Book Review: The Night Hunter

By Jami Denison

Last year, the manosphere erupted in fury when women who were posed the question “If you were alone in the woods, would you rather encounter a man or a bear?” almost always picked the bear. The logic behind the choice: Women knew bears were dangerous wild animals who would definitely try to kill them. The man could pretend to be friendly and helpful… and still try to kill them. 

In her gripping debut, Natalie Moss takes readers on a blood-soaked adventure in her ancestral country of South Africa. The Night Hunter proves that women are right to fear both bear and men in the woods.  

Danielle’s mother was a fierce conservationist, more devoted to protecting rhinos near her home in a South African preserve than caring for her family. Now that she’s dead, Danielle wants nothing more than to sell her mother’s house and get on with her life. But her younger sister, Grace, wants to keep the home and continue their mother’s mission. When the women decide to travel back to the house, each brings along two friends for the two-day safari. But Danielle doesn’t trust Grace’s friends, or Grace herself—she’s hiding a secret note her mother left for her eyes only. 

The contentious trip turns perilous when their guide is murdered, and a car crash means they need to continue on foot. As the group of five journeys through the brush, they must avoid wild animals who would definitely kill them and humans who might. While Danielle fights to survive, she ruminates on her contentious relationships with her mother and sister, her guilt over her sister’s childhood accident, and her inability to trust. 

Moss grew up going on safaris, and The Night Hunter shines with her attention to detail. The sights, sounds, and smells of the jungle are vivid and rich. Every description rings authentic and true. The story is completely Danielle’s, told in first person and present tense, and she’s highly believable as a competent guide through the brush and young woman conflicted about her relationships.

At its heart, though, The Night Hunter is a classic locked-room mystery. Fans of the genre know that Danielle is not wrong to be suspicious of someone in her group, although whom she should suspect will vary. The body count is deliciously high, and the twists are unpredictable and earned. By the end, readers will feel as if they just stepped off a roller coaster.

With her careful plotting and deep character work, Natalie Moss shines in her debut. I look forward to following the career of this talented author. 

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

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Meet Me in Paris

Kristin Harmel's latest novel, Meet Me in Paris, is now available and we're excited to feature it here today! Melissa loved it and her review is available on Goodreads and Storygraph. You can watch Kristin talk more about it over at Friends & Fiction. Thanks to Gallery Books, we have FIVE copies for some lucky readers!

Love Actually meets The Notebook in a tale of love, loss, and finding your way home, all set over the course of one life-changing week in Paris.

Julia Glover has brought her twenty-three-year-old daughter, Piper, to Paris for the first time—but they know it will also be their last trip here together. Julia is dying, and as the mother and daughter desperately try to make memories together as the clock ticks down, the world opens up around them. Piper meets a cute French waiter, who might just understand her better than anyone she’s ever met, and Julia meets a man at a dive bar and struggles with how to tell him the truth about her future.

Rock star Jackson Quick’s glory days are behind him. He had a handful of hit songs thirty years ago, but he hasn’t toured in a decade. This week, he’ll launch his reunion tour in Paris, the city where it all began. But he wants more out of life than being defined by fame. When he meets a woman who finally sees him for who he is at his core, the ground shifts beneath his feet.

Henry McGee has been writing hit songs for decades—including Jackson Quick’s biggest hit, City of Light. But his secret is that every love song he’s ever written is for a woman named Celeste, whom he loved a lifetime ago, when they were both teenagers in Paris during World War II. He has spent eighty years believing she died—but when a letter arrives telling him the opposite, he’s on the first flight to France. Can he break through the haze of her dementia, using the songs he’s written all these years, to remind her of who they once were to each other—and to tell her he came back for her?

Henry’s granddaughter has just discovered that her husband of twenty years is having an affair. When she confronts him, he tearfully apologizes and begs her to forgive him. But can she? And, perhaps even more importantly, does she want to? Or is there a different kind of life out there for her if she chooses to be alone?

