Up To I Do Release Day

Happy release day to one of my favourite authors! Today is the day Samantha March's FOURTH book, Up To I Do, is published! Yay!

I had the opportunity to beta-read this one a few months ago and it's so exciting that it's finally out in the world! 

Here's the synopsis of this new book:

Emerson Sinclair, twenty-seven year old hotel heiress, has said yes. With just over a year to plan her extravagant, over the top nuptials to Logan Worthington, it’s all hands on deck with the wedding plans. A Sinclair marrying into the Worthington family is the talk of their small New Hampshire town, and ideas include filming the wedding for a TV segment. But as the items get checked off the list, plans start to go ... not as planned. From not getting a designer dress to a selfish bridesmaid and unaccountable best man, Emerson is afraid her wedding will be more a joke than anything.
When both her mother and sister seemingly begin to lose interest in her wedding plans in favor of their own personal lives, Emerson fears her big day will turn into the forgotten wedding. With the pressure to pull off a beautiful and elegant event that everyone expects from their respectable families, Emerson starts to forget the reason why she is saying I Do in the first place.

Doesn't it sound like fun? This is the first time March has written a chick lit book (her others are more women's fiction) and I think she does a pretty damn good job. (I'll have a review up soon once I have the chance to go through the final copy.)

A promo isn't a promo without a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Please note that I'm not entirely sure if the giveaway is international. Canada doesn't even have half the stores! Due to a family emergency, Samantha wasn't immediately available for me to doublecheck. For my Canadian friends, enter away and we'll work something out if you win!)

Interested in getting the book? (You should be.)
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo

And don't forget to add it to your Goodreads list!

About the Author

Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all-around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up-to-date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and beauty related. In 2011, she launched her independent publishing company, Marching Ink, and has four published novels—Destined to Fail, The Green Ticket, A Questionable Friendship, and Up To I Do. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers. Samantha lives in Iowa with her husband and Vizsla puppy.

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Cover Reveal: A Questionable Friendship

I am so unbelievably excited to share the cover of Samantha March's third novel, A Questionable Friendship. I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for Samantha for this novel (and I must say, the title changes everything!) and I freaking loved it. I can't wait for all of you to read it too but don't worry, you only have to wait a month or so. The exact release date has yet to be set but Marching Ink will be publishing this new novel sometime in February.

Here's the synopsis for March's upcoming novel:

Brynne Ropert and Portland Dolish have been best friends since being paired as roommates in college. Seven years later they are now twenty-five, married, and living in Maine–– but the two women couldn’t be more different. Brynne finds fulfillment in her life as a wife, mother and owner of a small café and bookshop, but is struggling to expand her family. Portland is still coping with her mother’s death during her childhood, and her marriage is unraveling before her eyes. Portland envies her friend’s seemingly stable and easy life while Brynne doesn’t understand the growing distance between them and cannot begin to guess what secret Portland is hiding about her husband and crumbling marriage. While one woman feels shut out, the other enters into a web of lies to protect herself.
A Questionable Friendship explores what really makes someone a true friend, a support system, a sister. How much trust goes into a friendship and when is being a friend not enough? Brynne and Portland’s story will attempt to answer those questions, and show that happily ever after isn’t in the cards for everyone.

Ready for the cover?

Ahhhh, I love it. Just adore it. Cover designer Scarlett Rugers did a great job! Make sure you mark this one down on your to read list.

About Samantha

Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up to date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and celebrity related. In 2011 she launched her independent publishing company Marching Ink and has three published novels – Destined to Fail, The Green Ticket and A Questionable Friendship. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers. Samantha lives in Iowa with her husband and Vizsla puppy.

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Favourites with Samantha March

I started this "favourites" feature because I wanted a way for readers to get to know the authors attending BookBuzz Toronto, an event I'm helping with. I hope you enjoy learning a little more about these amazing women and I hope you can attend the event! Learn more about BookBuzz Toronto here.

