A Thread of Sky by Deanna Fei... A Virtual Book Tour!

I love generational stories! Especially those that involve women. A Thread of Sky by Deanna Fei is just that - a story of 6 women, 3 generations and their journey to discover the China that they were born from, but also to discover a part of themselves that was forgotten.

From the Publisher:

When her husband of thirty years is killed in a devastating accident, Irene Shen and her three daughters are set adrift. Nora, the eldest, retreats into her high-powered New York job and a troubled relationship. Kay, the headstrong middle child,

escapes to China to learn the language and heritage of her parents. Sophie, the sensitive and artistic youngest, is trapped at home until college, increasingly estranged from her family—and herself. Terrified of being left alone with her grief, Irene plans a tour of mainland China’s must-sees, reuniting three generations of women—her three daughters, her distant poet sister, and her formidable eighty-year-old mother—in a desperate attempt to heal her fractured family.

If only it were so easy. Each woman arrives bearing secre

ts big and small, and as they travel—visiting untouched sections of the Great Wall and the seedy bars of Shanghai, the beautiful ancient temples and cold, modern shopping emporiums—they begin to wonder if they will ever find the China they seek, the one their family fled long ago.

Over days and miles they slowly find their way toward a new understanding of themselves, of one another, and of the vast complexity of thei

r homeland, only to have their new bonds tested as never before when the darkest, most carefully guarded secret of all spirals to the surface and threatens to tear their family apart forever.

As these six women explore China’s magnificent landmarks and mysteriou

s alleys, gradually unearthing family secrets, they also rediscover something they seem to have forgotten amid their fast-paced lives in America: “Jia—family, house, home. In Chinese, it was all one word.”

Deanna Fei has written a wonderful novel; compl

ex and haunting. The prose is beautiful; the words seeming to float across the page. The characters are well written, and the landscape of their travels is equally well drawn, giving the reader a slight feeling of nostalgia as the contrast of the old against the new are laid across the page. The story its

elf unravels the lives of each of these women as they struggle with their own identities. We are first introduced to each woman as they try to preform their duties as mothers, daughters, sisters and grandmother. When they are thrown together they do struggle, each feeling the need to appear strong and self sufficient. It is only when they slowly let their secrets come tumbling out, when each of them finally lets their guard down, that they start to truly connect with one another. It's a fascinating look at the inter-relationships of women in a family, and the differences between generations.

I really enjoyed reading this! The characters were memorable, as a woman I could relate to some of their insecurities, and the setting was fascinating. Not only would I recommend this to anyone wanting a wonderful book to read, but I would recommend this to reading groups. A Thread of Sky would make a wonderful discussion book, from the way the w

omen interacted with one another, to discussing how the word "family" means different things to different people.

About the Author...

Deanna Fei is the author of the novel A Thread of S

ky (Penguin Press, 2010), a New York Times Editors’ Choice and an

Indie Next Notable Book. She was born in Flushing, New York, and has lived in Beijing and Shanghai, China. A graduate of Amherst College and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, she has received a Fulbright Grant, a New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship, and a Chinese Cultural Scholarship. She currently lives i

n Brooklyn and is at work on a new novel.

I want to thank TLC Book Tours for sending along a review copy of A Thread of Sky and asking me to participate in Deanna Fei's Virtual Bo

ok Tour! You can learn more about A Thread of Sky, read an excerpt and learn more about Deanna Fei, at Deanna Fei's website.

The Book of Eli Virtual Book Tour

The Book of Eli by Sam Moffie

Meet Eli Canaan- a sex crazed maniac making a trip to heaven courtesy of the wife he cheated on, a gypsy with an answer for her, and the hex that did the deed. The Book of Eli by Sam Moffie is the story of that trip and what lead up to it...

Eli Canaan is a believer. And, like many, he believes himself to be a principled and moral man. Well, for the most part anyway. But, after a series of missteps, sins, some would say, Eli's life is suddenly and unexpectedly altered forever. A spurned wife, a gypsy, a hex and spiritual intervention may all be at the root of Eli's unexpected, deep and earnest introspection, which is like nothing he has experienced before -

in THIS world.

An uplifting story of hope and meaning and belief in the goodness that can come by opening one's eyes to he Heavens...