These intertwining stories—plus several others—unfold over a few breathtaking spring days, as an unforgettable group of Americans in Paris must find their way to their own versions of happily ever after in the City of Light. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

"Readers will turn the last page and want to start all over again. You'll feel comforted, inspired, and completely enchanted as you head to your computer and immediately book a trip to the City of Light." 
- Jo Piazza, bestselling author of The Sicilian Inheritance

"I devoured this book in a single sitting; it made me laugh and cry and seriously consider booking a flight to France. Paris may be called the City of Light, but in Kristin Harmel’s hands, it should be the City of Love. This is one book you don’t want to miss." 
- Ali Brady, USA Today bestselling author of Battle of the Bookstores

"Kristin Harmel has long been one of my favorite authors, and with MEET ME IN PARIS, she has taken her ever-masterful storytelling to even greater heights. Harmel’s prose shines as brightly as her beloved Paris in what is sure to be the must-read novel of the year!" 
- New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey

Credit: The Paris Photographer

Kristin Harmel is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 international bestselling author of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau, The Paris Daughter, The Book of Lost Names, The Winemaker’s Wife, and a dozen other novels translated into more than 35 languages. Many of her books have been optioned for film and television. A former journalist for PEOPLE magazine who began her career as a teenage sportswriter, Kristin is also the co-founder and co-host of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction. She lives in Orlando with her husband and son. (Bio adapted from Kristin's website.)

Visit Kristin online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram

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 August 4th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Wild Goose Chase

By Allyson Bales

Antique store owner Callahan Leitner has an illegal taxidermy goose in his living room.

Why? It’s…complicated.

But it may end his career unless he finds a legitimate way to dispose of the bird ASAP. Except, there’s an unexpected wrench in his plans—the frustrating, effervescent Annie O’Neill.

Annie is happy to fill in for her uncle at his antique store; it’s the perfect opportunity to gain more experience before opening a shop of her own, plus she'll finally meet his handsome young business partner. Unfortunately, Cal is nothing like the charming man she expected. She’s tempted to take his apparent dislike personally, until she stumbles upon the source of his moodiness: the contraband waterfowl hidden upstairs.

When the goose goes missing, both of their professional reputations are on the line. As Cal and Annie attempt to track down the bird before it can be traced back to the store, their tentative alliance turns into something much deeper. Will the hunt for their felonious fowl lead to true love, or end in ruin? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I’m a pretty big Sarah Adler fan and will always read anything she writes! She had my heart with Mrs. Nash’s Ashes and has kept it with every book she has written since. Wild Goose Chase is no exception! 

Adler has a way with her romances and as someone that has grown a bit more picky with the genre, I am always so delighted by her stories and her characters. 

I loved meeting Annie and Callahan. They were both so quirky and I loved that they end up working together at an antique shop. I am a HUGE fan of antiques. There’s something so rewarding about shopping and I really loved their passion for it; who does love a little Antique Roadshow! 

Adler really knows how to write funny banter and this story is full of it! 

I also really loved the dual point of view and character depth. I really rooted for these two and had so much fun following along on their little goose hunt! 

This is the perfect quirky romance of summer that will definitely have you laughing out loud! 

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

More by Sarah Adler:
Mrs. Nash's Ashes
Happy Medium
Finders Keepers

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J.P. Tillbrook steps into the spotlight...plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to welcome J.P. Tillbrook to CLC today. Her debut, The Invisibility Problem, has been available for a few months and the second book in the Eliza Rae Chronicles, On the Line, will be available starting this Friday. For J.P., this series began with one simple question: What if the person everyone overlooked suddenly had no choice but to be seen? That idea grew into a series celebrating friendship, courage, humor and finding your place in the world.

We had fun chatting with J.P. about her books and getting to know her better. J.P. has a set of ebooks for one lucky reader!

J.P. Tillbrook believes the best stories stay with readers long after the final page.

Her novels are inspired by everyday moments, genuine relationships, and the quiet humour found in ordinary life. She enjoys creating characters who make mistakes, grow, laugh, fall in love, and discover more about themselves than they ever expected.

