Tuesday, September 20, 2011

THE WHOLE PACKAGE by CYNTHIA ELLINGSEN

The winner of The Whole Package is:
Lynnbelo
Congrats!
Please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com so I can send you your book!


  
The Whole Package
 By Cynthia Ellingsen

Today, I’m excited to bring you a fun romp of a book and a guest author blogger to tell you about it! Author Cynthia Ellingsen is guest blogging about her book, so I’m going to turn it over to her and she’s going to fill you in on her novel, The Whole Package!

Hi Manic Mommy. Thanks so much for hosting me - your blog is hilarious, you crack me up. I hope you enjoyed The Whole Package!

The Whole Package is about three best friends who lose everything. One loses her job, one loses her fortune and one loses her husband. Together, they decide to open the world’s first restaurant exclusively staffed by scantily clad men.

Even though I wanted the book to be a hilarious romp centered around a restaurant with half-dressed waiters, it’s not. The Whole Package is a story about friendships, relationships and starting over.

The character in The Whole Package that needs a fresh start the most is Doris. She’s a reluctant mother, reluctant wife and requires copious amounts of chocolate and Xanax just to make it through. Everyone in her life takes her for granted, including her husband, Doug. Here’s a scene from their anniversary dinner that just makes me cringe:


“Try an oyster,” Doug said. “They’re an aphrodisiac...”


Doug passed fed her a forkful of steaming oyster. It was slimy and tasted like rotten fish, but Doris swallowed it whole and gave a big smile. “Doug, I think it’s already doing something.”

He grinned. “Really?”

Taking a deep breath, Doris slid her shoe off in an attempt to rub her foot against Doug’s leg. After a moment, Doris realized the hard thing she was stroking was actually part of the table. Doris adjusted her position and thrust her foot out again. This time, it made contact with something soft.

“Ouch,” Doug said, jumping. “Did you just kick me?”

“Sorry,” Doris said, immediately drawing her foot back. “I was... my shoe fell off.” 

“Better put it back on,” Doug said, plugging his nose and waving a hand. “You don’t want to scare away the other tables with those stinky feet.”

“Ha ha,” Doris said, fumbling for her shoe. 

Every time I read this, I can’t help but shriek: Whaaaaaaaaat?! He said whaaaaaaaaaat?! Doris seriously needs a change.


Look, men love to joke-flirt. It’s their MO. But there’s a difference between flirtatious fun and blatant disrespect. And I have to say, the stinky feet comment... on an anniversary dinner? Over oysters? Not okay.

Yes, yes, Doris and Doug had been together since they were sixteen, so it’s not farfetched that Doug still thinks he can flirt with his wife the same way he would have back then but come on. She’s a woman.

Stinky feet jokes simply don’t fly.

And even worse - at this point in her life, Doris lets it happen. That is... until she finds out Doug is having an affair. Then, Doris realizes how far the disrespect in her life has gone. She gets a backbone. She takes a look at her role as a wife, mother and friend. And makes some sweeping changes.

Today, I urge you to take a look at your life and decide where you would like greater respect. Look, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut in our lives and just accept the same old, same old because we’re used to them or because they’re easy. But as the women in The Whole Package prove, you don’t have to accept how things are. It’s okay to say, “No, this is how I want my life to be,” and start taking the steps to get there.

You’re fabulous. So go out there and make it happen! You deserve to live The Whole Package.

Come say hi at www.cynthiaellingsen.com.

Thanks for the guest post Cynthia!

To enter to win The Whole Package, tell me what your idea is of The Whole Package? And I'm thinking in terms of a mate. For me, when I found Mr. MaNiC, it was finding a caring guy with an awesome sense of humor who I knew would be a great father someday. He is someone who is smart and trustworthy, and I knew he would always take care of me and our family. In the looks department, The Whole Package included a great butt, beautiful eyes, dark hair and a strong, big, tall build! That’s MY whole package, what’s your WHOLE PACKAGE!?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check previous book features to see who the winner is -- that's how you'll find out if you've won or not, and you can still enter if there's not a winner's name posted on the top and highlighted! I usually choose a winner for each book anywhere from 3-7 days after I post a feature!