My first impression when starting to read The Book of Eli by Sam Moffie was to put it down. The hero of the story was this sex crazed guy named Eli who had a one track mind, that was constantly painted in black & white (and I mean constantly) on the pages in front of me. When Eli finally finds himself in heaven, his wife had hired a gypsy to cast a hex on Eli's philandering ways and it turned out a little differently than she expected, the story takes a turn for the better. Eli encounters a cast of characters that aim to teach him a thing or two about himself and his sinning ways, and to prepare him for a job he was destined to do. God, who has the voice of Orson Welles, greets Eli upon his arrival, Groucho Marx is Eli's heavenly guide, and Freud has a thing or two to say too. Ayn Rand has a chit chat with Eli as does atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair. The banter between these characters warmed me to Eli and to the book. Well written with a good deal of sarcasm, The Book of Eli is ultimately a story of redemption. A slim book of about 150 pages, that's not quite a "chick" book, but definitely for readers who enjoy a bit of biting humor.

About Sam Moffie... The Book of Eli is Sam Moffie's fourth novel. The other three have won numerous awards and received glowing reviews. When not writing or marketing, he can be found observing human nature at his bars in Youngstown, Ohio. Forty-nine years of age, Sam resides with Juliette and a host of family members who enjoy a good fire, fine wine, backyard foosball, good movies and of course good books. When all else fails, there is always a walk with the dogs.

Sam Moffie is virtually touring the blogosphere to promote The Book of Eli this month courtesy of Pump Up Your Book. Chick with Books is participating in that tour with today's review! I also received my review copy of The Book of Eli courtesy of Pump Up Your Books.

Guest Post with Shobhan Bantwal, author of The Unexpected Son!

Shobhan Bantwal, author of The Unexpected Son (her newest novel), The Sari Shop Widow, and Mainstream and Romantic Women's Fiction set in India and America stops by Chick with Books today to share a bit of herself and her writing process!

Shobhan Bantwal is the author of 4 books, a collection of tales, articles and more. Shobhan's writing is "romantic, colorful, action-packed tales, rich with elements of Indian culture -- stories that entertain and educate." Her writing career is a "menopausal epiphany," because she took up creative writing at the age of 50. At Chick with Books we are pleased to have Shobhan Bantwal as a guest today! Today Shobhan Bantwal will talk about her writing style. Join me in a warm welcome to Shobhan!

Going Commercial or Literary?

By Shobhan Bantwal - author of THE UNEXPECTED SON

I was always the rebel in my family, even as a child growing up in a small town in India. The fourth of five girls and no boys in a strict Hindu household, I was the sole tomboy who climbed trees, played field hockey, and the only sister to learn how to ride a bicycle and drive the family car. While this may not seem like a big deal to most women born and raised in western cultures, in the India of the 1960s and '70s, a rebel girl could ruin her reputation and her family's, and destroy her chances of finding a husband in the future.

Luckily for me, my parents managed to find me a good husband and gave me a traditional arranged marriage. My husband is a very loving and supportive man, and we have been happily married for nearly 37 years. Needless to say, when I took up creative writing rather late in life, at the age of 50, my renegade instincts naturally steered me towards writing something different than the literary novels that most Asian authors write. I think of it as my "menopausal epiphany." My tastes tend to lean more toward commercial romantic fiction, therefore when I took up writing, I decided to write what I enjoyed reading.

What emerged from my attempts at writing was a unique sub-genre of women's fiction, something I call "Bollywood in a Book"—multicultural women's fiction with a romantic touch and filled with the vivid colors, textures, tastes, and cultural elements of India. When I started out, I was not sure if there would be a market for my type of writing, but I was amazed to find that there are many readers eager for this variety of ethnic commercial fiction.

THE UNEXPECTED SON is my fourth book and tells the story of an Indian-American woman whose innocent mistake as a teenager in college comes back to haunt her three decades later. An anonymous letter from India tells her an impossible story: she has a grown son in India, a child she was told was stillborn 30 years ago. Now, discovering that he is alive but gravely ill, is she willing to reveal her secret past to her husband and grown daughter and ruin the happy life she has managed to create for herself? Or will she risk it all to meet her unexpected son and pray for the faith of her family?

Go to my website to learn about my books, excerpts, video trailers, contests, recipes, photos, book club and contact information at www.shobhanbantwal.com

Thank you Shobhan for guest posting today on Chick with Books! And sharing a little of yourself with us!

And to all my Chick with Books readers, I'll be reviewing The Unexpected Son by Shobhan Bantwal tomorrow!

Lucy Springer Gets Even by Lisa Heidke... A Virtual Book Tour & Review

Lucy Springer Gets Even by Lisa Heidke

Fresh & Funny,

it's the Perfect Summer Read

for all you Chicks out there!

