the presentation to guide the discussion, giving us the flexibility to engage in a lively discussion and answer any questions from authors.

So what did we say?  

Write the book that will entertain readers, offer an escape, and make them come back for more.

Everything else is icing on the cake.

We also offered tidbits about book reviews, blog tours, social media, and reader interaction.  I'll share these tidbits in September.

I thank Kim Rocha for inspiring me to pitch this workshop.  I also thank my readers for offering their feedback every time I ask.  

I am giving away my final copy of PREMIERE - A COLLECTION OF ROMANTIC TALES FROM RWA:

From Romance Writers of America® comes a never-before-published collection of tales that showcases the breadth and complexity of the world's most popular genre of fiction!

New York Times bestselling authors Cindy Gerard and Allison Brennan bring the thrills in their tales of romantic suspense.

New York Times bestselling authors Sabrina Jeffries and Courtney Milan take you on a trip back in time with lush stories of historical romance.

New York Times bestselling authors Vicki Lewis Thompson and Joan Johnston show the wonder of contemporary romance, while New York Times bestselling authors Monica Murphy and Laura Kaye's New Adult romances delve into the evolving Millennial perspective.

And editor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Sylvia Day's tale of angels and sizzling desire takes readers to the edge with paranormal romance.

From the first love of Young Adult romance to tales of second chances, LGBT romance to the realms of the supernatural, contemporary to historical, suspense to inspirational, the genre of romance has a story for every reader and this blockbuster inaugural collection from Romance Writers of America showcases it all!

Plus tales from:
Lila Bell
T. L Costa
Diane Kelly
Amber Lin
Katy Regnery
Erica Ridley
Regina Scott
Harper St. George
Lex Valentine

To enter the giveaway,

1.  If you were the cover model on PREMIERE, what type of chocolate would you be eating?  

I'm a fan of Mauna Loa chocolate covered macadamia nuts!

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 22, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 23.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Rachel Grant and Mary Sullivan, Treasure Hunters at RWA

My favorite panel during the 35th Annual RWA Conference was Treasures, Artifacts, and Curses: Archaeology 101 for Writers:

Rachel Grant and Mary Sullivan

An archaeology professor and private sector archaeologist give a behinds the scenes look at real life work of archaeologists. They'll alert attendees to common pitfalls they see in novels and discuss how to weave realistic archaeological details into stories.  

Rachel and Mary addressed the myths about archaeology that are often romanticized in pop culture - in reality, Indiana Jones was a thief!  I came to appreciate the effort of these archaeologists in uncovering the past.   Both confirmed that archaeologists take many notes ... so it must be a natural progression to write romances featuring archaeologists!

The bonus - both Rachel and Mary have lived in Hawaii.  Plus Rachel's husband, an underwater archaeologist for the US Navy, recently returned from a trip to Djibouti, Africa.  She shared a stone he received for teaching purposes that is dated as a million years old.  I was impressed!

Mary co-wrote the Case Study in Archaeology - A Student's Perspective.  Rachel is the author of the Evidence series with smart heroines and sexy heroes.  Back in May, she celebrated the release of Book Five, COVERT EVIDENCE:

Falling in love was never part of his mission…

With visions of professional glory, underwater archaeologist Cressida Porter embarks on a research trip deep into the heart of Eastern Turkey. Her dreams turn into nightmares when she becomes the unwitting courier for a terrorist network. Stranded and unable to speak the language, she turns to a handsome and enigmatic security specialist for help, even while fearing he may be behind a violent assault that leaves her vulnerable.

CIA Case Officer Ian Boyd’s mission is clear: follow the courier, identify the terrorist leader, and intercept the microchip before it falls into enemy hands. For Ian, cozying up to the alluring archaeologist to find out where her loyalties lie isn’t exactly hardship duty. But spending time with her proves dangerous when she awakens a longing for a life he can never have.

Attraction wars with distrust as Cressida and Ian are forced on the run. When violence erupts in the already unstable region, Cressida discovers everything she knows about Ian is false. With all secrets revealed, Cressida must decide if she can trust the spy with her life, while Ian faces his own impossible choice: Cressida or his mission.

I am giving away RWA conference "treasures" (aka swag) to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Do you have a favorite "treasure hunting" movie?  For hints, check out this list.  I enjoyed the movie THE DA VINCI CODE although I did not read the book. 

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 22, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 23.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Hawaii offers many treasures ....

Aloha to RWA's Librarian Day

Several weeks ago, I attended the 35th Annual RWA Conference in NYC.   I posted pictures on my travel blog here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

I kicked off the week with Librarian's Day, giving me the opportunity to sit with Melissa Norr, a Washington DC library and freelance editor at the Brazen Pen (link).  The first panel features Romantic Suspense authors, including Rebecca Zanetti (link).  She shared how she researched her books.  For example, she rode around in the trunk of her car.  Rebecca added her husband declined to be the driver ... but her sister was happy to take the wheel.