Thanks for checking out the Fall Fab Giveaway – we’ve got TONS more books coming your way through mid-October and then. I'll be featuring 2-3 each week. At the end of ALL the individual books featured and given away, one or two lucky winners will win the WHOLE batch of the books.

If you’ve got particular questions on how the Giveaway works, check the ORIGINAL POST HERE, or feel free to email me! Thanks!

Good luck everyone! And I really enjoy your comments too!

Thanks for reading and being a part of this promotion! To find out all the details on how to participate throughout the whole promotion click the previous link!


I also blog at Real Moms Guide if you'd like to read some of my other work.


If you're new here, check out the rules and all the books at in the promotion HERE.

If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment and I'll answer it in the thread, or email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com. It is always at my discretion to change things up, and because of some regulations, I guess I must say that the books I review are given to me by either the authors or publishers or publicists, and I am never paid for my reviews, and they are my own personal reviews, and you know what, because I'm here telling you this anyway, I will also tell you that I never review a book I don't like, because you know what, why waste my time, life is too short to read a crappy book! There.

104 comments:

Philly said...

Ohhhh First to comment! It pays off being a night owl.

My whole package man would be: Caring, family oriented, good at "man jobs" (fixing things, taking out the trash and mowing the lawn), loving, funny and patient.

-Philly5

Ronit said...

The whole package is a guy who can be a romantic date and fun dad..and everything in between!

TaraUB said...

Trusting, hardworking, funny, loving man. The Husband and I are celebrating our 6th Anniversary today, though we've been together for 13 years. Couldn't ask for a better package. TaraUB in IN

MonaLisa said...

The whole package would be if he still makes my heart skip a beat like he did when we first met, and eventhough we now make room for three kids in our life we still make time for each other.

Anonymous said...

My hubby is good in looks, good with the kids and good financially. That's good in my book for the whole package.

-Donna W.

fourkidsmom4 said...

I have the whole package myself. Tall, handsome, wonderful father, and handy around the house.... carpentry, mechanics, he does it all.

Brenda
fourkidsmom4@gmail.com

Ally said...

A man who is easy-going and doesn't anger easily. A guy who wants a big family and adores his children. A man who is financially stable. Someone who I can laugh with and do life with. I married this guy five years ago.

Katie said...

My whole package is smart, sweet, cute and handy. Luckily my husband is all of these. I am glad he is able to do the manly jobs even though I could do them myself....it is nice to have a partner to pass it off to!!

Katie-Big 3-0 Shape-up

Anonymous said...

My "the whole package" has changed recently...it is currently someone who is a great dad (to his own or could be to my kids someday), and makes me laugh everyday! The looks are no longer as important, but they don't hurt either :) LeslieGC

krstrpp said...

My whole package guy keeps his cool under pressure...and his promises. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book!

Bernadette7 said...

Smart, funny, sweet...I'll be marrying this total package next July...doesn't hurt that he's a hottie :)

Amy R. said...

My boyfriend is supportive, great sense of humor, we share the same values, and we both hate kids!

Megan said...

My whole package is someone who challenges me, makes me laugh and is ambitious. ID-Eloisepeaches

Liz said...

Funny, smart, hardworking, respectful, and loves everything about me! Even the annoying bits!

jdstec said...

honest, loving, considerate, sense of humor. Done.

absolutahnie said...

a great sense of humor, intelligence, cares for his family,
thoughtful, respectful, a good appetite! i've got all that in my b.f as well as him having a cute butt, beautiful eyes and cute round belly (from eating my cooking!)

Juliet Farmer said...

the whole package for me is funny, sweet, smart and cute. probably in that order!

buttah said...

My Hubs is definitely the whole package for me...guess that's why we've been together for 15 years now!! He's tall, dark and handsome! Beautiful eyes, loving, caring, still steamy in the sack (TMI I know...), a great Dad...he's got it all!!

lynnbelo said...

My whole package is a man that's tall, sweet, even-tempered, financially stable, and doesn't mind doing things around the house (anything from vacuuming and doing dishes to cutting the grass and fixing things). A man's man, but takes my feelings into account.

Carie Casey said...

To me the Whole Package is a man who is kind caring respectful and a mans man

Carie

Tiffany Drew said...

