Book Review: Class Action

By Sara Steven

Third year law student Lennon Gallagher’s life turns from complicated to overwhelming when she receives a message meant for someone else. The text offers an advance copy of a final exam—a guaranteed “A”—but accepting it will violate the honors code she refuses to break. When Lennon declines, the collaborators behind the cheating scheme demand her silence or they will ensure she takes the fall if necessary.

Fighting for her future while balancing an internship, exams, studying for the bar, a boyfriend who no longer seems to understand her, and a mother who needs help rebuilding her life after prison, Lennon tries to handle everything alone. But when she discovers the lead plaintiff in her firm’s class action lawsuit might be the father she’s never known, it’s the final straw. She needs help.

With the support of her friend and mentor, attorney Miranda Quinn, Lennon must navigate betrayal, legal intrigue, and personal discovery. As one relationship unravels, another blossoms in this gripping story of resilience, secrets, and second chances. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Having read Gail Ward Olmsted’s Miranda Fights (reviewed here), I was eager to check out Lennon’s story and her perspective in Class Action. Even though she’s a character and not a real-life individual, I still felt pride in seeing just how far she’s come, with holding down her internship, employment, and studying for the bar–all while coming from a past that was riddled with chaos. 

The two varying storylines, with Lennon’s need to research into who her biological father might be, as well as getting set up to take the fall for a cheating scandal at college, really was riveting and meshed well together, despite how polar opposite the storylines might be. With both scenarios, the need to determine who she can trust becomes a necessity, considering how often she’s been let down in the past. The only person who is her constant is Miranda. I love the relationship between the two women. It is obvious that Miranda is her chosen family, and someone she can frequently call upon for help or assistance when she needs a second opinion. 

The situation surrounding the cheating scandal becomes downright scary. It gets to be next level when there are verbal threats and even physical ones, all in an effort to keep Lennon quiet. She’s caught in a tough situation, due to her status at the school and the offender’s background–their family is college legacy, while Lennon’s family (her mother) has been prison bound. Her background is used against her as a means of ensuring she goes along with the scandal, and Lennon has to find a way to fight against the obstacles thrown at her so she can come out of the situation as unscathed as possible.

Could the lead plaintiff be her father? And, is there any way she can survive the cheating charges that have been brought against her? Just like in Miranda Fights, Lennon shows a lot of grit and determination in order to get ahead without having to do the wrong thing to get there. Having come from a background where my life might have been entirely different had I chosen the same path as the majority of my maternal family members had, I could completely relate to Lennon’s struggle to remain bonded to a mother even though her mother is no good for her. Class Action was an exciting, inspiring experience, a definite five-star read! 

Thanks to Gail Ward Olmsted for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Gail Ward Olmsted:
Miranda Writes
Miranda Nights
Jeep Tour

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Stephanie Burns is on our A-list...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

I'm so excited to help Stephanie Burns celebrate the publication of her debut novel, Far from the A-List (reviewed here)! I've known Stephanie for a while through the book blogosphere and she is always so nice and friendly. She has the cutest beagle and I love seeing the pictures she posts of him. I couldn't be happier for Stephanie as she embarks on this new journey in her life and hope she'll be writing more novels soon. She's here to talk about her novel today and she has one copy for a lucky reader!

Stephanie Burns holds an MFA in Creative Writing and a BA in Theater Studies, both from Emerson College. When she’s not dreaming up stories of her own, she is championing women authors as the COO of the award-winning Tall Poppy Writers. She lives on the south shore of Massachusetts where she plots by the ocean with her almost-famous beagle, Ollie Twist. 

Visit Stephanie online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:

Former child star Michaela Turner is ready for her next big role—she just doesn’t know what it is yet. As someone whose days were once filled with bright lights, never-ending rehearsals, and adoring fans from around the world, Michaela now struggles to define herself beyond the glitz and glamour of her past.

She tries hard to stay out of the tabloids, but fading into the background isn’t quite as easy as it sounds. Not when her manipulative momager, Caroline, is dead set on launching her daughter’s big comeback, no matter how many old wounds it tears open. And especially not when Michaela’s attempts at “normal” relationships fail spectacularly at every turn, from the toxic ex she can’t seem to escape to the nice guy she wishes she could see a future with.

As her mother’s demands grow more draining and her love life takes hit after hit, she learns a few hard truths about the significance of self-worth and the beauty of letting go. Now, with her ex-boyfriend-turned-best-friend Josh as her only support, Michaela is ready to rebuild herself, one misstep at a time. And maybe, if she’s lucky, after all these years of pretending, she’ll finally have the chance to discover who she really is. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“This is a soul-satisfying, all-the-feels debut from a standout new voice!”
—Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer of Songbirds

“This book has everything I love: brilliantly drawn characters, great dialogue, wit, humor, and heartbreak--and twists and turns that kept me reading far into the night. Now that I've finished it, I want to read it again.”
—Maddie Dawson, Washington Post bestselling author of Let's Pretend This Will Work

“Get ready for a fresh new voice in fiction! This is a must read if you’ve ever asked the question: Are there second chances for everyone or only the people who don’t make mistakes?”
—Ann Garvin, USA TODAY bestselling author of There's No Coming Back From This

In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like for you?
Long, challenging, exciting, and totally worth it.

