Book Review: The Tango Chain

 

By Sara Steven

When newly retired teacher Taryn stumbles into the seductive world of the Argentine tango, the unexpected reappearance of her charismatic ex, Marc, threatens to unravel the stable life she’s built with steady, dependable Neil. As she spirals between exhilaration and self-destructive temptation, Taryn risks repeating the very mistakes she once swore she’d left behind.

Down the road, Rachel – clever, impulsive, and half Taryn’s age – is trapped in an affair with a married man she calls “Sam”. She knows he’s wrong for her. She knows the relationship is doomed, but Rachel can’t tear herself away. When Taryn, determined to save her from heartbreak, draws her into the tango scene, a truth erupts that leaves both of them reeling.

With their lives suddenly entwined, Taryn and Rachel must confront the illusions that have kept them illusions about love, about themselves and about the people they’ve placed on pedestals. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

The Tango Chain offered an interesting perspective from two characters who are at varying seasons in their life. Taryn is newly retired and feeling the onset of potential change in her life, particularly when Neil wants to move them to a slower-paced town, only adding to Taryn’s fears of aging. She doesn’t want to slow down or fall into what she feels are the patterns of other retirees, finding her youth again from learning the Argentine tango. Rachel is youth personified, still trying to find her way while falling desperately in love with a married man who she knows isn’t good for her, but she can’t seem to tear herself away from him. Dance class is a much-needed distraction, at least for the moment. 

The two women begin an unlikely kinship, with Taryn offering insight based on her own experiences, and Rachel giving Taryn as much room as she needs to rediscover who she is now that her life isn’t as structured or predictable. I appreciated how both characters share similarities when it comes to past traumas that bleed into the way they handle romance and relationships. I could identify with both, given the place I’m at now, in mid-life, and remembering my own tough times with love in my 20s. Taryn and Rachel share a lot more than they’d ever anticipate, which was a welcome surprise and one I didn’t really see coming. 

I liked how despite Taryn’s age, she wasn’t created to act her age. Or, what some people might deem as how she should be at her age. She’s wild and impulsive, with a lot of passion and heart within her. I could see why she fears settling down with Neil, concerned that doing so might mean she has to slow down. But even Rachel’s influence helps Taryn to see that taking time to enjoy the smaller moments doesn’t mean you have to slow down; it means you are making a conscious effort to really focus on life, bit by bit. We don’t do that near enough.

Rachel has a lot to learn and the reader is with her the whole way while she navigates what’s most important to her, often not prioritizing herself and her own needs in lieu of making others happy. At points in the story I wasn’t sure what choices either woman would make along the way, or what direction they’d go in when it comes to matters of the heart. Learning the truth and facing it head on seemed to really bring on character development and evolvement, which was an awesome thing to see for both. The Tango Chain was an enjoyable experience, for people who love dancing, or for anyone really who has ever been perplexed by love.   

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Troubador

Linda MacDonald is the author of five independently published novels: Meeting Lydia and the stand-alone sequels, A Meeting of a Different Kind, The Alone Alternative, The Man in the Needlecord Jacket, and The Tango Chain. They are all contemporary adult fiction, multi-themed, but with a focus on relationship issues. 

After studying psychology at Goldsmiths' London, Linda trained as a secondary science and biology teacher. She taught these subjects for several years before moving to a sixth-form college to teach psychology. In 2012, she retired from teaching to focus fully on writing.

Linda was born and brought up in Cockermouth, on the edge of the Lake District in Cumbria and after half a lifetime in south-east London, she moved to Weymouth where she lives with her husband and dog. 

Visit Linda online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Visit all the stops on Linda's blog tour:

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Double Feature Spotlight: New Christmas Novels

Get in your coziest pajamas and curl up with your comfiest blanket and a cup of hot cocoa for these two new Christmas rom-coms! 🎄

Are You Staying, Mandy Boyle? by Melanie Moore

Stuck in a dead-end job as a copyeditor, awaiting the next big layoff, Mandy Boyle’s life changes overnight when she wins a contest for a 100+ year old Vermont newspaper and the apartment over it. The only catch: She must run The Liberty Eagle for one year without selling it to a conglomerate. Only, Mandy soon learns the newspaper is in worse shape than she thought, and in a quaint small town where everyone knows everything about each other, this city girl must play catch-up quick lest she lose the reins over her avalanche-prone life. 