The most important thing to me is a sense of humor. Thankfully, I married the funniest person I have ever met. The whole package to me is sense of humor, hard working, tall, dark hair and a nice smile. All of which just happens to match my hubby :)

Jenn3128 said...

He's subtly funny, always learning, loves that he's surrounded by girls, let's me be me. He's pretty amazing.

ncsuloges said...

The whole package is someone who can keep me calm when I am stressing, silly/goofy, my opposite in terms of being spontaneous, thoughtful, kind, intellectual, athletic...and yes it is possible to find someone with all these attributes. I am amazed too! <3

Denise said...

Smart, funny and thoughtful is what I'm looking for. As far as looks go, tall, strong arms and can pull off facial hair. :)

equinn726 said...

My husband is the whole package. He's supportive, honest, funny and puts me on the top of his priority list (he's on the top of mine too). Right now he's being absolutely amazing because he's helping to put me through nursing school in an outreach program that has me traveling all around the state for the next year to get different types of clinical experience. Every night that I'm away, he video chats me and the last time I came home, he cleaned the house from top to bottom and filled the fridge with good food (rather than man snacks). For me, he's the best :)

Thank you Stephanie for this blog! I love reading about all of these great books and everyone's comments! Also Cynthia, thank you for your guest post, I'm looking forward to reading your book!

BrendaL71 said...

Man...this one is kind of hard for me. Who doesn't want a man with beautiful eyes and a great sense of humor. Unfortunately I haven't found one yet that wasn't defective. LOL!

CAnative said...

the whole package: charisma, funny, great with the kids, supportive, trustworthy and your best friend.

Nicole

Amy Goddard said...

Trustworthy, caring, nice, funny, smart, able to hold a smart and a ridiculous conversation, likes my family, has common interests but isn't identical to me, can handle me when I'm acting like a crazy woman, wants to be with me but will also let me have my space. I could go on and on. Basically, it's the man I married, my best friend.

Amy Goddard

Colleen Turner said...

The perfect package to me is someone who can hold you softly (or not :) )when you want, someone who makes you laugh till your sides hurt and someone you think of first when you desperately need to share something.
Colleen Turner

Mom'sLove said...

Honesty, honesty, and honesty is the whole package for me.. oh and a cute butt wouldn't hurt.
Amanda

MamamicheleTN said...

I have "The Whole Package" or at least my idea of it. He is tall, strong, sometimes a little too sensitive, a partner, sexy and always makes me laugh! We have been married for almost 12 years and I have never regretted a single moment I have spent with him in my life!

StereoQueenBee said...

I just recently found the whole package. He is kind, generous, funny, FUN (yes they are two different things), caring, sweet, he cooks (he is a chef), he cleans and he loves me intensely. Oh, and he isn't afraid of talking about the future.

queenofcrunk at gmail dot com

Melissa said...

The whole package for me is honesty, loyalty, trust, humor and respect as far as characteristics. My husband has all of these characteristics.

Lizett34 said...

The whole package for me would be a man who is honest, caring, romantic, financially stable, tall and good looking.

Unknown said...

My Whole Package includes: Job Stability, Sense of Humor, Loving & Affectionate, Respectfulness, Tall, Handsome, Gorgeous eyes, Beaming Smile. :) I live a dream life. LOL

Kimberly Russell said...

The whole package to me is someone who can make me laugh, and is just generally a sweet person, he needs to be honest and will make a great father. My husband has all of these qualities.

Casey said...

I found my whole package. He is a handsome greek guy - very intelligent and ambitious. He always knows when to let me be in control and when he needs to take control of situations. He's serious, but doesn't take himself or life too seriously. He's my best friend. Most importantly, he knows all my crazy habits and still loves me for them!

Ready To Be A Momma said...

The whole package includes: caring, funny, smart, loving, able to put up with my crazy, good smile, and dark hair.
qweska8402

Literary Chanteuse said...

This sounds good! I love those type of start over stories. They are very inspiring! I wouldn't mind shopping there! lol! Thanks for the giveaway!

Margaret(singitm)
singitm@hotmail.com

Crystal said...