Lucy Springer Gets Even by Lisa Heidke is pure Chick Lit! Lucy's acting career has been on permanent standby for a while (although there was the infamous broccoli commercial...), her love life just turned upside down, with her husband taking off to parts unknown without so much as a goodbye, and if that weren't bad enough, she has no kitchen, and the house is a disaster as it's in major renovations with workers who enjoy a good cup of coffee more than swinging a hammer. What's a girl to do? Call her Mother? Heck, that's part of the problem too! How about try and put it all back together with wit and good humor, and a bit of alcohol thrown in for good measure! Here's what the publishers say,

Lucy Springer thinks she’s got it tough. She’s living through renovation hell, her two kids seem more challenging than ever, and her once successful acting career has been reduced to the odd commercial.

Then Max, her husband, absconds to Bali with an unknown companion and things go from bad to disastrous.

But Lucy doesn’t give up easily. Juggling increasingly chaotic building dramas, bewildered children, her crazy best friend-slash-agent Gloria, her ever ‘helpful’ mother and chasing after Max, Lucy Springer is determined to get her life on an even keel – and more.

Lucy Springer Gets Even was pure fun! Lisa Heidke has a wry sense of humor that shines through as Lucy goes from the gutter to glory. And I loved the way Lisa Heidke wrote the book-starting with the first day of Lisa's story, Day 1, we get to experience each day as it's happening until Day 60. Like diary entries, it's unique and a great way for us to be swept up in the story, just as if we were there. Lisa Heidke puts us in the role of BFF as we watch Lucy try and juggle career, kids and her well meaning, but domineering mother, and I was rooting for her all the way!

Great writing, a fun story written in a unique way, and a good ending is what you'll find in Lucy Springer Gets Even. Women who want a lighter summer read with a resilient heroine will enjoy this book! And this book hits the bulls eye for Chick Lit lovers too!

About the Author... Lisa Heidke studied journalism at Queensland University, fled Brisbane and settled in Sydney where she worked in book and magazine publishing. After many years living in Sydney's inner west, Lisa woke up one morning to find herself married with three children and living on the North Shore. In 2006, Lisa's This Wife's Life was shortlisted for the Varuna/Harper Collins Manuscript Awards and then in 2007, Lucy Springer's Story was shortlisted. Learn more about Lisa at her website LisaHeidke.com. And read an EXCERPT from Lucy Springer Gets Even from her publisher, Allen & Unwin

Lisa Heidke has been on a Virtual Book Tour for Lucy Springer Gets Even, and Chick with Books is one of her stops. I want to thank Pump Up Your Book for sending me a review copy of Lisa's great book! It was a great escape!

Play Dead by Ryan Brown... The Virtual Book Tour!

Football will Never Be The Same...

Play Dead by Ryan Brown... From Ryan Brown (son of Sandra) comes a fresh new voice in thriller fiction with PLAY DEAD, an imaginative, fast-paced novel about zombies bent on revenge in a football-obsessed Texas town. When a high school football team is murdered by a rival team, a local witch brings the dead players back to life as zombies so they can trounce their rivals in one last game and save their own souls.

Back of the Book... For the first time in Killington High School history, the Jackrabbits football team is one win away from the district championship where it will face its most vicious rival, the Elmwood Heights Badgers. On the way to the game, the Jackrabbits’s bus plunges into a river, killing every player except for bad-boy quarterback Cole Logan who is certain the crash was no accident—given that Cole himself was severely injured in a brutal attack by three ski-masked men earlier that day. Bent on payback, Cole turns to a mysterious fan skilled in black magic to resurrect his teammates. But unless the undead Jackrabbits defeat their murderous rival on the field, the team is destined for hell. In a desperate race against time, with only his coach’s clever daughter, Savannah Hickman, to assist him, Cole must lead his zombie team to victory...

With all the zombies, vampires and sea monsters these days, I just couldn't resist Play Dead! It's fresh, it's classic zombie, it's a little bit teen romance, and it's a great debut from Ryan Brown. It's a classic thriller with the story taking off right from the start. They take high school football serious in Texas, and a hatchett & a threat are what QB Cole Logan has to deal with game day. But it only gets worse from there... Ryan doesn't take himself too seriously when it comes to Zombies on the field. There's a bit of sarcasm behind the plot. And that's where the fun sets in. The story flows nicely, and characters are well written, and it's an enjoyable read! Hey, Football is tough when you're playing for your soul! Football fans will love this, and zombie fans as well....