As much as I can't wait to meet all the authors at BookBuzz Toronto, I have to admit I'm most excited to meet Samantha March. I honestly never thought I'd get the chance to meet her since we live so far apart (she in Iowa, me in Ontario) which was such a bummer because we've become so close over the past few years through our blogs and her novels. Samantha runs the popular blog Chick Lit Plus, her own publishing company Marching Ink, and is the author of two novels, Destined to Fail and The Green Ticket, with a third one on the way. Talk about being busy! I'm glad she's squeezing us into her schedule and making her way to Canada!

About Samantha...

Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up to date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and celebrity related. In 2011 she launched her independent publishing company Marching Ink and her debut novel Destined to Fail. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers.

Favourites...

Movie - Clueless or Legally Blonde 

Alcoholic beverage - Flavored vodka, particularly cherry or grape with lemonade 

Warm beverage - Hot chocolate – with marshmallows! 

Junk food - Chips...my weakness 

Dessert - Ice cream! (Blogger Note: I'm in! I'm a sucker for ice cream, too.)

Store - Victoria's Secret

Travel destination - I would love to visit Italy someday

Ice cream flavour - Yikes! I love cake batter...with oreos!

Sports team - Green Bay Packers!

Pet - A puppy!

Connect with Samantha...

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Author Interview: Samantha March

It's my last post for the CLP Blog Tour for The Green Ticket by the lovely Samantha March. I reviewed the novel the other day (I loved it and you can read the review here) and Samantha wrote a great post about meeting her characters for Books Etc. as well. Today I have an interview with Samantha for your reading pleasure! I hope you all enjoy it :)

Favourite movie?

It’s a toss-up between anything with Reese Witherspoon or Will Ferrell ;)

Favourite author/book?

Kristy’s Great Idea by Ann M. Martin

Favourite (or dream) travel destination?

Italy!

Favourite indulgence (food to eat, store to shop in, etc.)?

I love Coldstone ice cream – cake batter with Oreo’s to be exact!

The Green Ticket is your second novel. How was the writing/editing/publishing/promoting process this time around compared to with your first novel, Destined to Fail?

I felt like it was better all around. I felt more confident in my writing and also more pressured to get another book out there! I also felt like I had a much better marketing plan in place the second time around – though I basically had none with DESTINED TO FAIL and really learned that lesson!

What is your writing routine like?

When I am in writing mode, that is really all I focus on. I give myself goals each day – write 1,000 words or 5,000 words of finish a scene. I enjoy writing in the mornings since my nights can get a bit hectic, and my goals really help me stay on track!

What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not writing?

Reading! I run ChickLitPlus.com and have a lot of book reviews due day to day! But I also enjoy dancing and working out – particularly yoga and kickboxing! 

What is your favourite thing about writing and being an author?

That it was a dream I had when I was nine years old and after a lot of mis-steps and hesitance, I’m doing what I love.  

How did you come up with the idea for The Green Ticket?

I actually became fascinated a few years back with the money versus morals topic when I watched a young girl marry an older man (we are talking a 50 year age difference) and be fine that people knew she married him for money. Well, fascinated and quite disturbed I should say! That gave me the spark to write THE GREEN TICKET and even though the plot is entirely different, the concept is still there.

Do you find yourself giving your characters qualities that you or people who are close to you have?

I do. I think a lot of authors find inspiration from those around them, even if it’s something very miniscule. For example, in THE GREEN TICKET Henry mentions that he doesn’t like eating chocolate cereal that turns his milk into chocolate milk – which is a trait my fiancé has as well :)

Author Bio:

Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up to date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and celebrity related. In 2011 she launched her independent publishing company Marching Ink and her debut novel Destined to Fail. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers.

Connect with Samantha:
Website 

Facebook

Twitter

GoodReads

Guest Post: Samantha March

Yesterday I reviewed the fabulous novel The Green Ticket by the equally amazing Samantha March. Today, I have a guest post from the author herself! I knew Samantha had tried something a little different when it came to planning her second novel so I wanted to know how she got to know her characters in this book. I hope you enjoy this post as much as I did!