A guy who is honest, caring, funny, strong, dependable, responsible, loves dogs and country music. The whole package is a guy that will want to hold your hair back when you have to throw up even though it makes it sick to his stomach to see it (gallbladder 2010), a guy who will make dinner every once in a while (as a Texan I love me some BBQ), a man who puts his (and my) family first (he always offers to cut my grandparents' grass).

When I was younger I was convinced this guy was tall, light skinned, blue eyes, and blond hair. (Also named Justin Timberlake.) As I got older I realized he's really a short (but taller than me) brown Hispanic, with black hair and brown eyes. He is rather built though ;)

Crystal717

Amy said...

The whole package would be: caring, affectionate, makes me laugh (which oh boy my hubby does) share the same values, and makes me feel like his princess.

Thanks for the great giveaway

Anonymous said...

The whole package at this stage in my life is ALL ABOUT TRUST and the man I'm with I trust completely. I'm so fortunate and blessed to be able to have someone so special in my life, and I know he feels the same way. cindy in miami, writeoncindy@yahoo.com

Twins + 1 said...

The whole package for me is : Funny, handsome, nice firm butt, awesome cook, and must LOVE my singing! :):)

Melissa said...

Hmmm, someone honest, loyal, funny, loving, a good father, and a yin to my yang. I'm silly, I just thought of my husband and wrote about him :)
-tmd636

Kim W. said...

My husband IS the whole package....he's responsible; loving to me and to our children; he's a great provider, allowing me to stay home with our 2 kids with special needs; he's loyal and honest and 100% dedicated to us; and he's freakin' hilarious!!

kewalker1972@gmail.com

Krystal said...

Funny, smart, handy, but mostly loving and a good daddy!
kndyer

animallover75 said...

My whole package would love me just the way I am and also love all my animals even half as much as I do.

BethC said...

The whole package for me would be someone who makes me laugh, loves me for who I am and all my little quirks, will always take care of me, a family man who loves kids. Superficially, I would love to have a muscular manly man, great eyes, a nice smile, and a nice butt doesn't hurt. I am a sucker for a man that can sing! So, I would say...Dwayne Johnson (the Rock) with Adam Sandlers personality and Tim McGraws voice would be my total package!

karenk said...

an honest, handsome, hardworking man...

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Kristi said...

My whole package is: caring, Mr. fixit, good father, willing to help with housework and the occassional back rub, makes me laugh and loves me no matter how moody I am or tells me I look beautiful even on my worst days.

Kristi Marie W.

ludy2288 said...

my whole package: can make me smile and laugh, does sweet things every once and awhile that give me butterflies, enjoys (or pretends to enjoy) my cooking, intelligent, hardworking but makes time for fun, cute dimples, nice teeth, and minimal chest hair...all of which are found in my boyfriend :)

BRN2SHOP9 said...

My whole package would be having a good sense of humor, caring, romantic, smart.

Bridget said...

The whole package-funny, caring, truthful, loving, and good listener.
Iambtinrb

kwertz12 said...

For me, the whole package is a sense of humor that complements my own, a sense of responsibility to his family, someone I can share anything with...oh...and brown eyes. Gotta have those. :)

Joelle said...

My whole package man is loving, caring, supportive, silly, understanding, adventurous, romantic and accepts me for all that I am. <3

Coleen said...

My whole package man would be: caring, sense of humor, able to handle a crisis, loving, patient, family oriented, and his eyes have to sparkle!!!

Terri said...

Hmm...to be the whole package, he needs to be funny, but know when it's time to be serious, cute, a good parent, and love me despite my flaws. As a bonus, if he has blue eyes, dark hair and plays the piano, I'm his! :)

Terri M.

Becki*** said...

Humor, faith, willingness to admit when wrong, loyal, hardworking and after 30 years he is still so cute to me but I have no idea if he really IS cute anymore, lol. And vice versa I am sure.

michelle m! said...

The "whole package" is thoughtful, respectful, humorous and kind.

Dani In Chicago said...

My Whole Package: sense of humor is a must! He must make me laugh! He also should be sensitive, responsible, trustworthy, fun, optimistic.

Carly said...

This is how I knew that my husband was the whole package:
He will tell me the truth no matter what, even if it hurts me to hear.
He won't put up with my $h!t. I can be a pain and he puts me in my place. I actually like that.
He loves animals and children.
He adores me.