The town's bright side comes in the form of Greg Stewart, the mechanic next door who keeps trying to sell her snow tires and is very easy on the eyes. And with each passing day, Mandy feels her heart growing three times its size as she gets closer to the people in town… And closer to Greg. But how can two such guarded hearts ever fully fall for each other—especially when Mandy is so sure she’ll be leaving by the time next Christmas rolls around?

Melanie Moore lives in Columbus, Ohio, with a medium-sized dog who takes her for walks and keeps the backyard clear of squirrels, and a ten-year-old cat who worships his person (no, not Melanie). When she isn’t writing novels, Melanie does something called “internal communications” at a Fortune 100 company, which she claims isn’t quite as exciting as it sounds. Are You Staying, Mandy Boyle? is her first novel.

Visit Melanie online:
Website * Instagram * BlueSky

Holiday Rebound by Natasha Madison

When Chloe decided to surprise her boyfriend with a vacation, she never imagined he’d dump her instead. Two weeks before Christmas at that. Determined to not let the heartbreak dull her holiday spirit, Chloe—at the encouragement of her best friend—goes on the trip anyway. What else could go wrong? …. Everything, apparently. 

When she arrives to the most festive town on earth, Chloe learns her hotel has been overbooked and she’s been left out in the cold. Literally. So, when the hotel owner offers up a room at her cousin’s place, Chloe couldn’t have foreseen her roommate would the grumpy, surly, and oh so deliciously hot JB—owner of the town’s Christmas tree farm. Now the two of them just have to survive the coming weeks without tearing their hair out…or each other's clothes. 

Natasha Madison is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author who, when her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers aren’t flying across a keyboard writing, is in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her—in four-inch heels no less—in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her.

Visit Natasha online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok

Featured on behalf of Blackstone Publishing.

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Have tissues handy for Mara Williams' latest novel...plus a book giveaway

 

Credit: Kevin Neilson

We're pleased to welcome Mara Williams to CLC to talk about her latest novel, The Other Side of Starting Over! The premise sounds interesting, the cover is beautiful, and it's getting rave reviews. We enjoyed chatting with Mara about this novel and learning other fun things about her and we hope you will check out our interview. Thanks to Over the River PR, we have THREE copies to give away!

Mara Williams is the author of The Truth Is in the Detours (2025) and The Epicenter of Forever (Feb. 2026). She drafted her first novel in third grade on a spiral notebook—a story about a golden retriever and the stray dog who loved her. Now she writes novels about strong, messy women trying to find their way in the world. When not writing or reading, Mara can be found enjoying California’s beaches, redwoods, and trails with her husband, kids, and disobedient dog. For more information, visit Mara at her website and on Instagram. 

Synopsis:

After her husband’s sudden death, Beatrice Bell retreats to her childhood home in California’s Sierra mountains with her rebellious teenage twins in tow. Her plan is to take over her parents’ antique store, ensure it survives another generation, and build a new life from the rubble of the old one.

But Bea didn’t plan on Simon, the gruff store manager with his own ambitions for the business. As they’re forced to work together, animosity gives way to grudging respect and ignites an unexpected spark. Before Bea can find her footing, everything is upended. First by River, a local boy who bears a striking resemblance to her late husband. Then by her estranged mother-in-law, who reveals devastating secrets that will test everything Bea believed about her marriage.

As Bea navigates grief, betrayal, and an unexpected connection with Simon, she finds that it may be possible to begin again, but only if she confronts the truth of her past.

“Honest, tender, and the best kind of complicated—I loved every page of Simon and Bea’s unexpected love story. As always, Mara Williams balances difficult family dynamics, complex grief, and full-bodied romance with charm and style.” 

—Lauren Okie, author of Tropesick

“This book is a resonant reminder that while we can’t change the hand we’ve been dealt or outrun our old lives, we can give our past a safe space to live on inside us, and find comfort in the love of people whose baggage fits right beside ours.” 