How is Michaela similar to or different from you?
Michaela has been famous since she was seven, is constant tabloid fodder, and gets paid to party at the hottest clubs in New York. I’m a homebody who wears matching pajamas with my dog, and we're usually in those pajamas by six p.m., so on the surface? We’re starkly different. Still, I can definitely relate to many aspects of her emotional journey. Haven’t we all had times where we’ve felt a little lost or stuck without a clear idea of how to move forward? Fortunately, I have a much better support system and zero public scrutiny. I would love to raid Michaela’s wardrobe, though, and I think she’d let me. We’ve grown very close. 

If Far from the A-List was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
These characters have been in my brain for so long, it’s hard to answer! I do think Kaia Gerber or Camila Morrone would be a great Michaela. 

Tell us a funny winter holiday memory.
I put on a very elaborate production of A Christmas Carol in the kitchen with my cousins when I was about four years old. I kept running “off stage” (ie, into the living room) so my cousin could feed me my lines. I was bit by the acting bug, though.

What is your favorite winter holiday song?
"Last Christmas" by Wham! I am a huge George Michael fan. I saw him in concert for his 25 Live tour and it’s still one of the best shows I’ve ever been to.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
Mindy Kaling. I feel like she’d get me. 

Thanks to Stephanie for chatting with us and for sharing her book with our readers.

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 December 14th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Seeing Other People

Morgan is being ghosted by her ex. No, really. It’s sad Zach died and became a ghost. But Morgan and Zach only ever went on the one date, and now she’s being haunted by him. Zach has no desire to spend eternity with Morgan, but he can’t recall his past and doesn’t know how to move on.

At a support group for humans and their haunters, Morgan and Zach run into Sawyer, whose fiancée-turned-ghost has started to fade. Unlike Morgan, Sawyer isn’t ready to part ways with his ghost. Although they face opposite issues, Morgan and Sawyer decide to work together to solve their problems.

As Morgan and Sawyer try to solve their paranormal conundrums together, they find something even more surprising—a tender, growing affection between them that threatens any unfinished business they’re seeking to close. The ghosts of their past might be there in spirit, but the connection between Morgan and Sawyer is as alive as anything they’ve ever felt. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Allyson Bales:

I really enjoyed this ghostly rom com and can safely say it’ll definitely be one of my favorite romances of the year. 

I had a baby in August and have been struggling to focus on reading due to the newborn sleepless bubble but once I picked up this book I knew right away it was going to be SO good. 

I love the way this story begins. You get to meet Morgan, a main character that I loved from the very start, saying her house is haunted. Cue Zach, another character I loved, that Morgan went on one date with that is now unable to move on due to some unfinished business.  Only Morgan can see him and I really loved their dynamic. He “haunts” Morgan in some really hilarious and interesting ways. Together they meet Sawyer who has Kennedy. I’m not going to give any of that away but just know you’ll love them too. 

What I also really loved about this story is the exploration of so many important themes especially grief. All of the characters in this story are struggling with loss in some way and the way they navigate it and support one another really gave the story so much heart. 

I loved the dual POV and really recommend the audio of this one. Brittany Pressley and Dan Bittner narrate and the way they brought the story to life was so enjoyable. I love when an audiobook makes laundry enjoyable and Brittany and Dan did that with this one for sure!

I highly recommend this one! Get your hands on it as soon as you can! 

Melissa Amster:

This is my first experience reading one of Emily and Austin's novels, and I would read more by them for sure! I was drawn to this one because of my obsession with Ghosts (in fact, I just started a holiday book involving a ghost) and because of the retro looking cover that I totally can't stop looking at. 

Seeing Other People was an interesting story that kept me turning the pages. It started off with Zach making all sorts of trouble, as a ghost, for Morgan to deal with while getting ready for a date. He scared her roommate off and then made her extra late for her date, which caused the new guy to cancel. Then we're taken to see Sawyer's life and how secluded he is with just the ghost of his fiancée for company. She pushes him to go to a support group for people who are haunted, which is where he meets Morgan. Then things take off from there. 

There were a bunch of things I enjoyed about this story. The budding (Morgan is a gardener, so I just had to go there) chemistry between Morgan and Sawyer is enjoyable to see. I also really liked Zach and had fun learning more about him while Morgan and Sawyer were trying to help him find closure. Zach needs his own book, like a prequel to this one. And while I'm not a fan of gardening, Morgan made it sound enjoyable. The descriptions of settings and people made everything really easy to visualize. There were some sweet and heartwarming moments throughout, as well as some funny ones, all which I appreciated.

