I've Moved!

My website got a bit of a makeover, and in the process my blog was integrated with the home page. So, from now on, you'll find my latest blog posts at www.luciesimone.com. Don't worry, all my old blogger posts were imported, so when I take this one down, you can still find the oldies, but goodies on my new home page. So, why not join me at my fab new site? Just click the link below:

Lucie Simone

I look forward to seeing you there!

Ciao,
Lucie

Slow, Slower, Slow

Back in February, I posted about my decision to get serious about getting fit. Since then, it has been a case of “one step forward, two steps back.” I had started out strong. Working out 4-5 times a week, tracking my food, and even managing a few minutes of meditation here and there. But then my family suffered yet another tragic loss right after Valentine’s Day with the unexpected passing of my uncle. The entire family was in an utter state of shock. Family and friends from near and far descended upon the small Indiana town where I grew up to pay their respects. In all, over 400 people attended his funeral. Quite an incredibly heartwarming experience. But it was tough, not just because my uncle was such a benevolent and loving man, but because he was only 62. He had so much more love to give, so many more lives to touch.

My aunt’s home was filled with family, tears, laughter and food. Lots of food, most of which I couldn’t eat because I’m a vegetarian and Hoosiers haven’t yet figured out how to cook vegetables without meat. So, my only choices were breads and sweets. I’m not complaining. It was a free pass to drown my sorrows in brownies, cookies, mac & cheese, and cake. Such delicious cake! But seventy-two hours of traveling, eating, crying, family-bonding, more crying, more eating, more traveling and my body was beaten, bloated, and begging for some good nutrition.

However, I had to return to work the very next day where I was overloaded with reports to produce, an audit to prep for, and a board meeting to prepare. For nearly a month straight, I worked long hours, barely leaving my desk to get a drink or to eat. Once home, I was starving and didn’t have the patience to cook a healthy meal, so I just tossed a frozen dinner in the oven and snacked on popcorn, cookies, Easter candy, and whatever else would satisfy my ever-increasing hunger.

The other thing that screwed me up was the time change. You wouldn’t think that losing an hour would so adversely affect my energy, but there is statistical evidence that more people suffer heart attacks when we “spring forward” than any other time during the year, so clearly I’m not the only one who doesn’t react well to it. So, that missing hour put me in a stupor for two weeks. Yes, two full weeks during which I got no exercise because I couldn’t get up before the sunrise and had no energy to work out after work.

The thing is, I know these are excuses. There are plenty of people who persevere in their weight loss efforts under similar conditions. But you know what? It was one month. One month that I got off track. And the important thing is that I’m back on track. I think the lesson here is to give yourself a little slack from time to time, but to know when it’s time to get back to work. When it’s time to face the alarm clock blaring at 6am to get in your morning work out. When it's time to walk away from the cookies and cakes and once again embrace nutritious foods. When it's time to acknowledge that the only sure way to fail is to give up, and then don’t give up. Get up. Get going. It might be slow going, but it’s going. Slow, slower, slow. And that’s okay.

Ciao,
Lucie

My Voice, My Identity

If you follow this blog, my Twitter feed, or Like me on Facebook, then you know that I have a literary crush on author, Liza Palmer. Not only are her books absolutely wonderful, she is equally as fantastic in person as she is on the page. I met her last summer at a book signing, but really, we became cyber buds a year prior when I first followed her on Twitter. She is marvelously entertaining and funny, but what I really admire about her is that she is genuine. So, when we first smiled at each other over a pile of paperback copies of More Like Her, the grin that spread across her face when she recognized me was truly heartfelt and so refreshing. And that's what her writing is like. It's genuine. It's heartfelt. It's refreshing. In fact, it's almost like she's writing my own thoughts. In most books, I often feel like I'm listening to a great friend tell me a story; but with Liza Palmer's novels, I feel like she's inside my own head, revealing my innermost fears and desires. She's truly brilliant at getting into those secret places and unearthing long buried feelings. That's her talent. Her strength. And it's what will keep you glued to the pages of her books. 

So, of course when the opportunity to hear her speak on the topic of writing arose, I jumped at it. This past weekend, I took a quick road trip down to Orange County to hear her speak to a group of romance writers about the best advice she'd ever gotten on her crazy publishing journey. And It was all great stuff, but the one thing that really and truly spoke to me was this: "Your voice is your identity." Not your genre, your voice. This is powerful. This means you can do anything so long as you stay true to your voice. 

