Book Review: This Book Made Me Think of You

By Allyson Bales

Twelve books. Twelve months. One chance to heal her heart…

When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her husband waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. But mainly because Joe died five months ago....

When she goes to pick up the present, Alfie, the bookshop owner with kind eyes, explains the gift—twelve carefully chosen books with handwritten letters from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.

At first Tilly can’t imagine sinking into a fictional world, but Joe’s tender words convince her to try, and something remarkable happens—Tilly becomes immersed in the pages, and a new chapter begins to unfold in her own life. Monthly trips to the bookstore—and heartfelt conversations with Alfie—give Tilly the comfort she craves and the courage to set out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to share her journey with others, her story—like a book—becomes more than her own. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

“The right book in the right hands of the right person at exactly the right moment can change their life forever.”

What a thoughtful, emotional, and thought-provoking opening line to a story.  I spent last weekend completely immersed in Libby Page’s newest book and to say it was a warm hug that I am still thinking about would be an understatement.  This story touched my heart, and will be one I will think of for some time. I definitely think it should be on your February TBR immediately!

You get to meet Tilly, a lovely woman that just lost her husband and doesn’t really know what to do with that grief.  Her fiance leaves her the best gift at a local bookstore, where you also get to meet Alfie, the bookstore’s owner.

I was immediately invested in Tilly’s character.  I found her to be so relatable and vulnerable.  I really, really connected with her struggles and triumphs and can’t remember the last time I rooted so hard for a character.  Tilly gave me a lot of hope and I know she’ll be a character I will want so many others to meet!  I also really loved the flashback scenes where you get to know her fiancé Joe better.  This really added so much depth to the story and made me really think about my own wife and relationship.

This story reminded me why I am a book lover and why I love indie bookshops so much.  This is more of a predictable read, but one that will make you feel uplifted and inspired.  I loved so many of the characters and love all of the book recommendations that you get with each chapter!

I would also really recommend the audio version of this one. Zadeiah Campbell-Davies narrated the story beautifully and I loved how she brought Tilly to life.

Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase it here.

More by Libby Page:
Mornings with Rosemary
The Lifeline
The 24-Hour Café

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Game, Set, Match

Today we are featuring Jennifer Iacopelli's latest sports rom-com, Game, Set, Match, which released this week. Even if you don't know much about tennis, this story is sure to dazzle. Thanks to Lavender PR, we have TWO copies to give away!

All of Penny Harrison’s hard work is finally paying off. At 21 years old, she’s a tennis icon in-the-making, with massive sponsorship deals and legendary status on the horizon, if she can just nail the upcoming Grand Slam in Paris. Until then, there’s no room for mistakes.

When she returns to the prestigious Outer Banks Tennis Club to train, though, she comes face to face with the biggest mistake she ever made: Alex Russell. With piercing blue eyes and irresistible charm, the bad boy tennis star is the only guy who ever broke Penny’s heart.

To keep her head in the game—and her mind off Alex—Penny leans on two of the club’s other rising stars. Jasmine Randazzo and Indiana Gaffney are both balancing exploding careers with their own off-the-court romances, and their drama might be enough to keep Penny distracted. 

But as days tick down to Paris, Penny seems to always find herself across the court from Alex. She knows that winning it all means laser focus…so why can’t Penny stay away from the one guy who ruins everything? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Praise for Jennifer's writing:

“I flew through this book. I was rooting for Audrey and the rest of Team USA the whole time—for their health, for their friendship, and of course for their gymnastics. Reading Break the Fall is the closest I’ve ever come to the thrill of competing at the Olympics—and I didn’t even have to do a single push-up to get here.” 
—Leila Sales, author of This Song Will Save Your Life

“Finding Her Edge captures the magic of a second-chance romance and tosses it into the pressure-cooker of world-class ice skating along with an irresistible combination of fake dating, family drama, and a shot at winning a life-changing gold. There is no one better than Jennifer Iacopelli when it comes to providing a realistic glimpse into the lives of elite athletes while crafting a romance chock full of heartbreak and hard work.”  
—Sarah Henning, author of It's All In How You Fall

Credit: Madison More

Jennifer Iacopelli writes about ambitious girls with big dreams. Her novels include Game, Set, Match; Break the Fall, and Finding Her Edge along with a co-edited anthology, Out of Our League. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and Finding Her Edge has been adapted for television by Netflix. As a high school librarian, she frolics all day with her students, books, and computers and writes at night while cheering on her beloved Yankees. 