Meeting the Cast

Getting to know your characters can be a tall order. Some simply pop into my mind all planned out – I can visually see them, I know instinctively what they like and what they do for a career, etc. Other times, I have no clue. That is when I like to use a character interview. I have a set of questions that range from what do you drive to what is your favorite food to what is your favorite childhood memory. Some questions might not seem like they would mean a lot to a plot, but as you put together each answer, a little sliver of your characters comes to life. By the time I have them all answered, I have a much better idea of who my character is and what they bring to the story. I tend to only do these for my major characters. In THE GREEN TICKET for example, some I used the interview on was Lila, Henry, and Hannah. (I had Alex pretty well planned out and didn’t feel the need to use one.) I think this is a great tool and have already started using the interviews with the characters to book number three! 

CLP Blog Tour: The Green Ticket

I cannot tell you guys how excited I was to read The Green Ticket. This is the second novel from the fabulous Samantha March - author and book blogger extraordinaire (she runs the popular site Chick Lit Plus). I read and loved her debut novel, Destined to Fail late last year (check out my review here if you missed it). So, did her second novel live up to the expectations I had? Oh yeah. I loved it.

Here's the synopsis:

College junior Alex Abrams scores her dream job at the ripe age of twenty – manager to a successful salon and spa. Thrilled to finally have a real adult job, Alex enthusiastically jumps into the world of schedules, conference calls, and getting a massage when interviewing prospective employees. What she doesn’t expect are the very grown-up issues that comes with a demanding boss. Kevin Dohlman quickly becomes Alex’s worse nightmare – covering up his affairs, dealing with his enormous ego, and trying to protect her female staff from him becomes a full-time job in its own right. Alex has also befriended Kevin’s wife and co-owner, Dani, and is trying to keep Kevin’s secrets hidden from her. The situation only worsens when Kevin starts paying Alex off to make sure she keeps her insider knowledge to herself. 

While struggling to keep her wits and stay happy with her new grown-up job, Alex is juggling college courses, a new love interest, and keeping up with her close group of girlfriends. When her roommate and best friend Lila gets offered an opportunity to move to Los Angeles and sign with an agent, Alex realizes her life truly is changing, and everyone around her – including herself – is growing up. Knowing she is faced with some hard decisions ahead, Alex struggles with keeping her job at Blissful. But does she really want to throw away what she dreamed of as a career – or will the secret-keeping for Kevin become too much to handle? The Green Ticket is a story about morals versus money, and how one young woman navigates the shaky line between the two.

One of the things I remember liking about Destined to Fail was that I could really relate to the characters. The girls were college students and it hasn't been that long since I graduated from university. The Green Ticket was just the same way. I could completely relate to Alex's lifestyle at school. She and her girlfriends all lived in the same dorm at their college. That brought back fond memories of my dorm in first year and then living with some of my closest friends for the next three years. It was so much easier to hang out when they were just upstairs or down the hall - instead of 3 hours or 6 hours or...apparently Google can't calculate the directions from where I live now to where one of my old roomies is in Nunavut. OK, a ridiculously long way away. Point is, I miss the days when my friends lived close enough that I didn't have to put on real shoes to see them (something Alex mentions in the book). I really liked that aspect and I think March does a great job of writing some really real friendships - so much so that I wish I could be one Alex's friends, too!

What I also liked about this book was that the romance wasn't the central storyline. This is a minor spoiler as you'll notice that it's not even mentioned in the synopsis. Now, don't get me wrong, I love that there was a (wonderfully written) romance with Alex and Henry but I'm glad it wasn't the main focus. I do think that they are an adorable couple and am glad they found each other.

The only negative I found with this book was that there was a chunk of time that was just skipped over - from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve. March caught me up and let me know what happened during that period of time but I just found it odd that over a month was just bounced over.

I couldn't believe the...well...crap, that Alex had to put up with at Blissful. I don't know what I would have done if I had been in her position. Though, I doubt I'd ever be in her position because there's no way that I would have had enough confidence in myself to run a spa when I was in my third year of university. I really admired Alex and I thought she was a fabulous main character.