This is really poignant right now in  my own publishing journey. I'm working on my next book, Roses in Bloom, and it's quite a bit different from my first two novels, Hollywood Ending and Picture Perfect. It's different because it isn't Chick Lit. It's Women's Fiction. It's about two estranged sisters who must overcome some very big challenges and face their worst fears together in order to find the true meaning of happiness. Now, that doesn't really sound like Chick Lit, does it? And, honestly, I was wondering if my readers, Chick Lit fans, would be disappointed. But, what makes my previous novels Chick Lit, really isn't the plot. It's the voice. My voice. And that isn't going to change. So, Roses in Bloom will be Women's Fiction the Lucie Simone way. With lots of humor, a little bit of bitching, and of course some great female bonding! 

So, thank you, Liza, for allaying my fears and for giving me a great piece of advice!  

Oh, by the way, Liza has a new book out this April. And I have an advance copy! Now go get yours! You're going to love it. I promise!

Ciao,

Lucie

   

Cari Kamm's Bermudian Birthday

Cari Kamm's newest release, For Internal Use Only, recently hit bookshelves (and ereaders!) and I'm so happy to have her here on the blog today! Cari is talking about one of my favorite subjects - travel - and after reading her guest post, you'll probably be breaking out the rum and heading over to Kayak to book your next vacation. I know I am!

A Bermudian Birthday

(Swizzled In. Swaggered Out.)

By Cari Kamm

 

I love to travel! I think growing up in a small town in West Virginia (population 3,500) and then moving to New York City with access to JFK International Airport and Penn Station, created the extreme need to be spontaneous and take advantage of the opportunities. I believe traveling has taught me many wonderful lessons. Over the years, I’ve become more spontaneous, open to new things, a greater risk taker, a foodie, have a better ability to adapt to new things, and an appreciation of other cultures.

 

Traveling pushes me as a writer in my descriptions. For example, in my first novel, Fake Perfect Me, the scenes in Italy where Isabella Reynolds is enjoying a creamy burrata in Rome... I wrote that scene while doing that exact thing. In my latest novel, For Internal Use Only, I was a passenger in a car on a major interstate in Atlanta writing a similar scene with my protagonist Chloe. With a camera in hand, I walked Central Park pretending to be a photographer. My goal is to transport the reader into the scene.

 

So, when my fiancé said were booked for Moscow to celebrate my 35th birthday, I was thrilled. My imaginationimmediately traveled to the historical sites, wearing a huge fur hat, and sipping vodka while attempting to speak in my best Russian accent. However, the spontaneous booking of the trip didn’t leave us time to obtain travel visas. We were rejected by Russia!

 

With twenty-four hours until Valentine’s Day, we were left scrambling with travel arrangements. That’s the beautiful thing about the desire to see the world. Anywhere that requires a passport is a dream destination. At the last minute, we snagged two tickets to a spot we’d never been... Bermuda!

 

I had a Bermudian birthday to kick off my 35th year. It started with The Salted Cod Fish breakfast (cod, potatoes, bacon, egg, banana & avocado) and sipped Rum Swizzle cocktails (Bermuda’s National drink). The locals warned me that the “Rum can make you dumb.” It definitely made me silly, but hearing my fiancé laugh at me, was worth every sip. The saying is, “You swizzle in and swagger out.”That sounds about right!

 

 

Here are 10 fun facts that I learned about beautiful Bermuda. We will definitely be returning!

 

1. Everyone is extremely polite. Saying Good Morning or Good Afternoon to everyone is considered good manners.

 

2. Rainfall generates Bermuda’s only supply of fresh water. By law, every house must collect 80 percent of the water that falls on its limestone roof.

 

3. Bermuda is home to more golf courses per square mile than anywhere in the world!

 

4. The island has beautiful pink beaches created from Red Forams and which tiny-single-celled animals that live under the coral reef. They resemble small strawberries. When they wash ashore, they mix with the white sand creating the pink hue.

 

5. Bermuda has a National 2-day holiday called Cup Match! It’s an annual cricket match between the two ends of the island.

 

6. It’s home to the smallest drawbridge in the world. The Somerset Bridge opening is only about 12-inches wide, just wide enough for a sail to pass through.