About Ryan... As an actor Ryan Brown has starred on the daytime dramas Guiding Light and The Young and The Restless, and has appeared on Law & Order as well as in feature films for Lifetime Television. PLAY DEAD is his first novel. His short story JEEPERS PEEPERS will appear in the ITW Young Adult Anthology FEAR: 13 STORIES OF SUSPENSE AND HORROR. His short story SUSPENDED will appear in the ITW Anthology FIRST THRILLS. He lives in New York City with his wife and son. You can learn more about Ryan at RyanBrownAuthor.com

Ryan Brown is virtually touring with Play Dead courtesy of Gallery & Pocket Books Here are some of the other stops he's making along the way...

Cajun Book Lady: http://thecajunbooklady.blogspot.com/

Book Junkie: http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com/

Books and Things: http://melissawatercolor.blogspot.com/

Books Gardens & Dogs: http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/

Taking Time For Mommy: http://takingtimeformommy.blogspot.com/

Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/

A Journey of Books: http://ajourneyofbooks.halfzero.net/

Pam’s Private Reflections: http://hip2bhomeschooling.blogspot.com/

Jeanne's Ramblings: http://www.jeannesramblings.com

I Heart Monster: http://www.iheartmonster.com

Rex Robot Reviews: http://www.rexrobotreviews.com/

My Five Monkeys: www.tableforseven-julie.blogspot.com

Just One More Paragraph: http://tweezlereads.blogspot.com/

Booktumbling: http://booktumbling.com/

Gnostalgia: http://gnostalgia.wordpress.com/

Star Shadow: http://www.starshadowblog.com/

Literarily Speaking: http://literarilyspeaking1.blogspot.com

A Journey of Books: http://ajourneyofbooks.halfzero.net/

Red Headed Book Child: http://redheadedbookchild.blogspot.com/

My Book Addiction and More: http://mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com/

The Wayfaring Writer: http://moonsanity.blogspot.com/

Pick of the Literate: http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/

Books and Needlepoint: http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/

Cheryl’s Book Nook: http://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com/

Avid Reader: http://www.tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com/

The Friendly Book Nook: http://thefriendlybooknook.com/

Knitting and Sundries: http://www.jewelknits.blogspot.com/

A Musing Reviews: http://www.amusingreviews.blogspot.com/

Dan’s Journal: http://grumpydan.blogspot.com/

A Room Without Books Is Empty: http://detweilermom.blogspot.com/

Wendy’s Minding Spot: http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/

*P.S. This Book is Kindle Ready!

Allyson Roy Virtual Book Tour for Babydoll AND Giveaway!

Allyson Roy Virtual Book Tour for Babydoll

**And NOW a Giveaway!

And the winner is.... Elaine! Congrats Elaine! She has won a signed copy of Babydoll! And a Big Thank You to EVERYone who joined in on the fun!

Please join me in welcoming the "authors" Allyson Roy, to Chick with Books! Allyson Roy translates into Alice & Roy, husband and wife collaborating authors.

Roy, a graduate of the University Of The Arts in Philadelphia, has a background in theater, art and standup comedy. Alice, dancer/choreographer/teacher, double majored in dance and philosophy at the State University of New York. They spent many gypsy years living and working in the different neighborhoods of New York City and Philadelphia. Aside from being marriage and writing partners, they are also best friends, which is reflected in the heartfelt, go-the-distance friendship of their two main characters. And those two main characters are friends Benita Morales and Saylor Oz. The newest chapter in their friendship is Babydoll by Allyson Roy and is a bundle of fun....

About the Book... Combining wacky humor with gritty, urban suspense and a dash of romance, BABYDOLL is the second book in the Madcap Noir Saylor Oz mystery series set in Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood. Three dead fashion models. A womanizing agent on the hunt for virgin talent. A daredevil boxer turned high-rise window washer. A burned out porn actress with a grudge. A pretty boy Irish illegal who’s good with a knife. A world famous lawyer with a bad case of self-importance. It would all be just another tabloid headline to Saylor Oz — except the young Nuyorican artist wrongly convicted of the killings is the brother of Benita Morales, her best friend. Height-challenged, warmhearted oddball, Saylor Oz, is convinced someone is reenacting murders from an old, X-rated movie called Bad, Bad Babydoll. But no one else thinks so, not even the sexy PI on the case. In her hunt to find the killer, Saylor ends up being part of a young genius designer’s zany plan to tweak the fashion world — and becomes the killer’s next target.