The next panel discussed the year round appeal of holiday romances.  Jane Porter (link) described how Montana at Christmas is romantic ... but I'd rather spend the holiday at her beach house near Waikiki!

RWA treated us to lunch with legendary author Jude Deveraux (link).  She shared the challenges of writing her next contemporary book - a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice with a production of Pride and Prejudice embedded in the story line.  After turning in the manuscript, she joked to her editor that she should next write Emma.   

I always enjoy the opportunity to be in a room of librarians!  I am giving away a copy of PREMIERE - A COLLECTION OF ROMANCE TALES FROM RWA:

From Romance Writers of America® comes a never-before-published collection of tales that showcases the breadth and complexity of the world's most popular genre of fiction!

New York Times bestselling authors Cindy Gerard and Allison Brennan bring the thrills in their tales of romantic suspense.

New York Times bestselling authors Sabrina Jeffries and Courtney Milan take you on a trip back in time with lush stories of historical romance.

New York Times bestselling authors Vicki Lewis Thompson and Joan Johnston show the wonder of contemporary romance, while New York Times bestselling authors Monica Murphy and Laura Kaye's New Adult romances delve into the evolving Millennial perspective.

And editor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Sylvia Day's tale of angels and sizzling desire takes readers to the edge with paranormal romance.

From the first love of Young Adult romance to tales of second chances, LGBT romance to the realms of the supernatural, contemporary to historical, suspense to inspirational, the genre of romance has a story for every reader and this blockbuster inaugural collection from Romance Writers of America showcases it all!

Plus tales from:
Lila Bell
T. L Costa
Diane Kelly
Amber Lin
Katy Regnery
Erica Ridley
Regina Scott
Harper St. George
Lex Valentine
To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about libraries, librarians, and/or Jane Austen - do you have a favorite?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 22, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 23.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Dylann Crush - A First Timer's Perspective of RWA

First, I want to say a big “Thank you!” to Kim for inviting me to write a guest post. I had the pleasure of meeting her at RWA in NYC and she’s just as awesome in person as she is on her blog. I’m a newbie in this industry – I’ve only been writing seriously for the past two years. Although I’ve completed a couple of manuscripts, I’m still working through the publishing process. But I knew I wanted to make it to RWA and I’m so glad I did. If you’re on the fence about attending or need some advice for next year, here are my top five tips:

Don’t Be Afraid to Sleep with Strangers - In an effort to do things on the cheap I offered to share my room with three other women. We met through the forum and exchanged a few emails. What could go wrong? My husband thought I was crazy. I called it being adventurous and resourceful. They were writers like me, how bad could it be? As soon as we met, I knew I’d made the right decision. I couldn’t have asked for three better ladies to share my room and my first RWA experience with. (Hi, Elizabeth, Kathy & Nikki!) Although we all come from different backgrounds and have different styles, we bonded over New York pizza and discussions over the difference between straight up erotica and erotic romance. (I still think I’m right on that one.) Moving on…

Sampling New York pizza

(Kim: another G spot?)

Find Your Own G-Spot - My first “What the hell have I gotten myself into” moment hit me as I walked into the ballroom for the author literacy signing. Lines of tables filled the entire ballroom. As an author attendant, I was told to pick a row. I snagged a spot within the “G’s” and for the next three hours became a water wench for a handful of the most grateful, fabulous authors. The number of people who turned out in support for the event and the romance industry in general overwhelmed me. It was a great way to start the conference and I highly recommend volunteering as much as you can. It’s a fantastic way to meet other people and I kept running into my “G-spot” authors over the course of the next several days. It was fun to see a familiar face and a few of us have connected via Facebook and Twitter.

The Early Bird Gets to Worm – As in, the early bird gets to worm her way up to the front of the room. I’m not typically a morning person. But as soon as the buffet line opened at 7:30am, I was ready to fill my plate with whatever yummy breakfast food the hotel had ready. By being one of the first people in the ballroom I had my pick of seating. Though my group usually gravitated to the right side of the ballroom, if I’d wanted to sit front and center and get starry-eyed all over the keynote speaker, I could have snagged a seat right under her nose. Same goes for the workshops. A few times I ended up standing in the back of the room or even (gasp) settling in my new business casual clothes on the floor. If you want a good seat, get there early and stake your claim. Oh, and wear good shoes. I know there isn’t really a spot for this piece of advice, but I highly recommend Aerosoles wedges. After four days, not one blister. Sorry, shoes have always been a major distraction for me. Let’s continue…

My roomie and a fellow member of my
online group, FTHRW, about to see Kinky Boots

Be Your Own Pimp - Talk to everyone. You never know who you’re going to be sharing an elevator with, standing by in line for the bathroom, or sitting next to at breakfast. This being my first RWA, I was in a unique situation. Besides the few members of my local RWA chapter who were all busy with agent/editor appointments and book signings, I didn’t know a soul…well, besides the people I’d been sleeping with. I talked to everyone. And when I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE. In the process I met editors, bloggers, agents, authors from overseas…and made many connections and hopefully some lifelong friends.