 

7. There are over four hundred shipwrecks dating back to the 1500’s to explore!

 

8. Fast food chains are not allowed! Except for KFC, who got in before the ban was put into effect.

 

9. Bermuda has a dress code! You cannot walk around in your bathing suit and men must wear shirts at all times. Also, if a man is wearing Bermuda shorts without long socks he's a tourist.  

10. When shopping you can pay with American dollars or Bermudian dollars.

Chloe Kassidy has just been accepted into one of Manhattan’s most exclusive art exhibits, Love Through Light. However, with her singular dedication to her career, she soon realizes that in sacrificing her personal life, she has never been in love. A hopeless romantic who is terrified of heartbreak, Chloe begins to enlist the help of her circle of friends to learn about love through their very different stories and experiences. 

In Chloe’s emotional rollercoaster to having the greatest love story ever told, she’ll learn that like her photography she must use the negatives in life to develop and prove that she’s a strong woman who found her way to love through light. 

Inspired by the notion that women grow up with ideas of true love and destiny, For Internal Use Only approaches those ideas with a decidedly twenty-first century viewpoint. A humorous love story with an edgy and dramatic twist, For Internal Use Only is a vastly entertaining novel that gives each of us a new fairy tale to look forward too: our own.

About the Author

 

Cari Kamm has worked in the beauty industry for over a decade, building brands, working behind the scenes, and even selling her own skin care line. She has a master’s in clinical nutrition from New York University. Kamm currently works in corporate social media management with clients in the beauty, fashion, and restaurant industries. Living in New York City with her mutt Schmutz, Kamm loves finding inspiration in the most unexpected places, being a novelist, and convincing her fiancé that ordering takeout and making dinner reservations are equal to cooking. More information can be found on her website, CariKamm.com. To check out the book trailer, click here: http://tinyurl.com/bdr7bfn. You can also connect with Cari via Facebook and Twitter.

The Secrets of Married Women Review

The Secrets of Married Women

Falling in love is easy. Staying in love is harder.

Jill and Rob are happily married and still very much in love. Then everything changes when they discover that Rob is infertile. Having children has never been the be all and end all for Jill. Yet, admittedly, a tiny part of her now wants what she can’t have. But more than craving the impossible, Jill just wants her marriage back to the way it was. But Rob has taken the news badly. He won't touch her. They never have sex anymore. And worse still, he won’t talk about it.

Frustrated and unsure what to do, Jill is drawn into being an unwitting 'ear' for her best friend Leigh who is having a steamy extra-marital affair. Married to a man who is eager to please but fails to satisfy, Leigh has decided that life is too short to put her own happiness last. She has given her affair an expiry date: six weeks and then she will end it.

Then there is Wendy, who is married to handsome Neil, a top policeman. Wendy is one of those friends who never lets her guard drop - a content mother and a wife whose trust and faith in her husband seems to know no limits.

But are things ever what they seem?

Does life ever go according to plan?

How well do we ever know our husbands, our best friends, or even ourselves?

Jill is about to find out when she faces infidelity and the truth head on.

My Thoughts

I'm very thankful to have found Carol Mason's debut novel, The Secrets of Married Women, because now I can add another author to my automatic buy list. This story was compelling, well written, and full of suspense, humor, and even some heartache. I instantly liked the main character, Jill, and could easily relate to her and her struggles with her relationships as she navigates the complexities of friendship, love, family, desire and regret. I loved how honest the narrative was, often revealing painful secrets with the reader, the kind that you only share with your closest confidants. Carol Mason crafts a wonderfully entertaining novel, expertly weaving comedy in with the tragedy with such authenticity you almost believe you're listening to your best friend spill all the juicy, sordid details of the life you never expected her to be leading behind that perfect white picket fence. This book will have you on the edge of your seat one minute and cackling with laughter the next. Such a great read!

About the Author

You can learn about Carol Mason and her other books by visiting her author website. And I really hope you do because I'm pretty sure you will fall in love with her writing just like I did!

Love is in the Air - Valentine's Q&A with Justine

Nine fabulous authors and I are doing a fun Valentine's Q&A with characters from our books. I'm featuring Picture Perfect's Justine, the BFF to main character Lauren. Justine is a poet, an NYU professor, and a sex goddess who believes in the healing powers of chocolate truffles and red wine. Enjoy! Oh, and don't forget to drop by my fellow authors' blogs, too. Links at the bottom of this post!

