Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tour: Mating Rituals of the North American Wasp

Mating Rituals of the North American WASP
by Lauren Lipton

Peggy Adams is upset when she wakes up nest to a strange man after a Vegas night she can't remember ... but she's horrified when she discovers that she married him! Luke Sedgwick is WASP royalty, the last of the New Nineveh, Connecticut, Sedgwicks. He might also be perfect, if Peggy weren't already "pre-engaged" to her live-in boyfriend of seven years (she even has a "promise ring" to prove it). Peggy and Luke agree to get an annulment ASAP - and then receive an offer they can't refuse ...

Luke's eccentric great-aunt Abigail offers the two the chance to make millions on the family estate: All they have to do is stay married for a year. Peggy is soon pretending to be one-half of the perfect couple among New England's WASPy set on the weekends, while keeping her marriage secret during the week. But she isn't prepared for what might be her worst mistake of all - falling in love with her soon-to-be-ex-husband.
First Sentence:
Something wasn't right, and she knew it before opening her eyes.

I fell in love with Luke Sedgwick from the very instant in the story where he is awake, but it did take a bit longer to care for Peggy due to some of her quirky personality traits. The one character I believe any reader can not help but fall in love with would be Luke's great-aunt, Miss Abigail. She is a stubborn, dignified, but loving old lady that I believe many readers will be able to picture one of their own family members in. I also believe that many reader's will be able to relate to a relationship that obviously is not going anywhere, but you still are unable to leave which is the type of relationship shared by Peggy and her boyfriend of eight years, Brock.

Even though there are many different characters to keep track of and they are not described in a huge amount of detail, I was still able to get a clear picture of who they were. The storyline can be a little predictable at times, but there are still a few situations that caught me off guard, for example the predicament that takes place at the Colonial Inn in Litchfield County, Connecticut.

I would definitely recommend Mating Rituals of the North American WASP to anyone that enjoys reading chick lit, or anyone who wants to start out in the genre because this book will capture your heart. Granted I have not read many books in this genre, but Lauren Lipton's writing style has ensured that I will in the future. This book is certainly a tear jerk-er, but I believe that can be a good thing for relationships since I get my drama fill in fiction rather than starting fights with the significant other. ;)

Favorite Quotes:
... Peggy considered a basement to be like a spleen: You knew it was in there, you knew it served an important function, but you had no desire to see it.
Her theory was that shoppers were lemmings; they were more likely to come in when other shoppers were already inside.
"It's like, as soon as a man meets a woman, she becomes his only friend. We're all that's saving them from being lone wolves."
His brief kiss with Peggy ad stirred something in him; he had, for a gossamer instant, finally known what real love was, why people chose to marry and pledge forever to each other. He recognized the desire to prolong that forever with children who carried forward one's name, and with it the promise of eternity.

Title: Mating Rituals of the North American WASP
Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN 10: 0446197971
ISBN 13: 978-0446197977
Buy It: Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble
Review Number: 13


About the author:

Lauren Lipton is the author of two novels, It's About Your Husband (2006) and Mating Rituals of the North American WASP (2009). She is also a freelance journalist who specializes in style, business and trend stories.

She is currently fashion, beauty and lifestyle editor at ForbesWoman magazine. A former Wall Street Journal staff writer, she reported on copycat brides who steal their friend's wedding ideas, pajama parties for grown women, and luxury homes with his-and-hers garages.

Her work also has appeared in Conde Nast Portfolio, In Style Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, Best Life, Glamour, Marie Claire, Fit Pregnancy and Working Mother, and on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. She began her career at the Los Angeles Times.

Born in Providence, R.I., Lauren grew up in the North County of San Diego and in Los Gatos, Calif., before moving to Los Angeles. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and anthropology from Occidental College and a master's degree in print journalism from the University of Southern California.

She lives with her family in New York City and in Litchfield County, Conn.




Thanks to Miriam of Early Bird Blog Tours at Hachette Book Group , I have ONE copy to giveaway. Unfortunately, according to Hachette rules the winner must have a valid U.S. or Canadian mailing address (no PO boxes). The contest will run from May 27th to June 3rd, 2009. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified by email.

To be entered you must leave a comment here answering the question "If you were able to lead a double life like Peggy, what would you spend the money you acquire on?" You must also leave a valid email address.

For extra entries (+1 each):
-Become a follower
-Add my blog to your blogroll
-Add my blog button (with a link back to my blog) to your blog
-Post about this giveaway somewhere on your blog (can be an actual post or on the sidebar)


45 comments:

Unknown said...

I would most likely end up spending the money on materialistic things such as car, clothes, and whatever else I could think of just because its unlikely i will ever be able to do that.

By the way this book sounds good!

slattes22@verizon.net

Anonymous said...

Oh, this book sounds great! And great review! Please enter me in, too!