Visit Jennifer online:
Website * Instagram * BlueSky

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here.

Giveaway ends February 10th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Island

By Becky Gulc

‘YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE CAPABLE OF UNTIL THEY COME FOR YOUR FAMILY.

After moving from a small country town to Seattle, Heather Baxter marries Tom, a widowed doctor with a young son and teenage daughter. A working vacation overseas seems like the perfect way to bring the new family together, but once they’re deep in the Australian outback, the jet-lagged and exhausted kids are so over their new mom.

When they discover a remote Dutch Island, off-limits to outside visitors, the family talks their way onto the ferry, taking a chance on an adventure far from the reach of iPhones and Instagram. But as soon as they set foot on the island, which is run by a tightly knit clan of locals, everything feels wrong. Then a shocking accident propels the Baxters from an unsettling situation into an absolute nightmare.

When Heather and the kids are separated from Tom, they are forced to escape alone, seconds ahead of their pursuers. Now it’s up to Heather to save herself and the kids, even though they don’t trust her, the harsh bushland is filled with danger, and the locals want her dead.

Heather has been underestimated her entire life, but she knows that only she can bring her family home again and become the mother the children desperately need, even if it means doing the unthinkable to keep them all alive.’ (Synopsis courtesy of Orion Books.)

I got hold of The Island without really knowing what to expect, other than a recommended thrilling read which was enough for me! Wow. This was indeed one of the most gripping books I’ve read in a long time. I’m sure I stopped breathing at multiple points, I was so on edge! From fairly early on the tension is up there and stays up there throughout, which can’t be easy to write. Every time you think things can’t get worse, they do.

As the synopsis outlines, the story follows a family holiday that goes suddenly and drastically wrong. I found myself whizzing through this novel as I just couldn’t put it down; the pace is fast and it’s just gripping. 

It does get quite gory in places so this won’t be for everyone if you’re squeamish. Whilst I wouldn’t want to read this kind of novel all the time, I found this okay and it added to the tension.

My only criticism is that after such an intense book, once everything came to a head, I was left wanting to know more about the aftermath – this seemed quite brief. 

The ‘island’ is truly claustrophobic and the whole novel felt very cinematic so it wasn’t a surprise to read this is being adapted and I look forward to watching it one day. This is a tense, fast-paced thriller that’s hard to put down and perfect if you’re in the mood for something dark and dramatic! 

More by Adrian McKinty:
The Chain
Fifty Grand 
Falling Glass

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Spotlight and Giveaway: It's Not Her

We're excited to celebrate the publication of Mary Kubica's latest thriller, It's Not Her! Mary is one of Melissa's go-to thriller authors and she has this at the top of her five-book pile. Thanks to HarperCollins, we have one copy to give away!

A scream shatters the silence…

Courtney Gray’s peaceful vacation turns into a nightmare when she discovers her brother and sister-in-law dead in their lakeside cottage. Her niece Reese is missing. Her nephew Wyatt is asleep upstairs—unharmed.

A town full of secrets…

As police swarm the quiet resort, dark truths about Courtney’s family—and the town itself—begin to surface. Is Reese a victim… or the killer?

A truth no one saw coming…

With everyone hiding something, Courtney races to uncover the terrible mystery. But the closer she gets, the harder it is to know who—or what—to trust. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

“A family vacation turns unspeakably grim. I relished every page. Tantalizing, terrifying and all too real. I couldn’t put it down.” 
—Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of She Didn’t See It Coming

“Compulsively readable and impossible to put down, this book starts with a bang and doesn't let up. It’s Not Her is both a terrifying, twisting thriller, and a glimpse into the heart of a family both before and after a tragedy. Mary Kubica is an absolute master of suspense!” 

—Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of You Belong Here

“A gripping thrill ride with razor sharp tension and a whiplash ending I never saw coming. Kubica is a masterful storyteller!” 