The pacing felt slow at times, but then would pick up. I had to wonder where the story was going and I appreciated the mystery element of trying to figure out what the ghosts really wanted. I wish Kennedy had been more involved in the story the way Zach was. I also was confused at one point when they said Zach couldn't touch things, even though it seemed like he was always manipulating physical objects. Was he a telekinetic ghost? Finally, Morgan's biggest personal issue didn't feel compelling enough for me, especially since it seemed like her parents were supporting her inability to commit to things and people.

Overall, it was a worthwhile read. If you're into supernatural and paranormal stories, be sure to check it out!

Movie casting suggestions:
Morgan: Rachel Sennott
Sawyer: Joshua Orpin
Zach: Luke Benward
Kennedy: Lauren LaVera

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

More by Emily and Austin:

Do I Know You?

The Roughest Draft

Book Boyfriend

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Book Review: The Great Forgotten

By Sara Steven

July 4, 1918, Nashville, Tennessee. Even as the war in Germany drones on, patriotism swells at home. There are celebrations, music, and dancing. But for five men—one train engineer, one porter, one salesman, one farmer, and one thief—the world will soon take a terrible and tragic turn. 

Summer, 1988. Ginny Campbell is a young woman unsure of her marriage and her future. Moving into a new house, she finds an old, abandoned trunk filled with carefully wrapped memorabilia, photos, and a woman’s name. Intrigued, she sets out to uncover the mystery of the steamer trunk, leading her on a sweeping journey of love and loss that stretches back to 1918.

Inspired by a true event. The great train wreck near Nashville on July 9, 1918, when two passenger trains collided due to human error, was a horrific disaster that killed over 100 people and injured hundreds more. The Great Forgotten is a gripping tale of five men whose lives were intertwined that fateful day and the ripple effect of this little-known American tragedy on the woman who knew them all. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I didn’t know about the great train wreck near Nashville, not until my experience with reading The Great Forgotten. I thought the use of history behind this event and creating a story around it was really clever and unique, and it showed in the two timelines that are portrayed for Anna Mae and Ginny. The story begins with an abandoned trunk that is found in Ginny’s home, giving her the opportunity to trace it to Anna Mae. From there, the two women forge a bond through memories and time, with Anna Mae recalling everything she can remember from 1918, and Ginny hanging on for every recollection.

The reader is right there with her. I love how invested Ginny is, and it was easy for me to feel that way, too, given all that happens for and to Anna Mae. 1918 was a tumultuous time given World War I, only amplified by the countdown of what’s to come, the inevitable tragedy. The story is told in various perspectives from characters who are based on people who were part of the great train wreck, feeling like a paid homage to the individuals who really went through it. 

While Ginny is learning more about Anna Mae and the significance of the items within the trunk, she’s also dealing with some pretty life altering situations in her personal world. She isn’t sure of who she is, who she’ll be, or who she will be with, gaining a lot more insight while listening to the choices Anna Mae had made, even amidst dark times. Towards the end of the book, some of the questions Ginny had are finally answered, the reveals pretty shocking and some it had come as a complete surprise to me. But it all made sense and fit in well with the slow build up to the end.

Something I’ve always appreciated about a good story is how it doesn’t always have to end up as a happily-ever-after scenario; the best stories aren’t always buttoned up that way. Sometimes, it’s in not getting exactly what a character wanted that they end up discovering what they really needed, and I could see that a lot for Ginny. Anna Mae was proof of that, too. The Great Forgotten is a great re-telling of an event that many of us know little about, but after reading about it through the eyes of the main characters, we’ll all want to know more. It was a great five-star experience!

Thanks to K.L. Murphy for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by K.L. Murphy:
Her Sister's Death
Detective Callie Forde Mysteries
Detective Cancini Mysteries

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Lana Ferguson shows us a howling good time...plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to welcome Lana Ferguson to CLC today to talk about her latest rom-com, The Mating Game. This novel is different from some of the others we have featured, as it is paranormal. It sounds like a wild ride and, thanks to Berkley, we're excited to share a copy with you!

Lana Ferguson is a sex-positive nerd whose works never shy from spice or sass. A faded Fabio cover found its way into her hands at fifteen, and she’s never been the same since. When she isn’t writing—you can find her randomly singing show tunes, arguing over which Batman is superior, and subjecting her friends to the extended editions of Lord of the Rings. Lana lives mostly in her own head, but can sometimes be found chasing her corgi through the coppice of the great American outdoors.

Lana hopes to give the world all sorts of sexy stories between two dummies sharing a single brain cell—but until then: practice safe text, use commas. (Bio courtesy of Amazon.)