I would spend my money on many things; pay off my university's loan, and then spend on some furniture, books, clothes, and photography material. Oh, the dream! :P

infiniteshelf at gmail dot com

Melissa O. said...

Great review! I can think of many things I'd spend the money on... Paying off our house & car, books, clothes, jewelry. Very materialistic, I know.

I'm already a follower.

You're already in my blogroll.

I added your button to my sidebar a few minutes ago.

Thanks for the chance to win! mlb108[at]gmail.com

Jess said...

Paying off my student loans, and then going to grad school, maybe travel a little. Please enter me in the giveaway.

jedziedz@hotmail.com

Jess said...

I am a follower.

jedziedz@hotmail.com

Darlene said...

Don't enter me. I just wanted to say I really enjoyed the book also. Aunt Abby was great-one of my favorites. I love the quote about the basement. lol.

Unknown said...

I've been eying this book for awhile... Thanks for the giveaway.

If I had extra money it would go to my student loans, then books and yarn!

Jennmarie68@yahoo.com

I'm also a follower!

mindy said...

travel i have missed out on a lot of places i would love to go

jemscout425 said...

a trip to italy and to pay off my daughters student loans
pksanddancer@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I'd love to travel.

Gaby317 said...

I'm a follower.

I would spend the money on an apartment somewhere warm and beautiful, travel, a little liposuction, chocolate, and BOOKS!! I'd put away some for a rainy day, too!


gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

Gaby317 said...

i'll post a link to this contest on my blog's sideroll

www.startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com

gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

Abby said...

A VW bug camper van totally redone and updated ;)

ajcmeyer AT go DOT com

samf36 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
samf36 said...

I would give a lot away, invest some and then get nice things for my mom and family.
samf36atgmail.com

Anonymous said...

I would spend the money on earning my college degree! Thanks for the giveaway!!

bsyb100 at gmail dot com

Julie said...

I would spend my money on Grad school and probably more books!

Thanks for the giveaway!

I'm a follower,

Cheers,
julie.sherritt@gmail.com

wendy wallach said...

I would go on exotic vacations and cruises.

madamerkf at aol dot com

Jennifer C. said...

I would spend the money making a career out of something I am passionate about! I would also work to help animals!

jennifercausby at hotmail dot com

scottsgal said...

I'd spend the money on travel - throughout the islands and wherever I had a fancy to go.

msboatgal at aol.com

scottsgal said...

I'm also a follower on google reader

msboatgal at aol.com

Sheila Hickmon said...

Nice vacations, cruises, a great new house! I can't think of just ONE thing! Thanks for the chance! hawkgirl_16 {at} hotmail {dot} com

Sheila Hickmon said...

Im following your blog now! :)
hawkgirl_16 {at} hotmail {dot} com

Britt said...

Books. Most likely. Because really, you can never have too many books. :D
Already a follower.
schriftstellarin(at)hotmail(dot)com

-T said...

If I had the money I would first pay off my mom's debts so she could maybe kick her shitty husband to the curb. :P Then I would try and help my mom get back on her feet and either get a new house or get her current one remodeled. If there was any money after that I would go to Greece so I can finally see everything I've learned about in class.

Nickolay said...

I would frivolously spend my ill gotten gains.

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

malleycc said...

I would travel if possible (maybe rv with the kids).

Marie said...

I would spend the money on traveling the world!

marielay@gmail.com

Marie said...

I am a follower.

marielay@gmail.com

A Reader said...

I would spend it going to Vegas!

Thanks for the giveaway!
Kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

CherylS22 said...

I'd spend the money on investments so that I'd never have to work another day in my life. Then I could read and read and read.............

megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

CherylS22 said...

I already follow.

megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

jwx4 said...

I'd spend the money on going back to school.

jwx4 at yahoo dot com

Suzanne Yester said...

Sounds like a great book! Please enter me in! OK, I would spend my money on a little cottage by the water with lots of books! :D....
I'm already a follower! And I just added a blurb about your giveaway on my blog Chick with Books on the sidebar: www(dot)chickwithbooks(dot)blogspot(dot)com

quzy(AT)mac(DOT)com

Jessica Moss said...

Oh, there is a lot of things I would spend my money on. New cars for my family, a new house, pay off my school debt and help my mommy out.

well_never_fade_away@yahoo.com

Cindy said...

I just found your blog and became a follower. Thank you for the great giveaway! I may be too late to enter the contest. But, in any case, I wanted to post a comment!

I would pay for my daughter's college tuition so she could finish her last year of college. Then my husband and I would have all 4 of our kids out of college! If I had any money left, I would get an inground pool put in our back yard!

I am a new follower of your blog and enjoy reading it!

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

KR said...

I would pay off my 2 sons' loans for college !

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

KR said...

New follower.

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Anna said...

I liked Luke from the start, too. Glad to hear you enjoyed the book.

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

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David said...

I'd love to travel.

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