Carly H

Bev V said...

Loving, caring, and thoughtful. The hubby and I have been married for 28 years and he's still my best friend.

kathygold9778 said...

My whole package is my husband...he is kind and caring and always willing to do what he can do to help...and he is the most wonderful father in the world.

kathygold9778

Robynn78 said...

I knew I found the whole package when I noticed how clean my now husband, man who I had a gigantic crush on 13 years ago had perfectly cut and clean toenails.. I know it sounds weird but boys just didnt have good hygeine then! hahaa.. Brian also had a great personality, great bum in his jeans :o), and most of all he believed in me then, and still does.. not many people or should I say exboyfriends believed in me being an artist, or going to school for it for that matter, but he found it sexy.. and has supported me since!! Once we had kids, he also told me I would never work again to take care of the kids, and find my passion.. my passion, being a photogapher.. he is the whole package for me!

EKB said...

Whole package? hmm...wow how much time do I have? I guess a mix of what I have with my dad, husband and BIL. One is good with money (not my husband sadly) one is good with fixing everything under the sun and one has a kind laid back spirit and doesnt get crazy over the little things. A mix would make my life so easy! oh and maybe look like Puck from GLEE :-}

Dolly said...

I'm either fortunate, or pathetic, to realize there is no 'whole package'. However, Mr. MaNiC does sound pretty fine! ;-)

jcsites2002 at hotmail dot com

Emma S. said...

Hm. the whole package. It would be a guy with a great sense of humor and take my cyncical, dark ways. Someone who is financially responsible. A man who is very family oriented, since I am very close to mine. A man who can accept the fact that I want (read will) own several dogs someday, including ones of a large breed. Someone who intellectually stimulates me. Someone who enjoys dates nights in with take out and a DVD just as much as a lavish night out.

Hally said...

Great smile, caring, nice/devoted to his family, good laugh, and he still makes me giggle.

Kimmi said...

Sense of humor, compassion, intelligence...and if he looks like Clooney, all the better.

Mama Taz said...

The whole package--a man who is my equal--makes a good living, helps with chores and kids, knows how to fix things, good humor, and is not needing. Remembers to do something just because and ....some who completes me

DaphneSFL said...

the whole package is my husband: loving, thoughtful, hard-working,loves his family, good to his friends, tolerates me, oh and funny. I wouldn't want anyone else <3

Melissa said...

My husband IS the whole package! Handsome, funny, great father, caring, loyal, intelligent, great to talk with, amazing cook and the rest is TMI. ;)

Melissa A from CLC

Kristi said...

My "whole package" is my husband. My weaknesses are his strengths and his weaknesses are my strengths. Though there are many days he drives me absolutely crazy, we bring out the best in each other.

Kristi Hooke

Leah B said...

The whole package for me is my husband: kind, caring, can ALWAYS make me laugh, cute, stable, handy and a kick @ss father. Love him!

your invisible pixie said...

My whole package would be...someone who makes me laugh but also thinks I'm funny, doesn't freak out over the smallest things by yelling, someone who I can have conversations with...and someone I'm attracted to! Someone who makes every day feel like the first date.

Books & Reviews said...

My husband is the whole package. Sweet, kind, thoughtful, loving, hard working , funny as all hell and beyond cute. Did I mention his amazing blue eyes?

The Poty's said...

My whole package would be adventuresome, caring, thoughtful, funny, and a great dad. So lucky to have him!

Lindsay Elizabeth said...

The whole package is, trustworthy, supportive, thoughtful, hard working, and great kisser! Because with out that the rest of the package doesn't matter all that much!

Jezebel's Mama said...

Strong, hard working, gift giving (large and in a jewelry box!), let's not forget Robert Redford/Brad Pitt handsome, great sense of humor, and loving. Why have I taken this so seriously to provide this list?

LizzybethDJ said...

I was "older" when I found my total package and had been through a lot of not-so-total packages. :)
So, although I didn't lower my expectations, I did decide what was really important to me. Kind, independent and respected my independence, a "grown up" who did not need me to care for him, good sense of humor, good with pets (I think that tells you a lot about someone), trusting and trust-worthy and, most importantly, some I loved that loved me back with all of his heart.
I found him and we're going on 6 years of marriage! :)

faithspage said...

