Wednesday, May 15, 2013

CHICK LIT AUTHOR BLOG HOP - WHAT'S ON PAGE 25?


Learn "How to Hop & Win!" New to blog hops? Want to learn how to win this hop’s fabulous grand prize (a Kindle Keyboard 3G, with Free #G + WiFi, and a 6" E Ink Display + a Chick Lit starter e-book library)? Find complete information by clicking HERE and be sure to make note of the secret word that you will find in this post.

Pilar Alvarez, the beleaguered heroine of my novel, In Need of Therapy, just can’t catch a break. Having recently called it quits with her boyfriend, handsome restaurateur Victor Liscano, she’s ready to dive back into the dating pool, so she agrees to have dinner with a guy her bestie Sarah fixes her up with. To say that this blind/double date starts off badly would be an understatement of epic proportions. You’ll have to read the book to find out exactly what goes wrong, but I can reveal (since it happens on Page 25!) that in the middle of this debacle, Pilar spots her ex, Victor, at the bar.  

Now up to this point in the book, the reader hasn’t actually met Victor, just heard about him from other characters. Pilar’s sister, Izzy, thinks he’s loco and will probably come to their house in the middle of the night and murder them in their sleep (She watches too many movies about serial killers.) Meanwhile, Pilar’s mamá has practically canonized Victor because he’s rich, charming, and most importantly, Cuban-American, and she’s very miffed that her daughter let such a big fish off the hook!

As for the perpetually unfaithful Victor, he can’t quite grasp the concept of a “break-up” and he’s been exhibiting some stalker-ish behavior (calling, sending gifts) that has now culminated in him spying on Pilar. Although Pilar, who’s a psychologist, has deemed her ex “harmless,” she’s getting frustrated with his inability to take We’re through, Rico Suave. Stop harassing me! to heart. Their confrontation in this scene is one of the comical highlights in In Need of Therapy. Here’s an excerpt for your reading amusement:

"You are developing an unhealthy fixation on me, Victor. Please, get up." I tugged on his arm, and with a plaintive sigh, he stood up.
    
"You have no romance in your soul, mi querida," he chastised. "Most women would be thrilled to have a man fall at her feet and pledge his eternal devotion."
    
"So, why don't you go find one of them and leave me in peace?" I suggested.

Does Pilar finally get rid of Victor? Is her blind date a bust, or does she somehow manage to salvage it? Will watermelon mojitos be involved? You’ll have to read beyond Page 25 to find out!

Win the grand prize! The 1st secret word in the 25-word sentence is: Welcome.
  
Thanks so much for stopping by Books by Banister for The Chick Lit Author Blog Hop! Don't forget to visit all of the wonderful sites participating in the blog hop, which are listed at the bottom of this post. Enter to win the grand prize using Rafflecopter below. Contest is open to residents of US and Canada.
  


Book Blurb (In Need of Therapy): Lending a sympathetic ear and dispensing sage words of advice is all part of the job for psychologist Pilar Alvarez, and she’s everything a good therapist should be: warm, compassionate, supportive. She listens, she cares, and she has all the answers, but how’s the woman everyone turns to in their hour of need supposed to cope when her own life starts to fall apart? 

While working hard to make a success of her recently-opened practice in trendy South Beach, Pilar must also find time to cater to the demands of her boisterous Cuban family, which includes younger sister Izzy, an unemployed, navel-pierced wild child who can't stay out of trouble, and their mother, a beauty queen turned drama queen who’s equally obsessed with her fading looks and getting Pilar married before it’s “too late.” Although she’d like to oblige her mother and make a permanent love connection, Pilar’s romantic prospects look grim. Her cheating ex, who swears that he’s reformed, is stalking her. A hunky, but strictly off-limits, patient with bad-boy appeal and intimacy issues is making passes. And the sexy shrink in the suite across the hall has a gold band on his left ring finger. 

When a series of personal and professional disasters lead Pilar into the arms of one of her unsuitable suitors, she's left shaken, confused, and full of self-doubt. With time running out, she must make sense of her feelings and learn to trust herself again so that she can save her business, her family, and most importantly, her heart.


Purchase In Need of Therapy: 

Amazon 

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

28 comments:

  1. I loved being annoyed with Victor in this book. Such a great read. Perfect if you're looking for something funny.

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    1. How'd you like that cartoon version of Victor, Laura? It was so perfect that I had to use it. LOL

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    2. It's perfect! You should throw him on a T-shirt! :)

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  2. A special nod to Tracie Banister - who started the Chick Lit Author Blog Hop last year. What a great tradition to hold every May during International Chick Lit Month. I'm so honored to be this year's Blog Hop organizer and to host all of these great writers on my book blog, Chick Lit Chit Chat! Thank you, Tracie. :)

    Happy Hopping Everyone!!!

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    1. Thank YOU for taking the reins on this year's blog hop, Julie! You have done an amazing job and I am ever so grateful.

      Hope everyone enjoys the hop!

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  3. I just bought Blame it on the Fame hoping to start that soon! Now I need to by In Need of Therapy ...this sounds like a great book!

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    1. Thank you so much for purchasing BLAME IT ON THE FAME, Lisamarie. I hope you enjoy it. And thanks for dropping by to read my post for the hop. Good luck on winning the grand prize! :)

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  4. Your book sounds great! I'm absolutely loving finding all these new Chick-Lit authors from the blog hop. My library queue is about to get 25 books longer...

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    1. Aw, thanks, Colleen! There are definitely some fab authors on this hop, and I'm sure you'll enjoy their books.

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  5. Great post! I cannot wait to sink my teeth into this book! And the visuals you found to represent your characters are absolutely hilarious! :-)

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    1. Ha! Glad you liked those. The one of Rico Suave Victor amused me, too. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment, Libby!

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  6. Love, love, love this book so much! That was a perfect excerpt!

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    1. Thanks, Sam! Glad you enjoyed it. And back at ya on Finding Lucas. You know how much I loved that book. I think everyone should read it!

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  7. Great post, Tracie! I LOVED Blame it on The Fame and can't wait to read In Need of Therapy! (Dee DeTarsio--aka Anonymous!!)

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    1. Thanks, Dee! So nice to know that you enjoyed BIOTF. I hope you like INOT when you get around to reading it. Haole Wood is almost to the top of my TBR pile now. I think summer will be the perfect time of year to read it!

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  8. (Sorry about that Tracie--the comment first showed me as anonymous. I feel a chick lit book about the trials and tribulations of modern technology coming on...le sigh!)

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  9. Fun post for a very fun book :)

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  10. Loved the book Tracie! This hop is so fun :)

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    1. Thanks so much, Samantha! I appreciate you stopping by, and yes, this hop has been a blast! :)

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  11. Another great book to add to my summer read list!

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    1. Thanks, Kim. There are some amazing authors/books on this hop, aren't there? I hope you enjoy IN NEED OF THERAPY whenever you get a chance to read it. :)

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  12. This books looks great Tracie - I'm looking forward to reading it!!

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    1. Thanks so much, Susie! Ditto for your upcoming release, ON GRACE.

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  13. Already on my iPad. Looking forward to enjoying it soon!

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    1. Thanks so much, Jackie! Looking forward to starting What the Dog Ate this week! :)

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  14. I love the cartoon version of Victor! I can't wait to read the book. Perhaps I'll have a watermelon mojito with it. Glad to be included on this blog hop too Tracie!

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    1. Thanks, Barbara. Cartoon Victor amused me, too. I think any reading experience can be enhanced by a watermelon mojito! Hope you enjoy INOT when you get a chance to read it. :)

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