When she isn't writing, J.P. Tillbrook is planning her next story, developing new worlds, or enjoying a good cup of coffee while imagining what her characters will do next.

Visit J.P. online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok

Synopsis:

Eliza Rae has spent most of her life perfecting the art of being invisible.

Working in a busy call centre, she’s mastered the art of blending into the background—until one sarcastic internal email changes everything.

When the message unexpectedly goes viral across the company, Eliza is thrust into the spotlight and offered the chance to write the company blog. As her confidence begins to grow, she must navigate office politics, unexpected friendships and a slow-burn romance, while discovering that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is let yourself be seen.

Warm, witty and full of heart, The Invisibility Problem is the first novel in the Eliza Rae Chronicles—a romantic comedy about finding your voice, embracing who you are, and discovering that being noticed isn’t always something to fear. 

**We're not sharing the synopsis of book two as to not spoil anything for book one.**

In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like for you?
It has been a journey decades in the making, filled with self-doubt, perseverance and plenty of setbacks, but one that made holding my first published book all the more rewarding.

How is Eliza Rae similar to or different from you?
Eliza and I share the same dry sense of humour and the determination to keep going when life throws unexpected challenges our way. In many ways, though, she’s the personality that lives quietly inside me. While I’m generally far more outspoken and happy to say what’s on my mind, Eliza is quieter, more cautious and tends to observe the world before stepping into it. Writing her gave me the chance to explore that quieter side of myself.

If your books were made into movies, whom would you cast in the leading roles?

I’d love to see Florence Pugh as Eliza. She has the warmth, wit and emotional depth to bring her to life perfectly. For Alex, I’d choose Will Poulter. He has a natural charm, an understated sense of humour, and the kind of genuine kindness that I imagine Alex having.

Which book made you fall in love with reading?
The Nancy Drew books. I was about eight or nine when I discovered them, and I was instantly hooked. I loved trying to solve the mysteries alongside Nancy, and they sparked a lifelong love of reading. 

At school, English Literature quickly became my favourite subject, and I was forever making up stories whenever inspiration struck. Although those early stories never went any further, they laid the foundations for the novels I write today.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
Olivia Colman. She could make the embarrassing moments hilarious, the emotional moments heartfelt, and somehow make even my daily coffee addiction sound interesting.

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
I’d take you for a walk through Clyde Valley Woodlands Nature Reserve or Chatelherault Country Park—two of my favourite places to unwind and recharge. Afterwards, we’d find a cosy café for coffee and cake, where we’d inevitably end up chatting about books, writing and the little everyday moments that often inspire my stories.

Thanks to J.P. for visiting with us and sharing her books 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 August 2nd at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Buyer Beware

By Jami Denison

In the state of Florida, a seller does not have to disclose if someone died in their house (unless the death was caused by a property defect). If you’re buying a home here, and you believe in staying away from bad juju, you’ll need to do your own sleuthing to find out if a tragedy occurred within your walls-to-be. Luckily, Florida’s As Is contract offers an inspection period in which the buyer can cancel for any reason. After that, good luck getting your escrow back if you find out where that stain on the garage floor really came from.

Catherine Ryan Howard’s new thriller, Buyer Beware, is a captivating page turner about a woman who rolls up an old carpet in her new home and finds a body-shaped stain underneath. But the title is a bit of a misnomer. The book isn’t so much about the danger of buying the wrong house as it is about the danger of choosing the wrong man. 

Ellie has just moved into 1 Delaney Row, a small home in a row of cottages in a desirable Irish town. With secrets in her past, she’s not eager to get to know her neighbors. But when strange and scary things start to happen—and she finds that unfortunate stain—she’s forced to ask questions. Trouble is, people have lots of questions for her. And then the break-ins start. 

Two storylines in the past add more mystery to Ellie’s situation. Erin, a smart and driven high school student, becomes entangled with Jason, a manipulative loser who seems destined to pull her down to his level. And Hannah, a thirty-something business owner, gets swept off her feet by a man who might be too good to be true. How these three storylines intersect is the meat of the book.