—Jeneva Rose, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Credit: Sarah Jastre

Mary Kubica is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of numerous suspense novels, including The Good Girl, Local Woman Missing, and Just the Nicest Couple. A former high school history teacher with degrees in History and American Literature from Miami University, she lives outside Chicago with her husband and two children. Her books—translated into over thirty languages and selling more than five million copies worldwide—have earned accolades from People, Kirkus Reviews, and the Chicago Tribune, and have been recognized by Goodreads, Amazon, and LibraryReads. (Bio adapted from Mary's website.)

Visit Mary online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here.

Giveaway ends February 8th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Murder at the Duomo

By Sara Steven

As the sticky heat of August settles over Florence, Dan Armstrong is ready for a well-earned break—sightseeing with fiancée Anna, daughter Tricia and her fiancé Shaun. But when a British man is found dead inside the city’s magnificent Duomo, Dan’s plans quickly change.

The victim, Tristan Angel, is a super-wealthy arms dealer with a saintly name and a devilish reputation. But what was he doing in the cathedral, and who decided to make it his final confession?

At Angel’s opulent villa in the hills of Fiesole, Dan and Commissario Virgilio encounter a colourful cast of suspects—each one hiding secrets and none too eager to talk. As tempers rise and the heat outside grows ever more intense, Dan and his four-legged sidekick, Oscar, must sniff out the truth before the killer strikes again. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Is this really the fourteenth book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery series? All of the books are great, with Murder at the Duomo yet another great addition. This time, the original plan for Dan is to spend some much-desired time with his daughter and daughter’s fiance, yet crime never stops for anything!

I like that the reader gets to learn a little bit more about Dan’s family. We’ve heard about Tricia, but it was nice to see more of her in this book, and learn that she’s engaged to be married. Dan is also engaged to Anna, which feels like it’s been a long time coming but well worth the wait. As per usual, Dan is called in to assist on a murder investigation, which is always an intricate, well-researched affair, but this time we’re given more roots to what makes Dan tick by learning more about his family. 

The synopsis mentions a colorful cast of suspects, and that is absolutely correct. Given the nature of the situation, no one can leave the villa or enter the villa, which really adds to the pressure of the environment for all of the characters involved. While reading Dan’s checklist, I follow along and create a list of my own, attempting to figure out who might be the culprit, no matter how far fetched it might be, and I found it fun that Dan also had some unbelievable ideas, especially when it involves those he knows who are closer to his neck of the woods. You never really know when an Armstrong and Oscar book is involved. 

One by one, suspects are removed, leaving behind the final answer, and as usual, it was the last person I suspected. Dan approaches his theories in a very methodical manner, and it works really well. Murder at the Duomo was a fun five-star addition to this series, and I look forward to many, many more!

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Kobo

T. A. Williams is the bestselling author of the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series. He studied languages at University and lived and worked in Italy for eight years, returning to England with his wife in 1972. T.A. and his wife now live in Devon.

Visit T.A. Williams online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram 

Sign up for his newsletter.

Visit all the stops on T.A. Williams' tour:

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Book Review: In Bloom

By Sara Steven

It's the mid-nineties, and in the small, shitty coastal town of Vincent, four girls - each hailing from single-mother, multi-sibling families, form a band. Friends since they were children, they consider themselves 'forgettable girls' - poor, not particularly clever, distracted at school, disengaged and disillusioned from the other kids, and desperate to escape the fates of their mothers, who seem locked into a life of minimum-wage jobs and domestic drudgery. Winning the Battle of the Bands is their ticket out - they might not have talent, but they can play three chords and scream until their vocal folds burst out of their throats - and nobody wants it more than them.

But when lead singer Lily Lucid quits, and accuses their idolized music teacher of sexual assault, the three remaining girls are left with nothing. They'll do anything to keep their dream alive, even if it means sacrificing school, Lily and their mothers. But how far out of control can they spin before there's no turning back? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

In Bloom took me back to my high school years; that time in my life when friendship was the lifeblood of everything, and adults were absolutely clueless. Despite the backdrop of this story, which takes place in small-town nowhere, and where I grew up (a thriving capital Pacific Northwest city) being vastly different, I could identify with this group of girls, because it felt very reminiscent of the types of scenarios I went through, too. 