Cute
Friendly
Nice buns :)
Hard worker
Respectful
Mannerly
Honest
Did I mention nice buns :)
Faithful duh
Tall

kyfaithw at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

I knew on our 3rd date that my hubby was the whole package. He is smart, handsome, easy going, hardworking, and very family oriented. Love him.

Anonymous said...

Oops....previous comment is from me!

Colbey J

Jeryl M. said...

A man who be is strong and also gentle and knows when to be either.

Janet said...

I was never the type to have a "package" or list of my dream mate. Until I met him, that is. Now that I know my boyfriend, I can assuredly say, trustworthy, great sense of humor, patient, and understanding of my feelings, even when I don't say a single word.

A.C. Morris said...

I definitely think my husband is the whole package. He's incredibly smart, has my same sarcastic sense of humor, hardworking, good looking, and a loving dad to our baby girl!

Susan @ The Book Bag said...

Whole package huh? Is that possible or is this is our dream guy? Well, then - someone who is thoughtful and kind, and great eyes, I love the eyes. And I need funny too. Someone who is there for me when times get tough and gets me thru it. Someone who gets me!

Thanks for another great book giveaway, this book sounds hilarious! I was LOL when I read the excerpt you had in your post - funny stuff!!

Unknown said...

My whole package ~ I am still looking for! I want someone with a sense of humor, someone who is caring, good support, helpful ~ cute butt wouldn't hurt!

kayswederski@yahoo.com

Erin G said...

My whole package would start with a sense of humor, followed by trustworthy, kind, empathetic, and loving.

Christina said...

My idea of the whole package is someone who is funny, smart, sweet, kind, easy to be with and has a great family. Lucky for me, I met him 3 years ago and he's wonderful!!

ChristinaL

Karie said...

My whole package man is a caring, sensitive, supportive individual who values me as I am and will also be my biggest fan. Because I would do the same for him! (and yes, I was lucky enough to find him and have been happily married for 11 years so far).

Christine in NJ said...

Whole Package for me... great dad, handy man (I love tool belts HAHA) and a romantic. Oh yeah... and someone WHO LISTENS TO ME!!!!

This book sounds GREAT!
Thanks as always MaNiC for the fabulous introductions to new books!

Christine

IandSsmom said...

My whole package would be honest and caring.

EBrowning said...

Dark hair, dark eyes and a great sense of humor.

lucy0872 said...

A man that is funny, is always there when you need him, treats others and you with respect, works hard, and if he's tall and handsome it's a bonus!

Emily said...

The whole package would be: a guy with a great sense of humor and a kind heart, as well as an open mind and compassion. It wouldn't hurt if he was close to his family...or if he had curly hair. :)




Emily116

Anonymous said...

This book sounds interesting! You have an interesting selectoin for the fall giveaway.

I would want someone who is caring, interested in my interests, a compassionate, and attractive.

writer's Corner

Anonymous said...

tall, lean, dark hair, blue eyes - great smile, sense of humor, intelligent, street smart, no nonsense - my best friend - jillfay

Jessica said...

The whole package would be a man who is good looking, funny, sweet and who likes to work out. I want someone who has the same interests as me, someone who doesn't like going out all the time. And someone who won't pressure me into having children. It would also be nice if he would work and I could quit my job but that probably won't happen.

-Jessica M
walkingcorpse11@hotmail.com

Margie said...

The whole package (and I am lucky enough to have this!)...sense of humor, handy, good father, loving.

Leslieb1983 said...

Sense of humor, a good job, and a love for life

DaphneSFL said...

My husband. He is thoughtful, hard-working, he helps with chores around the house, and, most of all, he ALWAYS unloads the dishwasher, which I hate to do!!!

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMMENTING! NO COMMENTS AFTER THIS COMMENT WILL QUALIFY FOR THIS BOOK! THANK YOU! CHECK OUT THE NEXT BOOKS OFFERED FOR THE FALL FAB GIVEAWAY! THANKS, MANIC MOMMY

Justina said...

It cannot have effect in reality, that is what I think.