My suitcase full of books and swag

Bigger Isn’t Always Better – Well, sometimes it’s better (wink, wink) but when you’re attending RWA and you get to spend time around your idols, the authors who have shaped our industry and inspired you to strike out on your own writing journey, it’s easy to become star struck. Such as, I was almost rendered mute when Sylvia Day told me she loved my dress. Yeah, she did. I said something stupid like “I love YOU.” We’re BFF’s now, really. Here’s the picture to prove it. Sure I fangirled over my favorites at the book signings (don’t even get me started on the free books…it was like “Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah/Happy Kwanzaa for four days straight.) But as many of the keynote and workshop speakers pointed out, it’s important to make connections with other authors who are at the same place in their journey. They’re the ones who will crawl through the trenches with you, become your cheerleaders, your fans and your pillars of support as you make a name for yourself in this industry. And you’ll do the same for them. Let’s face it, having Sylvia Day as a BFF would be a great thing. But she probably wouldn’t have time to chew me out over another spliced comma or the overuse of the word “stroked” in my steamy scenes. (Can you really overuse the word “stroked?” Probably a conversation for another time.)

Hopefully my experience and perspective have given some of you that gentle nudge (giant shove) to sign up for RWA in San Diego next year. It’s an experience like no other and you’ll learn so much from the workshops, the speakers and the other attendees, it’s priceless. I’m planning on being there. Just look for me as soon as the buffet opens. I’ll be the one sporting a new pair of Aerosoles wedges and pimping myself to anyone who makes eye contact.

Until then, Cheers!

Dylann Crush

Dylann Crush writes contemporary romance with sizzle and sass. A romantic at heart, she loves her heroines spunky and her heroes super sexy. When she’s not dreaming up steamy storylines, she can be found sipping a margarita and searching for the best Mexican food in the upper Midwest. Although she grew up in Texas, she currently lives in a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul with her unflappable husband, three energetic kids and a canine who doesn’t think he’s a dog. She loves to connect with readers, other authors and fans of tequila. You can find her at dylanncrush.com, on Twitter @DylannCrush or Facebook facebook.com/dylanncrush.

My roomie, Elizabeth Harmon, a Carina author, 

and me ready for to attend the RITA awards

Mahalo, Dylann, for sharing your experience!  I love your humor ... and I look forward to reading your debut book.   I am giving away a copy of PREMIERE - A Collection of Romantic Tales from RWA:

From Romance Writers of America® comes a never-before-published collection of tales that showcases the breadth and complexity of the world's most popular genre of fiction!

New York Times bestselling authors Cindy Gerard and Allison Brennan bring the thrills in their tales of romantic suspense.

New York Times bestselling authors Sabrina Jeffries and Courtney Milan take you on a trip back in time with lush stories of historical romance.

New York Times bestselling authors Vicki Lewis Thompson and Joan Johnston show the wonder of contemporary romance, while New York Times bestselling authors Monica Murphy and Laura Kaye's New Adult romances delve into the evolving Millennial perspective.

And editor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Sylvia Day's tale of angels and sizzling desire takes readers to the edge with paranormal romance.

From the first love of Young Adult romance to tales of second chances, LGBT romance to the realms of the supernatural, contemporary to historical, suspense to inspirational, the genre of romance has a story for every reader and this blockbuster inaugural collection from Romance Writers of America showcases it all!

Plus tales from:
Lila Bell
T. L Costa
Diane Kelly
Amber Lin
Katy Regnery
Erica Ridley
Regina Scott
Harper St. George
Lex Valentine

To enter the giveaway, 

1.  Leave a comment with your advice for a first timer at a big convention ... or what do you think is the best advice Dylann offered?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 22, 10 pm in Baltimore. 

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 23.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Weekly Winners

Aloha from Florida ... we have winners here at SOS Aloha!

Leah Marie Brown's FAKING IT

- Linda wins a print copy plus a book choice from my convention stash.

Debra Holt's MERCY'S RESCUE

- Glenda wins a digital copy.

Heather Boyd's MISS RADLEY'S THIRD DARE

- Library Pat wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Cathy Kelly's IT STARTED WITH PARIS

- Mary K. wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Carol Ross' A CASE FOR FORGIVENESS

- Karen wins a signed copy from Carol.

Winners, please claim your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.  I am away in Florida this week, taking my son to college.  I will have limied internet connection - I will be in touch eventually!

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City