Visit Lana online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:

Contractor Tess Covington has spent her entire life as a regular non-shifter human, so after she lands in the Denver ER with flu-like symptoms, it comes as a complete shock to be told that, no, she’s not sick—she’s actually a late-presenting omega wolf shifter. With her family in dire financial straits and a contract for her own television show on the line, she can’t afford not to complete the renovation job she came for. And given that her newly emerged wolf is in danger of going into heat, she’ll just have to do her best to follow the doctor’s advice to keep away from alpha shifters.

Alpha wolf Hunter Barrett has spent most of his adult life living by a routine, and a big part of that involves staying clear of omegas after having one stomp on his heart. So when the tiny contractor shows up at his place smelling like the one thing he’s determined to avoid, he thinks it must be some sort of cosmic joke. But with his lodge on the verge of failing and this sweet-smelling omega his only hope to turn things around . . . he’s left with few other options than to grin and bear it.

Set on avoiding each other as much as possible, they find things unexpectedly starting to heat up between them enough to thaw even the frostiest of hearts. Though even with the pair going head over paws for each other, there’s no changing that their fling has an expiration date. The more time they spend together, the more they realize they’re playing a dangerous game—one where the only thing on the line is their hearts

"Ferguson weaves together a light romance with lots of steam… Fans of creature romances, snowed-in tropes, and grumpy-sunshine dynamics will love this take on werewolf romance."

—Booklist

“A book that will wolfishly appeal to the most heated fans of [the] omegaverse.”

—Kirkus

What is a favorite compliment you've received on your writing? 

This one’s hard because my brain doesn’t tend to store compliments on the hard drive, but I love when people call my books “feel good” reads because that’s the only goal I really have when writing—to make someone feel good. 
 
How is Tess similar to or different from you? 

Honestly, Tess is very different than me. She’s far more independent; I require lots of handholding to get anything done. I also can barely hold a hammer. I’d love to be her when I grow up. 
 
If The Mating Game was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading role? 

I’ll never say no to a bearded Henry Cavill; he’s pretty much the star of my of my fan casts. For Tess, I think Daisy Edgar-Jones would be fantastic. 

What is your favorite winter holiday movie? 

The Holiday! Peak Jude Law. 

 
What is your favorite winter holiday tradition? 

I’m kind of a bear in spirit, so I love when it gets really cold and I can spend lazy mornings in bed under a pile of blankets. If someone brings me hot tea while I’m there I’ll pretty much never leave.  

What is your favorite winter holiday snack? 

My grandmother makes Chex mix rolled in peanut butter, chocolate and powdered sugar. We call it Scooby Snacks, and it’s delicious. 

Thanks to Lana for chatting with us and to Berkley for sharing her book with our readers.

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 December 9th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Everyone in the Group Chat Dies

By Jami Denison

One thing that separates the older generations from the younger ones is all the different ways Millennials and Gen Zers have for contacting each other. As a wizened GenXer, I have no idea why it’s so important to have WhatsApp, Signal, and all the messaging apps that Apple or Google provide. What are you all talking about?

In L.M. Chilton’s follow-up to his breakout novel Swiped (reviewed here; title changed to Don't Swipe Right), a group chat among flatmates in a small English town keeps these Gen Z strangers connected. With the title Everyone in the Group Chat Dies, the plot points are telegraphed. But the book is a great mixture of Chilton’s trademark humor, generational angst, and suspense.

Narrated in the first person by Kirby Cornell, a once-aspiring journalist now working at a tropical resort, the action kicks off with the title message in the flatmates’ group chat. The sender is Esme, who briefly roomed with Kirby, Seema, Dave, and Dylan in their crummy flat in tiny rural Crowhurst. Only Esme died a year ago. So who is really sending these threatening texts? And who will be the first to die?

The action goes back to the prior year, when Esme first showed up in the apartment. A star on a TikTok-like platform, Esme specialized in investigating old crimes. Thirty years ago in Crowhurst, a man stabbed several people to death, then jumped off a cliff. Esme is convinced that the killer is still alive, and she gets Kirby involved in her investigation. But the next day, Esme has disappeared, and Kirby is convinced that the real killer has gotten to her.

The action in the book toggles between past and present, as past Kirby searches for Esme and present Kirby avoids a killer, while also avoiding telling readers exactly how Esme died. The tone remains consistently light, with jokes even while Kirby is running for her life. The book is a fun ride, even though I had trouble believing that Kirby could be so invested in a person she’d only met the day before. The fact that the other murders happened 30 years ago also made it hard to care about the fate of the killer. 

Like he does in Swiped, Chilton does a great job portraying the hardships of Gen Z. Even though it’s disguised as comedy, the low-paying jobs, scarce housing, and difficult romantic relationships facing this generation play a key role in Chilton’s novels. Kirby may defeat and unmask a killer, but the bigger question remains: Will she ever find a job that pays enough for her to live without flatmates? 