I had my own girl group. We weren’t vying to win any prize and we weren’t budding musicians, but the majority of us had come from minimum-wage backgrounds and knew what it was like to struggle. I thought it was really interesting that for the majority of the book, the author makes the girls' voices one collective viewpoint, because it is so like that at the age of 14. There is no division from one to the other. Their goal is to win the Battle of the Bands and escape their lives and achieve something better. Something more than what they see when they look at their mothers with their deadbeat boyfriends. 

When their friend Lily quits the band and quits their collective friendship group, life begins to spiral. No adult can understand what they feel. They fight against bullying, against being ignored. Their music teacher was the only one who really “got it,” and when he’s accused of sexual assault, by Lily no less, there is no security in their future. A coveted friend is gone. An adult support system gone. When they stop showing up for school, for their parents, for their own lives, I could relate because I remember falling into similar patterns, all in an effort to escape the seriousness of my world. 

There is a turning point when the girls begin to see things for what they really are, and when that happens, no longer is there one collective viewpoint. We begin to see each character in the girl group for who they really are, with their own individual thoughts and feelings. They begin to delineate and in essence, grow up a little, even if it’s before their time and due to some scary circumstances that might have even made them mature faster than they should. The writing style was engaging and kept me focused, throwing in 90s songs that really brought me back to those angsty teen years that I never thought would end, but ended too abruptly. I'm a huge Nirvana fan, so I was thrilled to see so much focus--even the title of this book--on an alternative band that meant so much to me when I was a kid. And if you know the lyrics to the song "In Bloom," you know it was more than fitting. This was a five-star coming-of-age story and worth the read. 

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Spotlight and Giveaway: The Unwritten Rules of Magic

Today we are excited to feature Harper Ross's enchanting debut, The Unwritten Rules of Magic. Melissa loves surreal stories with magical realism and is excited to check this one out. Thanks to BookSparks, we have one copy to give away!

Emerson Clarke can’t remember a time when she felt in control. Her father—a celebrated author—was a chaotic force until he got Alzheimer’s. Her mother turned to gin. And recently, her teen daughter has shut her out without explanation. If only she could arrange reality the same way she controls the stories she ghostwrites, life could be perfect.

Or so she thinks.

After her father’s funeral, Emerson steals his vintage typewriter—the one he’d forbidden anyone to touch—and tests its keys by typing out a frivolous wish. When it comes true the very next day, she tries another. Then, those words also spring to life. Suddenly, she becomes obsessed with using the typewriter to rewrite happiness for herself and her daughter.

But the more she shapes her real-life, the more she uncovers disturbing truths about her family’s history and the unexpected cost of every story-come-true. She should destroy the typewriter, yet when her daughter’s secret finally emerges, Emerson is torn between paying the price for bending fate and embracing the uncertainty of an unscripted life. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

"Enchanting, thought-provoking and impossible to put down, Harper Ross’s debut will leave you looking for magic in everyday moments and thinking about the characters long after you turn the last page." 
―Ali Brady, USA Today bestselling author of Until Next Summer

"Brimming with reminders that family is worth fighting for, staying true to yourself is everything, and forgiveness goes a long way toward healing, Harper Ross has written a heartfelt, magical, memorable novel sure to captivate." 
―Heather Webber, USA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Café

"Poignant, thought-provoking, and cleverly rendered, this novel reminds us that while we can try to write what we believe is our perfect story, life often has other plans." 
―Patti Callahan Henry, The NYT Bestselling author The Secret Book of Flora Lea

Harper Ross has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with the dramatic story worlds in books and movies. After leaving her legal practice to raise her kids, she discovered her own creative side and began writing novels that explore friendship, family, and forgiveness. Because she also appreciates the magic in everyday life—from the spark of attraction to those serendipitous moments we all experience—you’ll find a dash of that in her work too. When she’s not at the keyboard, she’s likely to be singing badly in her car, dancing in her kitchen, or walking her adorable dog, Mo. She’s also a lucky wife and mother to a very patient and supportive family.

Visit Harper online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here.

Giveaway ends February 3rd at midnight EST.

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