Blog Tour Excerpt: Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista

Posted October 16, 2014 / Book Reviews / 1 Comment

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Chronicles of a Lincoln Park FashionistaBook Info and Links

Title: Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista
Author: Aven Ellis
Release Date: September 10, 2014
Genre: Chick Lit, Romantic Comedy

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Book Summary

Recent college graduate Avery Andrews is ready to begin a new life in the big city. She’s landed an apartment in Chicago’s famed Lincoln Park neighborhood–and has her eye on the cute commodities trader just a floor above.
If Premier Airlines knew about her fear of flying, they never would have hired her to be their marketing assistant—but it’s not like Avery wants a lifelong career. Right now she simply wants a job to pay her bills…and fund a few little shopping excursions, too.
Her new lifestyle comes with a price tag, as Avery is not only faced with paying a ridiculous rent but finds she’s perceived as one of the vacant, husband-hunting fashionistas who live in the area. Avery resents this stereotype—so she doesn’t want a lifelong career, and she loves fashions she can’t afford, but that doesn’t mean she is empty-headed and spoiled, does it?
When an opportunity to participate in a documentary at work arises, Avery finds a two-fold solution to her problems. She’ll earn extra money for it, and the documentary will show her as a serious career woman, enabling her to shed that husband-hunting fashionista label for good.
When the camera is on, Avery attempts to be a motivated professional woman. But when she is challenged by Deacon Ryan, the videographer assigned to cover her story, Avery finds herself wanting things she was never supposed to want—like a lasting career—and Deacon. And Avery might just gain more from the experience than a perfect career image and extra cash to put in her Tory Burch wallet…


Excerpt

“We were supposed to be together forever,” Bree says, breaking through my angry thoughts. “I mean, he had been acting distant and irritated lately, but I thought that was the stress from graduation and getting ready to move. I had no idea he was thinking of this. None. Alex was supposed to marry me. How do I deal with this, Avery? How?”
I hug her. I have to answer this carefully. I can’t say Alex is a bastard. Because if they did work it out—which I’m not in favor of because this is a huge red flag if this is how he deals with things—but if they did, Bree would know my true feelings forever. I have to say something thoughtful. Something soothing and wise. My eyes land on the stack of magazines on the coffee table. Last month’s FLIRTY! is on top, and I see this headline: “Don’t Let His Emotional Immaturity Ruin Your Life.”
Bingo.
“Bree, don’t let Alex’s emotional immaturity ruin your life,” I say gently. “This has nothing to do with you and everything to do with his own maturity issues.”
Bree moves back from me, amazement etched on her tear-stained face. “How do you always know what to say?”
“Because you’re my best friend. Now go on back to my bedroom, first door on the left. You can wash your face in my bathroom. Then curl up in my bed, and I’ll bring you something stronger than wine.”
“I’m so glad I’m here. I love you, Avery,” Bree says, sniffling.
“I love you, too,” I say to the friend who is like my sister. “Now go on,” I add, standing up and pulling her up off the couch. “I’ll be right there.”

***

“Let’s do a one-on-one interview,” Deke says.
“Sure,” I say, taking another sip of wine.
He quickly sets up a backdrop and puts his camera on a tripod. I sit down on a barstool in front of the black screen, and Deke asks me to talk about my friendship with Bree. I give a brief history, explaining how close we are and how we’ve gone through the ups and downs of life together and always will.
Deke then shuts off the camera.
“That’s interesting advice that you gave to Bree tonight,” he says slowly, his eyes piercing through me.
And damn it, despite the fact that I don’t like him, a tingle shoots down my spine.
“Well, it’s easy to give advice to Bree. We’re more like sisters than friends. And because we know each other so well, I know what to say to her in a time of crisis.”
“I see,” Deke says slowly. “So are you going to advise her on the hot colors for pedicures this season, too?”
Suddenly I can see the FLIRTY! cover on the coffee table in my head. I quickly glance over at it and see the pedicure headline, right underneath the “Don’t Let His Emotional Immaturity Ruin Your Life” one.
Oh shit.


About the Author

AvenEllis

Coffee with cream? Check. Soundtrack for work in progress pulled up on Spotify? Done. Ready to write another romantic comedy with a swoonworthy good guy hero, a heroine you cheer for, and a guaranteed happily ever after? You bet.

Hello, I’m Aven Ellis. I work in sports television production during the day and write romantic comedies at night. In addition to writing, I’m passionate about reality cooking shows, Project Runway, the latest scent from Jo Malone (whatever it is, doesn’t matter, I want it) and hockey. Or is that hockey players? Because they’re hot.

But I digress.

*Clears throat for reset after thinking of hockey players* But I truly find joy in writing romantic comedy. I love crafting characters, their words, their heartbreak and triumph, with laughs along the way. There is no bigger compliment to me than having someone tell me they laughed when reading one of my books. I want my books to be easy reading, a beach read, an escape when you need one. Writing them is my escape, so I hope reading them provides you with one, too.

For this post, I decided to share some things about myself that my readers might now know. So let’s get to the list of five, shall we?

  1. I originally wanted to be a sports reporter when I first started college. Yes, I love sports (I work in event production for a sports TV network now as my day job) but I really thought I wanted that lifestyle. But once I was in college, I realized it’s a very hard profession that takes you away from home a lot and I decided to go into feature reporting instead.
  2. My favorite book in the whole world is My Life In France by Julia Child. This book changed my life and inspired me in ways I never saw coming. Julia is proof that it is never, ever, too late to find your passion and make it your calling.
  3. My favorite movie(s) are Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. I absolutely love these films as the dialogue is so real. As someone who loves to write dialogue, this movie inspires me to keep working harder at it.
  4. I have never seen the movie ET. I’ve been told I’m weird because I haven’t, but I can’t say it ever looked appealing to me.
  5. I could never eat another French fry in my entire life and be totally happy about it. Same with potato chips, and chips and salsa. Zero interest in that stuff. But take away my dark chocolate and things will get ugly in a hurry, LOL.

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