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

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Spotlight and Giveaway: The Bodyguard Affair

We're excited to celebrate the publication of Amy Lea's latest rom-com, The Bodyguard Affair! This sizzling story is sure to warm up your winter. Thanks to Berkley, we have one copy to give away! 

Andi Ziegler lives a double life. By day, she is the personal assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada’s wife. By night, she writes steamy romance novels under a top-secret pen name. When the press captures a compromising photo of her and the Prime Minister and her steamiest book, The Prime Minister & Me, becomes a bestseller seemingly overnight, those two worlds unexpectedly collide.

Enter Nolan Crosby, the PM’s new bodyguard—and Andi’s almost one-night stand from three years ago. Nolan, who is only back in Ottawa to assist with his mother’s transition to a full-time care facility due to her early-onset Alzheimer’s, always knew his assignment would be temporary. Yet scandal aside, Nolan can’t help but want to get closer to Andi, so he agrees to play along with her fake-dating plan until his assignment wraps up at the end of the summer. But in an unexpected plot twist, Andi and Nolan discover that keeping their romance strictly fictional might be easier said than done.

"Clever, steamy, and wildly entertaining! Amy Lea has scripted a truly charming romance, where a secret-writer heroine and a Prime Minister's bodyguard fake-date their way through scandal with humor, spice and genuine heart. I couldn’t stop smiling—or turning the pages!”

—Julia McKay, bestselling author of Christmas at the Ranch

"This contemporary romance features well-developed protagonists with realistic backstories and relatable fears, and there’s plenty of humor and chemistry to balance out the emotion-laden moments. Readers will love Lea’s latest."

—Library Journal

"Lea (The Catch) tugs at readers’ heartstrings with this sweet fake-dating romance...Lea is skilled at balancing heavy moments with light humor. Readers will have no trouble rooting for these two."

—Publishers Weekly

Amy Lea is the international bestselling author of romantic comedies for adults and teens, including Mindy Kaling’s Book Studio selection Woke Up Like This. Her acclaimed works have been featured in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, and ELLE Canada, and has been long listed as a CBC Canada Reads finalist. They have also been optioned for film and sold to over a dozen foreign territories.

When Amy is not writing, she can be found fangirling over other romance books on Instagram, eating potato chips with reckless abandon, and snuggling with her husband and two goldendoodles in Ottawa, Canada. Visit Amy at her website.

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 December 7th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: A Lot to Unpack

By Sara Steven

Liberty’s just landed her dream job. The catch? It’s at Matcher, the dating app that ruined her life. After catching her boyfriend sending intimate pictures to everyone in a twenty mile radius, Liberty is struggling to get back into the dating game. Every man gives her the ick sooner or later.

Still, she’s having a great time travelling the world for work, until she’s assigned a secret mission: Travel to New York with her handsome and charming boss Jordan and swap out a contract from under his nose. It should be easy, but the more time Liberty spends with Jordan, the more she realises he might not be the bad boy she thought he was. But it turns out they’ve both got a lot to unpack, and Liberty still needs to complete her mission if she wants to keep her job - which means not breaking the one golden rule: do not fall for the boss! (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I wish I had Liberty’s dream job! I know that’s not meant to be the primary focus of A Lot to Unpack, of course, but to be able to travel and be on standby, waiting to be called upon for work, and still getting paid for that would be the ultimate experience. Given how amazing the job is, I can see Liberty’s dilemma and how she feels conflicted, given the circumstances she dealt with while with her previous boyfriend. But she’s also given the opportunity to put herself out there a lot more, which sets her up for some pretty interesting scenarios.

It seemed like Liberty had a lot of preconceived notions of how relationships should be, and how the men she’s attracted to should behave. She focuses a lot on red flags, some warranted, some feeling like nitpicking. She even admits to herself at some point that maybe she should open her horizons more–but that mindset stops at Jordan. Jordan is unattainable and not someone she could ever imagine herself with, for many, many reasons. Yet it’s hard for her not to feel attraction for Jordan. 

That was never meant to be the end game for Liberty. The goal was to follow through on her boss’s directive, and even though it involves Jordan, Liberty figured she could handle the task. But that’s when life gets in the way. I always appreciate this author’s primary characters, because they often are deeply-good characters that have some unique character flaws, making them quirky. Even when Liberty has the best of intentions and wants to do what she was set out to do, it doesn’t go according to plan, and that’s when major growth can happen.

It’s obvious that Liberty has a lot to unpack when it comes to her personal relationships, and maybe even within her life, but it was told in a super enjoyable, lighthearted way and the experience was a lot of fun!

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Kobo

Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 30 romantic comedynovels.

From disastrous dates to destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visiting sunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages.

Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.

Visit Portia online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Sign up for Portia's newsletter.

Visit all the stops on Portia's blog tour:

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Spotlight: The Royal Street series

Today we are featuring all three novels from Karen White's Royal Street series! They are best read in order, so get all cozy and start with the first one.

The Shop on Royal Street 

After a difficult detour on her road to adulthood, Nola Trenholm is looking to begin anew in New Orleans, and what better way to start her future than with her first house? But the historic fixer-upper she buys comes with even more work than she anticipated when the house’s previous occupants don’t seem to be ready to depart.

Although she can’t communicate with ghosts like her stepmother can, luckily Nola knows someone in New Orleans who is able to—even if he’s the last person on earth she wants anything to do with ever again. Beau Ryan comes with his own dark past—a past that involves the disappearance of his sister and parents during Hurricane Katrina—and he’s connected to the unsolved murder of a woman who once lived in the old Creole cottage Nola is determined to make her own...whether the resident restless spirits agree or not.

The House on Prytania

Nola Trenholm may not be psychic herself, but she’s spent enough time around people who are to know when ghosts are present, and there are definitely a few lingering spirits in her recently purchased Creole cottage in New Orleans. Something, or someone, is keeping them tethered to this world. And not all of them are benign. 

But with the sudden return of Sunny Ryan, Beau Ryan’s long-lost sister, Nola has plenty to distract her from her ghostly housemates. Especially when the tempting—yet firmly unavailable—Beau, wanting to mete out justice to those he blames for Sunny’s kidnapping, asks Nola for a favor that threatens to derail her hard-won recovery and send her hurtling backward. He asks her to welcome Michael Hebert back into her life, even though Michael is the reason for Nola’s bruised heart. Beau is convinced that Michael’s powerful family was behind Sunny’s disappearance and that Michael is the key to getting information the police won’t be able to ignore—if Nola is willing to risk everything for which she’s worked so hard. 

Torn between helping Beau and protecting herself, Nola doesn’t realize until it’s almost too late why the ghosts are haunting her house—a startling revelation that will throw her and Beau together to fight a common enemy. Assuming Nola can get Beau to listen to what the spirits are trying to tell him, because ignoring them could prove to be a fatal mistake...

The Lady on Esplanade 

Nola is ready to focus on starting over in the Big Easy. She wants to get back to work on the renovations of her Creole cottage, and she is eager to launch a new murder-house-flipping business with contractor, closet psychic, and part-time nemesis Beau Ryan. After a near-death ghostly encounter and the return of Beau’s missing sister, they are confident that the ghost of his mother can finally rest.

Nola believes the shotgun house on famed Esplanade Avenue is a prime fixer-upper for her first project. It may have been the site of a woman’s murder and the disappearance of an entire family, but the house will be perfect for new-to-town Cooper Ravenel—who happens to have caused Nola’s first heartbreak.

That’s the least of Nola’s worries, though. In addition to the elusive spirit of an angry young woman who accompanied Cooper to New Orleans, the house on Esplanade has its own ghosts, including one that is becoming increasingly dangerous as he tries to hide his dark secrets. And the wet footprints from the spirit of Beau’s mother have returned to let them know there is still unfinished business before she can rest. Spectral danger is headed toward them, and it’s up to Nola to convince Beau to help before it’s too late. . . .

(All synopses are courtesy of Amazon.)

Karen White is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the Tradd Street series, The Last Night in London, Dreams of Falling, The Night the Lights Went Out, Flight Patterns, The Sound of Glass, A Long Time Gone, and The Time Between. She is the co-author of The Lost Summers of Newport, All the Ways We Said Goodbye, The Glass Ocean, and The Forgotten Room with New York Times bestselling authors Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig. She grew up in London but now lives with a spoiled Havanese dog near Atlanta, Georgia.

Visit Karen online:
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Book Review: Pickle Perfect

By Allyson Bales

Lulu Gardner only takes predictable shots. After faulting on tennis stardom at eighteen, Lulu, now a thirtysomething single parent, is in control of her game. But when an unanticipated blunder threatens her teaching job, Lulu’s stable, well-planned—okay, boring—world spins out. And somehow, her godparents convince her to join them for a “de-stressing” destination pickleball vacation in Costa Rica. Maybe an all-inclusive picklecation is just the pick-me-up she needs to loosen her grip.

Or it would have been if she wasn’t backhanded by the sight of her high school fling Tyler Demming on the beachside courts. Fresh off the pickleball pro tour, the reigning bad boy of paddle sports is as studly and snarky as ever. Even though his public image took a hit with a ballsy publicity stunt, Tyler seems to be the big shot he’s always been.