—Ellen O’Clover, author of The Heartbreak Hotel

“Mara Williams is an auto-buy, drop-everything-to-read author for me, and this story about family, grief, and a second chance at love is nothing short of spectacular.” 

—Isabelle Engel, author of Most Eligible

What is a favorite compliment you received on your writing?
It feels pretty dark to admit that my favorite compliment is hearing that my writing made a reader cry, but there is no better feeling than to invoke strong emotions. Even better is when I receive messages from readers who say that my books helped them process issues they were facing in their real lives. As a reader, I have been given so much wisdom and solace from good books by way of an escape, a catharsis, or a method of processing pain, loss, or love. It is such an honor to hear that my books have done the same thing for a reader. It feels like paying the gift forward.

How is Bea similar to or different from you?
My daughter recently read an advanced copy of The Other Side of Starting Over. She’s an avid reader but admitted she has to dissociate when reading my books to pretend that I am not the author. However, she said she got to a particular section and realized there was no way to deny that I had written it. So, I think I’m more like Bea than I recognized at first. She mentioned that I’m similar as a mom; I worry about my kids’ happiness, and I aim to give them as much autonomy as possible while desperately trying to protect them from the cruelty of the world. I also hope to be as forgiving as Bea and strive to recognize the nuance in people just as she is able to do. However, I am more concerned with being polite especially in professional settings. I also readily rely on friends and family to process whatever is happening in my life; if I were going through what Bea was facing, I would be confiding in my best friend and sisters.

If The Other Side of Starting Over was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I don’t face cast while writing, so this is always a difficult question for me. But I think Emmy Rossum would play an excellent Beatrice. She’d be able to pull off her hard edges and soft center quite well, and Paul Anthony Kelly would make a pitch-perfect Simon.

Which book made you fall in love with reading?
I don’t remember ever not loving to read. My mom was a preschool teacher and would bring home signed author copies of beloved classic picture books, and I was so proud when I could read them myself. Once I was able to read chapters books, I became obsessed. My grandma would take a weekly trip to the library, collecting stacks of books, and I would sit next to her and read my Sweet Valley High series. From there, I jumped straight to adult books. I was obsessed with Mary Higgins Clark and Maeve Binchy, but I was always hunting for the love story at the heart of every book. I’m sure that if my grandma had been a fan of romance instead of mysteries, I would have abandoned all my responsibilities and never left my reading chair.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
My dream narrator would be Jennifer Lawrence. I love her candor and wit and think she could bring the perfect satirical, observational voice to the narrative.

If we were to visit you, what are some places you'd take us to see?
I’m a native Californian, so I am surrounded and spoiled by so many beautiful places. I’d immediately take you to the coastal redwoods for a hike to admire the majestic trees. Muir Woods is one of my favorite spots, but there are some lesser-known trails that aren’t as crowded and boast gorgeous views as well. I’d want to visit a few of the beach towns including Carmel, Santa Cruz, Capitola, and Half Moon Bay to explore the coastline and shop at the locally owned shops, bookstores, and cafes. We’d have to take in the sunset over the Pacific and grab food at an outdoor restaurant by the water. No trip to Northern California is complete without seeing the Golden Gate Bridge. It really is as beautiful as the postcards. Finally, we’d take the San Francisco Ferry to the North Bay to enjoy the views along the bay and visit the quaint waterfront towns in Marin.

Thanks to Mara for visiting with us and to Over the River PR for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends November 15th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Revenge Plot

By Jami Denison

Ask any writer and they’ll tell you that trying to break into traditional publishing is harder than ever. Too many writers chasing too few agents who are only looking for books they can pitch in a few words. Too many publishers who only want writers who are already TikTok stars. And what about AI? 

While all writers are readers, most readers are not writers, so it’s puzzling that publishing is so enamored of plots featuring writers. Do books about stolen manuscripts really make that much money? The latest author to set her thriller in the world of publishing is Stephanie Wrobel (I reviewed her debut, Darling Rose Gold, in 2020). Her new book, Revenge Plot, features a deranged writer who’s willing to do anything to get his manuscript in the hands of a powerful agent. Its snowy, isolated location initially makes the book feel like a Misery clone. But Wrobel has a lot more twists up her sleeve. 