1. Are you currently in a relationship? If so, tell us a little bit about your S.O. And if not...what are you looking for in a romantic partner? 

Well, I don't know if I'd go so far as to call it a "relationship," but I have a marvelous young man in my life named Lucas. He's a Brit with a tight butt and a passion for Shakespear's sonnets. He's a little too on the "sweet" side for my taste, but he is delicious nonetheless!

2. How old were you when you had your first kiss--and can you share what you remember about it?

Oh, gawd. I was nine and it was at my cousin's barmitzvah. His name was Kenny. Kenny! And he had sweaty palms. He snuck a kiss off me while everyone was dancing and I'd gone back to the punchbowl to slake my thirst. I kicked him in the shin and he went running to his mother bawling about it. I was grounded for two weeks. 

3. Describe your ideal romantic evening.

It would start with a heavenly slice of pizza from Lombardi's in the East Village, followed by a stroll along the High Line to take in the night air and the incredible view of Manhattan's skyline. Before heading back to my brownstone in the Village, we'd grab a spiked coffee at La Lanterna. Back home, we'd light a fire in my massive fireplace and shag the night away.

4. What food most gets you "in the mood"?

Dark chocolate truffles are my go-to food for just about any occasion. Pair them with a bottle of champagne, and voila, you've got a sweet and sumptuous aphrodisiac! Of course, the most important factor in elevating my "mood" is a man with a brain. If he can't match wits with me, no amount of chocolate will help!

5. How far will you go on a first date? And how many dates do you need to go on before you knock boots? 

If it's the right guy at the right moment (i.e. he's hot and I'm primed), I'm all for indulging in a night of reckless abandon. Passion isn't for the weak-willed!

6. Have you ever had a secret romance? And if you have, will you share about it here?

Technically, most of my "romances" are secret. Being a professor puts me in a position to befriend many a young, eager student. And generally, these trysts are looked down upon by the administration. So...I like to keep things under wraps.

7. Describe your dream wedding. If you're already married, was the wedding you had the one you always dreamed of?

After watching my best friend's marriage explode into a full on nightmare, I am not exactly eager to walk down the aisle. But if I were to do so, it would be on a tropical beach at sunset with only my best friend and her main squeeze in attendance. I'd wear a long, sleek, curve-hugging dress, no shoes and my wavy hair would be adorned with flowers. A classical guitarist would provide the music, while we danced under the stars and dined on fresh seafood and buckets of champagne.

Thank you, Justine! And don't forget to stop by the my fellow authors' blogs below to get the inside scoop on their characters love lives!

Samantha Stroh Bailey 

Francine LaSala 

Libby Mercer 

Tracie Banister 

Cat Lavoie 

Meredith Schorr 

Samantha March

Nancy Scrofano

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, We've Got 9 Great Books for You!

Love is in the air . . . and it can be on your Kindle, too!

 

Do you want to fall in love with a good book this Valentine's Day weekend? How about 9? Then don't miss this special promotion. For four days only (February 14th - February 17th), 9 popular Chick Lit authors will be lowering the prices on their favorite rom-coms to 99 cents on Amazon.com! At that price (A bottle of wine costs more!), why not sample them all? Some delicious literary treats await you, and unlike chocolates these goodies are calorie-free!

 

And guys: If your sweetie is a book-lover, you'll make her Valentine's Day by gifting her with one (or more) of our fun, romantic stories! 

 

Finding Lucas by Samantha Stroh Bailey - Daytime talk show producer Jamie Ross is beyond fed up with her toxic bad boy turned metrosexual boyfriend. Spurred on by her gang of quirky friends, she goes on a hilarious, at-times disastrous, and totally life-changing hunt to track down the ”one who got away.” But are some loves best left behind?

 

In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister – Handling the problems of hysterical hypochondriacs, lovelorn neurotics, and compulsive man whores is all in a day’s work for super-shrink Pilar Alvarez. But can she deal with her crazy Cuban family, a trio of unsuitable suitors, and a threat to her practice without ending up on the couch herself? 

 

Rita Hayworth’s Shoes by Francine LaSala – Jilted bride Amy's down on everything until she convinces herself to purchase a cute, ridiculously expensive pair of second-hand shoes. Once she does, life starts looking up, and she falls into an unexpected new romance with the last man she'd ever expect to love. But can a pair of shoes really be magic? And is her new prince really just a frog? 

