Review PURSUING THE TIMES by LAUREN BARATZ-LOGSTED @LaurenBaratzL

Book Description

Publication Date: August 24, 2012

All that popular Chick-Lit author Mercury Lauren wants is to have one of her books reviewed by the New York Times Book Review - just one - and she'll do almost anything to get it. In this contemporary romantic comedy, with a nod toward Pride and Prejudice she crosses swords and hearts with the Editor-in-Chief of the NYTBR in a madcap adventure that takes her from her home in Westport to a yoga retreat to a golf course in Florida. Will she get what she wants and will she finally be happy if she does? Only one thing's for certain: nothing will stop her from Pursuing the Times.

About the Author

I was an independent bookseller and buyer for 11 years before deciding to take a chance on myself as a novelist. While trying to sell my books, I worked variously as a Publishers Weekly reviewer, a freelance editor, a sort-of librarian, and a window washer. My first novel, The Thin Pink Line, about a woman who fakes an entire pregnancy, was published by Red Dress Ink in 2003 as their own first-ever hardcover. It was published in 11 countries and was the first book from any Harlequin imprint ever to receive a starred Kirkus review. I've since had over 20 books published for adults (Vertigo), teens (The Twin's Daughter) and children (The Sisters 8 series, created with my husband and daughter). Recently, I've published a few ebooks as well, including a comedic romance for adults, The Bro-Magnet. I live in Danbury, CT, with my wonderful husband Greg and my equally wonderful daughter Jackie.

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SOURCE:  AUTHOR

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Mercury, named after a football player and the fact that her father loved the color silver, is a successful author.  For some reason, her witty, comedic books have struck a chord with chick lit fans.  That may be that her books are published by Pink Pet, a known source of all things chick lit.  She rants to her agent and high school BFF, Angel, that the New York Time Book Review will have nothing to do with her books, even though they are best sellers and her readers adore them.  I immediately thought of Jennifer Weiner and her issue (rightly) that the Times didn't really cover women authors.  Angel also reps Nick, this year's National Book Award winner.  His best friend is Frank, editor in chief of the vaunted NYTBR.  Even before Mercury knows who he is , she lays into him with a drunken rant.  When she figure out who Frank is, she would like to turn invisible.

In the meantime, her brother, Ralph,  has been thrown out by his wife and moves in with Mercury and Nick tags  along. Oh and Nick and Frank were college buddies with Ralph.  Mercury was never one to shy away from arguing her point, so she sends Frank an offhanded apology, never expecting to her back from the guy.  And thus begins an almost stalky type of relationship.  She gets it into her head that she must get Frank to read her book and follows him to Florida where he is playing golf with Nick.  Ah, and here comes the hot part:  a seriously hilarious and hot romance that hits the sheets with strawberries and whip cream.  Parts of it were extremely sweet but I couldn't help but laugh out loud at certain points in this comedy of errors.

Fans of Jane Austen will easily pick up on the wit and and dynamics of these characters and their relationships that are  much like Pride and Prejudice.  I loathed the  fact that all of the men in Mercury's life had very strong opinions about her books, yet not one had bothered to read one.  Mercury definitely has a way with words, even if they are the wrong ones at times.  The fact that Baratz-Logsted pointed this out filled me with glee! I adore my chick lit and this one is at the top of my favorites to recommend right now.  The dialogue is warm and witty, full of snark and sarcasm and that is really what makes a book stand out for me. If you enjoy Jennifer Weiner or Sophie Kinsella, you are going to really enjoy this one.

Q&A with LAUREN BARATZ LOGSTED + GIVEAWAY @LaurenBaratzL

PLEASE WELCOME LAUREN TO BOOKHOUNDS

About the Author

(from the author's website)


Lauren grew up in Monroe, CT, where her father owned a drugstore at which her mother was the pharmacist. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut at Storrs, where she majored in psychology. She also has what she calls her “half-Masters” in English from Western Connecticut State University (five courses down, another five to go…someday!).