Literary agent Claudia Conley planned on spending Christmas alone at an isolated Catskills AirBnB. But when Arnie Tenderton and his young son crash into a tree right in front of her house, she has no choice but to let them in out of the snow while they wait for a tow truck. At first, things are warm and cozy. Claudia cooks dinner and sympathizes with Arnie’s plight as a widower. But as the conversation develops, Arnie reveals he knows just who Claudia is—and is angry that she rejected his novel. After she slips and hits her head, Claudia wakes to find herself tied up and forced to read Arnie’s novel. 

And the reader is, too. (Not the tied-up part.)

The book-within-a-book concept threw me a little, but soon I became just as engrossed by Arnie’s protagonist as I was with Wrobel’s. When Claudia shows up as a major character in Arnie’s book, it becomes clear that Arnie’s goal isn’t just to get published. 

While Arnie and Claudia are both seriously flawed protagonists, Neve, the heroine of Arnie’s book, is not flawed (although she’s a little unbelievable), and I read her story with a developing sense of dread over her fate. There are two good twists in the book—one I predicted, and the other I did not. The storytelling is fast-paced and the prose easily accessible. The ending is pitch perfect. I read the book in a single day. 

Will Revenge Plot appeal to readers who aren’t writers? It definitely should. But there are certain elements—such as Claudia’s speech about how the industry wouldn’t exist without writers—that will resonate especially to those who have been ignored by agents, ghosted on fulls, died on submission, and dropped by publishers. 

Revenge is a dish best served chilled. 

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

Also by Stephanie Wrobel:
The Hitchcock Hotel
This Might Hurt

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Book Review: Murder in Bologna

By Sara Steven

Bologna, Italy's happiest city - or is it?

A grieving father asks Dan to uncover the truth behind the death of his gifted son, a student at Bologna's prestigious Art Institute. Accompanied by his loyal Labrador, Oscar, Dan heads north from Florence to investigate.

Still life or still death?

The student's former girlfriend is consumed by grief and the Art Institute is mourning one of its brightest talents. But beneath the surface, Dan senses that someone is hiding the truth.

(Artistic) license to kill?

Doing a favour for his friend, Commissario Virgilio Pisano of the Florence murder squad, Dan soon finds himself caught up in the shady world of drug dealing, organised crime and fraud on a grand scale.

A paintbrush with death.

When the killer strikes again, Dan faces one of his toughest cases yet. With Officer Oscar's nose for trouble, he must catch the murderer before it's too late. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I know I always say that the latest book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery series is my favorite–but, I really mean it, every time! I thoroughly enjoyed Murder in Bologna. I think it was due to the more unique plotline, with Dan investigating a potential murder that has been deemed a suicide. There was a heavier emotional component, but with many of the same systematic research tools that Dan often uses at his disposal, to find out what truly happened to Luca, a young man who had given no clues to anyone that would signify a suicide.

There are plenty of suspects, which is often the case for Dan and Oscar, with possibilities ranging from the ex-girlfriend, to fellow classmates, to instructors and even those who could potentially have mafia affiliations. And Dan can’t rule out the possibility that Luca is at the center of it all. In the end, it’s never the answer you thought it might be, as suspects and scenarios are knocked out, one by one, until the real true answer is left standing. I felt that Oscar really stepped up his game, too. In other books in the series, he’s often coming to Dan’s rescue in the nick of time, but this go around he truly was an investigative sidekick, adding even more to the outcome, all in the name of justice.

While all books for T.A. Williams includes gorgeous scenery, the foodie in me fell in love with the delicious meals and eateries mentioned in Murder in Bologna. During his investigations, Dan will often make pit stops for lunch, Oscar at his feet, enjoying the best Italian delicacies. For years I’ve said that I want to go and see such sights for myself, and now that those plans are coming more to fruition for me (a 50th birthday trip still in the works for next year), I know I’ll be thinking about the scenery and food mentioned, comparing Dan’s experiences to my own.

The eventual truth, once revealed, was satisfying and made sense. There was no link left unhitched, every connection leading to what really happened to Luca. It really is the best addition to the series so far, worthy of the five-stars I’ve given it!