What Did I Think? I loved Saylor and the book! Saylor is a feisty fun character! How could you not like her- she's a sex therapist who trips over her own words and get's into the most interesting predicaments! And the story was so much fun! Alice & Roy refer to Babydoll as 'Madcap Noir, where crime, comedy and romance meet' and it certainly does! From the opening scene where Saylor tries to have the hunk of a PI watch a porn movie with her strickly for proving her point that it's a clue to the recent murders of 3 top models to her best friend Benita's pet mynah bird, Uncle Petey, reciting some key phrases from that movie, Babydoll is entertaining. The romance is hot, the writing is great and the story is a lot of fun! We really get an "education" along with the great storyline because even though Saylor is on the move to solve these murders to free her friend Benita's accused brother from jail, she just can't shake her day job as a sex therapist which tends to pop up in whatever she's doing! Think of Saylor as Stephanie Plum with added "heat"! This is the second book in the Saylor Oz mysteries. The first was Aphrodisiac, and I look forward to reading that and future books in this series!

Now onto our guests.... Alice and Roy!

When readers find out Allyson Roy translates into a husband and wife team named Alice and Roy they always ask us how we manage to blend two separate personalities into one voice -- and do it without killing each other. But the truth is, we’re all about blending opposites. In our Saylor Oz series we crossbreed suspense with wacky comedy, and we mix urban crime with fun, sexy girl stuff. While our two main characters are strong, confident professional women, they’re also insecure, vulnerable screw-ups who get themselves in over their heads. And, like the two of us, they bicker, banter and blame, but when it comes down to the real stuff they are deeply loyal and willing to put their lives on the line for each other.

In our writing process our opposite strengths and shortcomings fit together nicely. While Alice dreads facing the blank page, Roy is eager to step into it. Roy is inventive and impulsive by nature, so he gets down first draft ideas. Alice has a much longer attention span and an eye for detail and structure, so she moves in next. We’ve dubbed this system: the Marines and the Village Maker. In the final stages we work together and never consider a scene finished until we both approve it. And, yes, we do have areas where one of us dominates. Alice usually writes thex scenes, while Roy handles much of the comic dialogue.

Meanwhile, here’s a short quiz to see if you could write a book with your significant other. Are you ready?

You have a deadline, and the two of you have been working for hours in your home office. You encounter the following situations . . .

1. You’ve motored through all the snacks in the house and there’s only one piece of chocolate left. You say:

a. Go ahead, sweetie. Enjoy.

b. What say we split it?

c. Yo! That’s got my name on it. Touch it and I’ll break your fingers.

2. You’ve been focused on the same difficult scene for so long, Partner A keeps drifting into idle chatter about diverse subjects. You say:

a. You have such a fascinating array of knowledge. It’s one reason I love being around you.

b. Interesting info, honey. How about we save it for break.

c. Back on task, Bonzo. Like I give a rat’s buttocks about your new electronic golf ball retriever.

3. For obvious reasons, writers run the risk of becoming sedentary creatures. So when it’s time to work out, you say:

a. Gee, I love training side by side with you. Couples who sweat together, stick together.

b. Guess we better hit the gym.

c. Tennis time, Fatty. Twenty bucks says I can whip your sorry butt.

4. The section you’ve been working on all week has to be totally revised. You say:

a. Not a problem. We can do it, thanks to our being able to work so efficiently in a state of complete and unspoiled harmonious unity.

b. So we goofed. We’ll hit it out of the park next time at bat.

c. Don’t look at me, Slobbo. That dumbass part was your bogus idea.

Time’s Up! Correct answers found on page 321. Printed in reverse! Use a mirror.

Thanks, Suzanne, for having us as your guests today.

And thank you Alice and Roy for letting us in on how you two work so well together! And creating a fun quiz for us to see if we could work with our significant others!

Like to learn more about Allyson Roy? Visit their website HERE! Like to read an excerpt from Babydoll? Here's a LINK! You'll also find all sorts of fun information at their website HERE. Both Babydoll & Aphrodisiac are now available from your favorite bookstore!

**Guess what?! Allyson Roy, (aka Alice & Roy), decided to treat the readers of Chick with Books with a special giveaway for a signed copy of Babydoll! Thanks Allyson Roy! We love giveaway's here and appreciate the special treatment!

To Enter this Giveaway...

*For one entry leave me a comment with your email address!

*Get an extra entry for following my blog! Just leave a comment letting me know you're a follower! ( Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button! Just let me know you became a new follower!)