 

Breaking the Rules by Cat Lavoie – When Roxy Rule shares a passionate kiss with her lifelong best friend, she must come to terms with her feelings for him while dealing with two sisters in full crisis mode, a boss who makes her want to stab herself with a letter opener and a fiancé who can’t wait to walk down the aisle. Can she keep it together–or will she break under the pressure? 

 

The Green Ticket by Samantha March – College junior Alex Abrams scores her dream job at the ripe age of twenty, but her good fortune quickly turns disastrous when she realizes her job is filled with lies, betrayal, and cover-ups. Keeping up with classes, her girlfriends and a budding romance, Alex feels the pressure – but will she overcome the challenges? 

 

Unmasking Maya by Libby Mercer - Disgraced New York fashionista, Maya Kirkwood, is fashioning herself a new life as an artist in San Francisco when she's hired to do an installation of her work by dorky, yet dashing dotcom executive, Derek. The sparks soon start to fly... But is this a good thing? 

 

A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr - Jane Frank is newly single after nine years and looking for a second chance at love. But when she dives head first into the NYC dating scene and finds it infested with flakes who are interested today and gone tomorrow, it may be time for Jane to turn the tables! 

 

True Love Way by Nancy Scrofano - When her high school sweetheart, Josh, suddenly returns after twelve years in Paris, Marlo Spencer travels to her hometown to try to rekindle their relationship. But when dreams of a blissful reunion are shattered as old secrets and betrayals are revealed, can she forgive and forget, or will true love find a different path to her heart? 

 

Picture Perfect by Lucie Simone - Lauren Tate’s perfectly planned life quickly unravels at the seams when a smear campaign threatens her career as a top TV executive, but she learns just how cutthroat showbiz can truly be when the hottest scandal in Tinsel Town turns deadly and the Hollywood hunk who’s stolen her heart goes missing. 

Review of Cupid On Deck

Cupid On Deck

Louise “Lou” Riley agrees to tag along with her friends on a Valentine’s Day cruise around Seattle’s Lake Union. Donning their best 1920s attire, they board the old-fashioned paddle wheeler steamboat for an evening that’s expected to be the bee’s knees. Lou plans to shed her third wheel status onboard when she joins Nate, who she’s been sweet on for months. But when a mishap sends the dashing (and single!) Landon Harper to her aid, Lou discovers that Cupid may have other plans for her love life, and she and Landon share an unforgettable few hours together. Then, a surprise announcement sends everyone into a frenzy. Will Lou and Landon live happily ever after? Or maybe Lou and Nate are meant to be… Find out where the cherub’s arrow lands in Cupid On Deck, a roaring good time aboard a love boat reminiscent of the jazz age.

My Thoughts

It's no secret that I love Nancy Scrofano's work. She has a unique style all her own that is equal parts sweet and funny. I really think her ability to create stories with richly textured characters, unexpected twists, and an overall sense of warmth and love is a true gift. And Cupid on Deck is no exception! This adorable little romantic comedy arrived just in time for Valentine's Day and was a pure joy to read. The lead character, Lou, a sassy, funny, and slightly accident-prone twenty-something falls (literally) head over heels for the handsomely mysterious Landon while on a Valentine's Day cruise and (honestly) hilarity ensues. I loved the roaring twenties theme, the playful dialogue and the comical scenarios. This is a charming little story with fun characters and a quick and entertaining plot. If you're looking for something cheery and romantic, this is the story for you!

About the Author

Nancy Scrofano grew up watching classic television shows, classic movies, and listening to oldies, all of which she still adores today. Nancy has a penchant for the fifties, mostly because of her favorite show, I Love Lucy. She has seen every episode countless times and will happily share the trivia she knows with anyone who will listen. Nancy worked as an editor and a journalist for her college newspaper, then went on to develop sociology textbooks for an academic publisher. She has a master’s degree in media psychology, as well as undergraduate degrees in communication, radio and television, and liberal arts. Nancy is a freelance writer and the author of True Love Way. Additionally, she is the founder and managing editor of The Chick Lit Bee, a book blog that promotes and celebrates women’s fiction. Nancy lives in southern California where she is at work on her next novel. To learn more about Nancy, visit her website.