But Lulu’s had years to steel herself against his rugged good looks and hypnotic charm. Despite the changes she sees in Tyler since their teenage days, Lulu will have no problem keeping her head in the game and her heart on the sidelines. Or so she tells herself…. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I enjoyed Long’s debut novel Pickleballers (reviewed here) and was looking forward to being back in the pickleball world again.  This story focused less on pickleball and more on romance and I really enjoyed that! I would say this story is a combination of sports romance and travel romance and this perfect cozy read! 

In Pickle Perfect you get to meet Lulu and Tyler.  Lulu makes a big mistake and decides she needs to get away.  Tyler is handsome and also going through something and it was fun to follow along as they reconnect after not seeing one another since high school.  This story had so many fun things going for it!

Firstly, the setting!  I have always wanted to go to Costa Rica and I loved the way Long takes you to the jungle and the beaches and so much adventure!  Secondly, you get to see Tyler and Lulu grow as characters and that is always my favorite.  I loved their second chance romance and am always a fan of a main character that challenges herself and steps out of her comfort zone!  Lulu is a mom and, as a new mom myself, I really resonated with some of what she was going through in terms of how to stay true to herself. 

If you can, I would definitely get my hands on the audio.  It is narrated by the author and I really enjoyed how she brought the story to life!

If you are looking for a quick and easy read and one with a lot of heart, read this one!  

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

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What's in the (e)mail

All (or most) of these books can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Apple, Kobo, etc.

NG = NetGalley

Melissa:
Chasing Stardust by Erica Lucke Dean from Lake Union (NG)

Bluebird Gold by Devney Perry from Kathleen Carter Communications (print)

Lady X by Molly Fader from Ballantine (NG)

Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey from Gallery (NG)

The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh from Viking (NG)

Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie from Ballantine (NG)

Gap Year by Lindsey Goldstein from Egret Lake Books (NG)

My Year of Really Bad Dates by Rachel J. Lithgow from BookSparks (print)

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan from Putnam (NG)

Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez from St. Martin's Press (NG)

You Can't Hurry Second Chances by Michelle Stimpson from Sourcebooks (NG)

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven from Flatiron (NG)

The Parisian Chapter by Janet Skeslien Charles from Atria (NG)

Take Me with You by Steven Rowley from Putnam (NG)

The Phone Swap by Lia Louis from Atria (NG)

A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys from Ballantine (NG)

Jessica Harmon Has Stepped Away by Reyna Marder Gentin from Caitlin Hamilton Marketing (NG)--Don't miss out on our giveaway!

The Fortune Flip by Lauren Kung Jessen from Forever (NG)

It's Not Her by Mary Kubica from Harlequin (print)

Sara:

I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig from Berkley (NG)

No Matter What by Cara Bastone from Random House (NG)

One Beautiful Year of Normal by Sandra K. Griffith from BookSparks (NG)

Jami:

The Hostess by Courtney Psak from Kaye Publicity (NG)

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Book Review: The Measure

By Melissa Amster

Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.

One morning, small wooden boxes appear on doorsteps across the world. Inside each is a string that reveals exactly how long its owner will live. From city apartments to desert tents, everyone faces the same haunting question: Do you want to know your fate?

As society tilts between chaos and connection, eight lives become entwined — best friends whose paths diverge, strangers who find solace in letters, a couple forced to confront time’s limits, a doctor unable to heal himself, and a politician whose decision sets off a national reckoning.

In The Measure, Nikki Erlick weaves a sweeping, deeply humane story about choice, destiny, and the fragile beauty of the time we’re given — a novel that asks not how long we live, but how fully.

The Measure was my book club's pick for October and I feel like this is their best pick of the year! I am so glad I finally got a chance to read it. It was thought-provoking, captivating, touching, heartbreaking, and hopeful. It led to a lot of interesting discussions at the book club meeting.

There was a lot of relevance to current events, even though this released three years ago. Almost eerie in some ways, like Nikki had predicted the future when writing this novel. It reminded me a bit of the movie Crash and the novel They Both Die at the End. There were also some similarities between this novel and Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. 

I liked all the characters except one, who is meant to be a nemesis. Everyone was just really interesting to me and I felt bad for the ones with short strings, as well as their long-stringed loved ones. It made me wonder if I would open the box or not want to know. I'm leaning toward the latter, like one of the characters in this story was resolute about doing. There's a lot of emotional distress, as well as dilemmas about what to do in certain situations. I got really angry with people at times (mostly the villain and the mob mentality). However, there's a nice string of hope woven throughout and you will even see kindness shine through.

My only concern (which was a concern for Here One Moment too) was that the connections were too coincidental. Most of the characters live in New York City, which is huge. How do they all manage to link up so easily? Of course, we could take it as the author finding a segment of the city and taking a snapshot of a group of people who could likely connect with each other due to proximity. 

As soon as I finished this novel, I knew I had to read The Poppy Fields right away and have done so recently. I'll be reviewing that one soon, as well. I highly recommend The Measure and even told my husband he has to read it!