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * B&N

Author Bio (in his own words) – I’m a man. And a pretty old man as well. I studied languages at Nottingham University a long time ago and then lived and worked in France and Switzerland before going to work in Italy for seven years. My Italian wife and I then came back to the UK with our little daughter (now long-since grown up) where I ran a big English language school for many years. We now live in a sleepy little village in Devonshire. I’ve been writing almost all my life but it was only 13 years ago that I finally managed to find a publisher who liked my work enough to offer me my first contract.

I started off writing romances but after 28 of them, I knew I wanted to try something different, and so the first of the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mysteries, Murder in Tuscany, was born three years ago. I’ve been having a lot of fun ever since getting to know the dynamic duo (and introducing them to people all over the world). These books are cosy crime [a genre I didn't even know existed when I started writing them). They are murder mysteries, but not gory, over-violent stuff, but stories designed to exercise the brain of the reader and to put a smile on their face. Maybe it’s because there are so many horrible things happening in the world today that I feel I need to do my best to provide something to cheer my readers up. My books provide escapism to some gorgeous locations all over my beloved Italy.

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

Sign up for his newsletter.

More by T.A. Williams:

What Happens in Devon

Never Too Late

Under a Siena Sun

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Count on Emily Stone for a great holiday rom-com...plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to have Emily Stone back at CLC today to talk about her latest novel, Counting Down to You. Like her previous novels, this is also a Christmas rom-com. Emily had a lot to say in response to our questions and we hope you enjoy reading her answers. Thanks to Random House, we have THREE copies up for grabs, to get you into an early holiday mood! (Then again, doesn't the Christmas season start now anyway?)

Emily Stone is the author of six festive romance novels, including Always, in December and One Last Gift. Her novels have been translated into eleven languages. Emily has lived in many places over the years, including London, Wales, Cornwall, Germany and Mozambique—before finally settling down in Bristol in the UK, where she spends most of her free time with her two rescue ponies. Emily Stone is the pen name for Becky Hunter. She writes speculative romance under her own name and is also one half of co-author duo Ellis Hunter, whose debut fantasy romance Blood Bound was published in 2026. (Bio courtesy of Amazon.)

Visit Emily on Facebook and Instagram.

Synopsis:
Ali has always loved Christmas, but this year she doesn’t think she’ll make it through. Christmas was always her and her best friend Robyn’s holiday: Every year, they exchanged Advent calendars filled with challenges. Tell the hot guy at the coffee shop you like him. Delete your ex’s number. Throw out the bathroom scales.

But this Christmas, Robyn is gone, because she didn’t get the heart transplant she needed.

There is one last calendar, though—given to Ali before Robyn died, with a promise to open it in December.

The first challenge sends Ali to the Alps, where she takes a seasonal job at the ski lodge that she and Robyn had planned to visit together. But when another challenge leads her co-workers to think she’s dating her boss—the stoic, seriously hot Leo—things get complicated.

To save her embarrassment, Leo agrees to play along. As Ali spends more time with him, she realizes that he’s grieving, too. And as he helps her complete Robyn’s challenges, she starts to wonder if their fake relationship could become something real.

But the truth behind Leo’s grief could bring them closer . . . or tear them apart for good. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"An emotional, heartfelt story." - Booklist

What is one thing you'd tell the debut novelist version of yourself?
There will be ups and downs - and that's ok! There can be a lot of panicking and stress when you're trying to carve out a career as a writer - worrying about whether this book will sell, whether you'll find readers, whether you're any good, whether you'll get another book deal... and I think knowing that it's ok for there to be peaks and troughs along the way helps a lot! 
 
What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing Counting Down to You?
I loved coming up with the challenges that Robyn sets Ali in the advent calendar - I knew what these were all going to be before I started writing, so seeing these come to life on the page was so rewarding and fun. Leo, on the other hand, was a little bit harder. He has his own secrets and reservations, which guides a lot of his behaviour towards Ali, and because we don't get his point of view in this novel, I had to walk the line between letting him have his secrets and making sure it was clear to the reader, if not to Ali, how he feels about her... It was something I had to work on in the edits, and I hope I've done him justice in the finished book!
 