Throughout college, she worked semester breaks as a doughnut salesperson, a job that she swears gave her white lung disease from all the powdered sugar she breathed.

Upon graduation, she began work at the venerable independentbookseller, now sadly defunct as such, Klein’s of Westport. There, she bought and sold for the better part of 11 years.

In November 1994, Lauren left the bookstore to finally take a chance on herself as a writer. Success did not happen over night. Between 1994 and May 2002 – when Red Dress Ink called with an offer to buy THE THIN PINK LINE – Lauren worked as a book reviewer, a freelance editor and writer, and a window washer, making her arguably the only woman in the world who has ever both hosted a book signing party and washed the windows of the late best-selling novelist Robert Ludlum.

Since Red Dress Ink’s call in 2002, Lauren has been kept very busy with writing more novels and checking her Amazon ranking on a daily basis. She still lives in Danbury, with her husband and daughter, where she has lived since 1991.

In addition to writing, Lauren’s daughter keeps her busy, accounting for the rest of her time.

Lauren’s favorite color is green.

Lauren’s favorite non-cat animals are penguins.

Lauren wants you to know that, however you are pronouncing her last name, you are probably pronouncing it wrong. 

1. What is the first book you remember reading by yourself as a child?

I don’t remember the exact book I first read by myself, but I can tell you the first solo reading experience I remember, which coincides with when I became a real reader. I come from a family that’s big on reading. My mother, father, older brother – each would go through books like candy. Just to remain competitive, I’d get chapter books from the library too, and then I’d run my eyes from side to side and my finger down the page, so they’d think I was doing what they were doing. I’d often get Nancy Drew books – it just seemed like the thing to do – although a lot of what I read confused me; for example, for a long time, I thought George was a boy and I couldn’t figure out why he had on dresses in the sketch pictures. But then one time, I was sprawled on the couch reading Nancy Drew: The Passage to Larkspur Lane when it occurred to me that I was no longer faking it; rather, I was reading it and it was really good.


2. What are you reading right now?

Eve and Adam, a YA novel by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant – it’s really fun so far; The Keeper of Lost Causes, a gritty Scandinavian mystery by Jussi Alder-Olsen; and for nonfiction, I’m plugging away at The Presidents Club by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy.



3. How does your garden grow?

With no help from me, I’m afraid. My husband buys stuff, either plants or seeds, and then puts it in the ground around the bench I take my writing breaks on. Things grow and then insects start to visit me.

4. What is the last thing you Googled?

English Mastiffs, five minutes ago – research for the sequel to The Bro-Magnet.


5. What makes you cringe?

Big hairy spiders. I once read that the top three fears, in order, are: public speaking, death, and spiders. I’ve done plenty of public speaking – as you can see, ask me a question and it’s tough to shut me up – and I’ve never felt particularly scared of death. But I’m determined to hold on to my screaming fear of big hairy spiders, so don’t send me to a therapist to try to analyze it out of me. Everyone needs to be scared of one thing.

AND.... Lauren has graciously offered one of her books to one lucky reader:

Book Description

Release Date: November 8, 2011

Emily is sick and tired of being a middle sister. So when she gets an assignment to describe what she'd change about a classic novel, Emily pounces on Little Women. After all, if she can't change things in her own family, maybe she can bring a little justice to the March sisters. (Kill off Beth? Have cute Laurie wind up with Amy instead of Jo? What was Louisa May Alcott thinking?!) But when Emily gets mysteriously transported into the 1860s world of the book, she discovers that righting fictional wrongs won't be easy. And after being immersed in a time and place so different from her own, it may be Emily--not the four March sisters--who undergoes the most surprising change of all.

WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK? 

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Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with US mailing address   
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Contest ends on 11.26.12 Winner will be chosen by Random.org 

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email.

Only one winner per mailing address.  Multiple entries will be deleted. 

This giveaway is sponsored by the author and ONE book is available.

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