*For another entry Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents! (No P.O. Boxes, please) Contest ends 11:59 pm EST on Sept. 26th. I'll randomly pick the winner the next day and email that person. Please check your email... winner must reply to me within 3 days... Good luck everyone!

The Allyson Roy Virtual Book Tour is organized by Trish of TLC Book Tours! Here are the other stops on the tour:

Tuesday, August 18th: The Eclectic Book Lover

Wednesday, August 19th: Jenn’s Bookshelf

Tuesday, August 25th: Jen’s Book Thoughts

Wednesday, August 26th: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Thursday, August 27th: Reading With Monie

Monday, August 31st: Books on the Brain (guest post)

Thursday, September 3rd: Stephanie’s Confessions of a Book-a-holic

Tuesday, September 8th: GalleySmith

Wednesday, September 9th: Bookgasm

Thursday, September 10th: I’m Booking It

** P.S. Babydoll is Kindle Ready! So is Aphrodisiac!

Laced with Magic Virtual Book Tour '09

Laced with Magic ...by Barbara Bretton

It'll cast a spell over you...

Laced with Magic...

"Knit shop owner and sorcerer's daughter Chloe Hobbs felt the Fates finally got it right when she met Luke MacKenzie. And no one could have convinced her otherwise—including the trolls, selkies, or spirits who also call Sugar Maple, Vermont, home. But then out of nowhere Luke's ex-wife suddenly shows up, claiming to see the spirit of their daughter, Steffie—a daughter Chloe knows nothing about.

Steffie's spirit is being held hostage by a certain Fae leader. And if Chloe weaves a spell to free her spirit, her nemesis will also be free—free to destroy her yarn shop and all of Sugar Maple. But if she doesn't, Steffie won't be the only one spending eternity in hell. Chloe'll be joining her, cursed with a broken heart."

About The Author...

Barbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. Her most recent title, Laced With Magic, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world and have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries. Her awards include both Reviewer's Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times

Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.

You can visit Barbara’s website at www.barbarabretton.com, and you can read the first chapter of Laced with Magic HERE!

What did I think about Laced with Magic? Laced with Magic put a spell on me! How could you not love a story with a shapeshifting canary who morphs into a human at the drop of a sneeze?! And what a beautiful cover too! Barbara Bretton creates a wonderful story, where spirits & magic, werewolves and vampires are believably normal. The characters create a wonderful backdrop to the story of Chloe Hobbs, a sorcerer's daughter, who's half sorcerer, half human, loves knitting and who must carry on the family tradition in order to protect the town of Sugar Maple, Vermont... a female descendent!

Sugar Maple provided a safe haven for these hunted creatures. The people of Sugar Maple opened their homes to these magical 'people' while other towns hunted them down, burned them at the stake etc. Chloe's ancestor Aerynn showed her gratitude to the town by putting a protective charm to keep the villagers safe as long as a female descendent walked the earth. That was 300 years ago, and Chloe is the last in line now, with no husband, no child, and only a touch of magic in her half human supermodel body! When Luke came into the picture there was hope & sparks, until Luke's ex-wife Karen enters the picture too...

The story is pure fun! A kind of Chic-lit with a twist of paranormal. Barbara Bretton has a wry sense of humor that she imparts to Chloe and her friends! The story is fast paced and will grab you! You will laugh at some of Chloe's klutzy attempts at magic as she tries to fulfill her destiny and save the day. The romance sizzles a bit, but it's really the story of Chloe & Luke saving the town from what appears to be sure doom from a banished fae that will keep you turning the pages, along with finding out the choice Chloe makes involving the spirit of Steffie, Lukes daughter, and what her fate will be. The story is told by alternating chapters by Chloe, Luke and Karen the ex-wife. The story written this way keeps the story fresh as you are seeing how the story plays out by the different perspectives.

This is the 2nd book in the series, but don't let that discourage you because the author catches you up quickly right at the start so you feel right at home in the story. The first book in the series Casting Spells is sitting on my nightstand now waiting to be read. I enjoyed Laced with Magic so much I wanted more! And I get the distinct feeling that there will be a 3rd book in the series because there's a cliff hanger at the end of book 2!!

If all that is not enough to convince you to read Laced with Magic, if you're a knitter the knitting in the story should! Plenty of fun knitting references thru-out the book AND knitting tips, websites and knitting patterns in the back of book too!

Thanks to Dorothy of Pump Up Your Book Promotion for sharing this wonderful book with me! And for inviting Chick with Books to be part of the Tour! Thanks Dorothy!