If Counting Down to You were made into a movie, which songs would you put on the soundtrack?
Oh I always find this so hard! I think I'd include "Fade Into You" by Mazzy Star, 'Champagne Problems" by Taylor Swift, "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol, "Belong Together" by Mark Ambor and "Like A Prayer" by Madonna - for a very specific reason! And obviously there would be some of the Christmas classics thrown in too!
 
Share a favorite winter holiday memory.
Trying to answer this is making me wonder if I have a terrible memory! The one I'm coming back to is a quieter memory - I lived with my sister and her two kids for a couple of years during the pandemic, to help out with childcare and because I was moving back to England from Mozambique and didn't have anywhere to live! It was Christmas morning, and I was sleeping on a mattress on the floor in the spare room as it didn't have a proper bed, and I remember my nieces knocking super early and creeping into my room holding their stockings. They'd come to wake me up first on Christmas morning and were so excited about the day. I don't have kids, so it was so fun to have little people waking me up and feeling their excitement, and I loved spending the morning with them drinking coffee and watching them open presents!

Which book made you fall in love with reading?
Oh so many - and I always find it really difficult to remember what book I started with, because I read back to back when I was growing up. I remember reading Eragon by Christopher Paolini and choosing not to go out with friends and stay home and read, and I loved The Northern Lights series so much that I carried all three books backpacking around Australia when I was 18, just so I could keep rereading them... 
 
What is the last thing you had a good laugh about?
I'm actually very easy to make laugh! I'm a very emotional person, but that works in my favour when it comes to comedy shows... I think probably the last thing was something to do with my little dog, who is a Pug x Pomeranian rescue dog, and has a very silly little face. She makes me laugh most days doing something or other - this morning she was playing with a puppy, and she has a very weird way of playing doing lots of spins, so I was laughing watching that! 

Thanks to Emily for chatting with us and to Random House for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends November 10th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Set Your Life on Fire

By Melissa Amster

After ditching her cheating husband, Tasha Jensen packs her bags, cleans out their joint account, and heads for Chicago’s O’Hare Airport to catch the next flight to LA. There, falling apart and with the airport grounded by an ice storm, Tasha meets the annoyingly optimistic Carter McGee, who’s traveling to stop his ex-wife’s wedding. With time running out, they hit the road in a sketchy rental van for a chaotic seventeen-hundred-mile road trip.

Two heartbroken strangers rushing together toward the unknown—what could go wrong? Maybe everything. Between breakdowns, both automotive and emotional, arguments, and sleeplessness, they find an unlikely connection—as well as the floofiest Pomeranian puppy. Cheering them on is Carter’s matchmaking grandmother Bootsie, whose California beachfront motel is a nurturing haven for feisty, colorful, and opinionated women of a certain age.

It’s the perfect place for Tasha and Carter to take a breather and perhaps let go of the past—but can they learn to trust themselves again? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I always enjoy a Maddie Dawson novel and was excited to get an early look at her latest, Set Your Life on Fire. 

This novel was absolutely delightful in so many ways! It was definitely quirky at times. The banter was entertaining and I loved Tasha, Carter, Bootsie, and the LaLas. Also, we can't forget about Connie. The story was full of fun and interesting surprises and I was never sure where things would end up going, which kept it from being predictable. Everything was easy to visualize, as well. I found myself laughing out loud right away and smiling throughout. 

I don't want to say too much else so as to not spoil anything. My only concern, if you can call it that, is that the road trip ended too quickly. The story still kept going, but I wouldn't have minded more wild adventures. I will say that I'd love to stay at an inn like the one Bootsie owned. It seemed like so much fun!

You will want to get your hands on this novel when it releases next week! I already can't wait to see what Maddie comes up with next.

(Trigger warnings below. May contain spoilers.)

Movie casting suggestions:

Tasha: Haley Lu Richardson

Carter: Nick Robinson

Mark: Thomas Mann

Pammy: Oona Roche

Bootsie: Andrea Martin

Thanks to Lake Union for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Maddie Dawson:
Let's Pretend This Will Work
Snap Out of It
Matchmaking for Beginners

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TW: Cancer. Infidelity. Physical violence (small amount). Attempted robbery.