(Trigger warnings below.)

Movie casting suggestions:

Nina: Camryn Grimes
Maura: Alexandra Shipp
Ben: Michael Hsu Rosen
Hank: Chris Sullivan
Amie: Kaitlyn Dever
Anthony: Sam Worthington

Jack: Garrett Wareing

Javier: Xolo Maridueña

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TW: Multiple shootings. Loss of loved ones. Death at a young age.

Sara and Melissa Talk About...Museums of Our Lives

We've been running a column series to get more personal with our readers. We are now into our sixth year!

This month, Sara gave the prompt that she got from someplace: Create a museum of your life. Talk about the objects or images you would include and why.

We're always open to topic suggestions, so please don't hesitate to share those in the comments. We'd also love to know if you can relate to anything we've said or hear your own thoughts on the topic. So don't be shy. :) We look forward to getting to know you as much as we're letting you get to know us. You can find our previous columns here, in case you missed them.

Sara Steven:

I can’t remember what I’d read online that prompted our topic for this month, but I thought a museum of one’s life was a pretty interesting concept. I think a lot of us tend to think that what we’ve done or accomplished isn’t something to be celebrated, but we all contribute to the interconnectivity that makes humanity what it is. To those who know you, you are important and valued. And what you’ve done means something, worthy of a museum.

Some of what I’d have displayed in my own museum:

Teen years are some of the most angsty years we’ll ever go through, and I love how open and wild I am at seventeen. 

This was not expected. I was never meant to go to college. I’m the first person in my family to attend and graduate from a four-year institution, with a 4.5 GPA. If you’d known me when I was seventeen, you wouldn’t have expected it, either.

 

My family will always be displayed in my museum. I would not be where I am or who I am without them. 

I’ve taken some time away from it, but I write.

I also garden. I grew up with grandparents who celebrated gardening, but I didn’t get into it until much later in life. I get a kick out of seeing things grow. 

No matter what else I choose to do, I always go back to running.

I joke and say that Sedona, Arizona is my spirit animal. I love it out there. 

We recently lost our beloved cat, Chance. The funny thing is, he was cantankerous for years and only seemed to love me, but in the last half decade or so, he settled in and had trust in us, his family. The same spirited creature who would bite you if you even attempted to pet him, would allow us to rub his belly and give him lots of love; he’d chilled out. Finally. This felt like a huge loss for all of us. If anything could be said about Chance, it was that he did things on his own terms and had such a huge personality. 

Me, now. Getting ready to garden.

Melissa Amster:

A long time ago, Sara and I did this blog project with two other friends. One of the topics was inspired by How I Met Your Mother, where the characters are seeing their past selves as museum exhibits. I wrote about my college personality for that topic. Today, I'm writing about who I am now and what a museum of my life would look like.

I can tell you this...it would probably be chaotic and cluttered, much like how certain parts of my house are, as most of that is my doing. (I still haven't put non-perishable groceries away and some are sitting out from weeks ago.)

For the museum of my life, I am just going to share about some rooms that you would likely see if you visited. 

The Book Room. Like that's not obvious or anything. It would be a smaller-scale version of the library in Beauty and the Beast because I love that movie so much and I can relate to Belle a lot.

The Obsessions Room. This would be a room that had different video stations where people could watch (or stream) one of my many past or present obsessions, whether it's Rent, Hamilton, Schitt's Creek, Ghosts, The Princess Bride, Rocky Horror, etc.

The Family Room. This would be a room showcasing photos and videos of my husband and kids from various times in our lives. I'd also include some extended family stuff, like photos of my adorable nephew (as long as my sister is okay with that). 

The Friends Room. This would be set up in a different way, where you can press a button next to someone's name and learn about how we became friends and see what our friendship dynamic is like. If you are new to my life, you can even take a compatibility test to see what your friendship with me would be like.

The Jewish Room. This room would have Judaica objects, samples of food like challah, brisket, cholent, potato kugel, matzo ball soup, babkas, etc. Yes, you get to try food like you're in a Costco. This room would also look like the inside of our sukkah. 

The Thrift Shop Room. I would just show off a lot of my fun thrift shop finds, which is mainly clothes. 

The Theater Room. Not only would this be decorated with Playbills from all the musicals I've seen, but it would also have a stage where people could do showtunes karaoke or put on improv shows. 

The Nostalgia Room. I love 80s and 90s stuff and would be sure to stock the room with things that I grew up with, such as Cabbage Patch Kids, Care Bears, Baby-sitters Club and Sweet Valley High books, Rainbow Brite dolls, old school Barbies, a Nintendo with my favorite games, cassettes of music from that era, VHS tapes of movies from that era, etc. 

Saw this at a Vrbo house we rented. Brought back memories!

What would be in the museum of your life?

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