I'm sure I could continue gushing about The Green Ticket, but I won't. Instead, I'll urge you all to buy a copy of it so you can see for yourselves how fabulous it is. I'm so glad I was able to take place in this tour and I'm happy to let you know that I'll have a guest post from author Samantha March herself, as well as an interview coming up later in the week. While you're waiting, hop on over to the main tour page and check out some of the other reviews. Maybe they'll help convince you to buy this book!

Happy reading :)

Just Finished: Destined to Fail

As most of you will know, I've been taking part in a challenge as well as a ton of blog tours all hosted by Samantha over at Chick Lit Plus. Wondering why I'm mentioning that in this post? Because the amazing novel Destined to Fail was written by Samantha herself! She's been working hard to make this novel a reality and I'm glad I've been able to take part in the process in a small way.

Here's what this debut novel is all about, courtesy of Samantha March's website:

Jasmine Jones is ready to begin her new life as a college student, and is ecstatic to have best friend Abby by her side. But weeks into their new college life, Abby drops the bomb- she is pregnant, and dropping out of college. Jasmine can’t handle the fact that Abby is wasting her opportunity to get an education, and going back to her cheating, abusive boyfriend. She struggles to move on from her friendship with Abby, but befriends two new girls at college. Everything seems back on track for Jasmine- great new friendships and roommates, a strong relationship with boyfriend Nate, and excelling at her college courses. But Jasmine’s newfound happiness is shattered when her pregnancy test comes out positive. Does she have to drop out of college now and become a young mother? Will Nate stay with her? How can she afford a child? Jasmine’s life has been filled with obstacles and challenges along the way- from a missing father, sexual and physical abuse, and addictions that tore her family apart. With this latest setback, Jasmine fears her life will always be a struggle. Destined to Fail is one woman’s story about overcoming adversity in life, about taking the negatives and finding a positive, and about never giving up hope.

Put quite simply, I loved Destined to Fail. I read it in one afternoon because I could not put it down. Jasmine's story grabbed hold of me and would not let go even after I finished reading the book. A sign of a good book is when you continue to think about it once you've stopped reading and that was the case for me with this novel. Everyone's stories were wrapped up nicely (without it being too "picture perfect") at the end of the novel but I still found myself thinking about how the characters would continue living and I loved that.

I have to warn potential readers that this is not exactly a lighthearted read. There are some very heavy story lines that require a mature reader. The three main girls, Jasmine and her new college friends Kiley and Cari, have endured almost every kind of abuse there is in the course of their fairly young lives. I know these things happen in the world and I know I am fortunate because I've never had to deal with anything like that, but it was still hard to read at some points. But I think that really adds to the novel and helps you connect with the characters. Life isn't perfect and what matters is how you deal with the curveballs you're thrown. Jasmine is an incredibly strong and courageous woman and, as the synopsis says, is somehow able to use the negatives in her life and turn them into positives. She is an amazing role model for for women of all ages, not just young females. If you don't take anything else away from this novel, at least appreciate the good things you have in life and try to find a way to make everything else good too.

What I really loved about this book was that I really felt like I was living Jasmine's life right along with her. It helped that I knew exactly how she was feeling when she went away to school - when I started university I also left a new boyfriend back home and lived with my best friend. I felt like I was right along with her as she parked her car and went to check out her new living space and when she made friends with girls down the hall. I may not understand her desire to be totally dressed up for class every day (I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl) but I do appreciate that she understood how important school was and how to balance school and fun.

Overall, I loved this book. I think all females should read it because it offers a glimpse into a life that most people (hopefully) won't ever encounter themselves. It should help you become motivated to do something about abuse - simply keeping an eye on a friend you think may be in trouble or volunteering your time at a women's shelter. All in all, this is an amazing book - especially when you realize March is a first time author. I encourage everyone to check out this novel because it provides a fantastic story and some strong characters.

Happy reading :)