All three characters are incredibly sympathetic, but as Ellie’s point-of-view is the only one in first person, she’s the character readers will identify with the most. The narrative is somewhat frustrating, because Ellie has a secret that she’s hiding from the reader, and waiting to find out exactly what that secret is provides most of the book’s tension. And there’s so much build-up toward this reveal that when Ellie finally tells readers what she’s hiding, it’s a bit of a letdown. Had Howard come clean in the beginning about what Ellie had done, readers could have focused completely on the dangers she faced in the present and the mystery of the house. 

Erin and Hannah’s plots are more straightforward. It’s clear that they’re both headed for disaster with the wrong man, and seeing them get pulled in is like watching a car crash in slow motion. 

Buying the wrong house is a huge mistake that can cost a person dearly, both literally and figuratively. But houses can be sold. Choosing the wrong man can ruin your life. 

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

More by Catherine Ryan Howard:

The Nothing Man

Rewind

Run Time

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Book Review: Once and Again

By Melissa Amster

Lauren has spent a lot of her life waiting. She spent her childhood on her surfboard, waiting to catch the perfect wave. She waited a long time for her husband Leo. Now she and Leo are together waiting for those two lines on a pregnancy test that will tell Lauren she’s finally pregnant.

But many women wait for those things. Lauren has also spent her life waiting to use the gift that only the women in her family have: the opportunity, just once, to turn back time and reverse a bad decision, or a moment of catastrophic luck. When Lauren was fifteen, her mother Marcella reversed the car crash that killed Lauren’s father, and ever since then, both Marcella and Lauren have been extra cautious around Dave, and perhaps extra brittle with each other. Even though Dave is alive and healthy, and out on the Malibu waves every day.

Lauren and Leo’s marriage has been rock-steady for the three years they’ve been married, but their fertility journey is starting to wear on both of them. When Leo takes a six-week job in New York, Lauren temporarily moves back to her childhood house. She’ll spend time with her dad, spend time on the water, and try not think about the relationship with her mother she wishes she had. What Lauren doesn’t expect is to run into the love of her youth: fellow surfer Stone, back home for the first time in ten years. Since he left and broke Lauren’s heart. Now Lauren’s thinking about all the choices that have brought her to this moment in her life—and wondering if one of them should be undone. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

Once and Again is Rebecca Serle's latest venture into surrealism. This time around, the women in her story get one chance at a do-over. Think Twice (by Mitch Albom), but it can only happen for them one time and that's it. What these women decide to do has a huge impact on their lives. It's very thought-provoking and explores relationships, marriage, family, and motherhood. I love the L.A. beach setting too. The 

While the story and premise were interesting overall, there were times it moved a bit slow. It flowed well for the most part though. Lauren's narrative was in first person and her mother's was in third. However, the grandmother's narrative was also in first person, which made things a little confusing. She didn't have that many chapters, but I felt like she should have been in third person too. I also wasn't thrilled with the last moment of the story. Sometimes the math didn't add up right in regard to how old the characters were at different points in the novel. I know I had an advanced copy, so I hope this got ironed out for the final publication.

The story kept me intrigued because I didn't know what was going to happen and how, when, or why Lauren would use her one do-over. So that definitely surprised me. Some other secrets were revealed throughout the novel that threw me for a loop. The dialogue was genuine the entire time, which I appreciated. There was a nice balance of emotions, as well.

It's a worthwhile read and it makes you wonder what the one thing you would do over is and how far back in time you'd go to change things for yourself.

Movie casting suggestions:

Lauren: Dianna Agron

Leo: Julian Morris

Stone: Finn Wittrock

Marcella (mother): Judy Kuhn

Dave (father): Robby Benson

(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post. May contain spoilers.)

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

More by Rebecca Serle:

In Five Years

The Dinner List

Expiration Dates

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TW: Infertility, infidelity, death of spouse/parent, death of child, health emergency

Spotlight and Giveaway: As Long as It Takes

Looking for a virtual getaway to Italy this summer? Then check out As Long as It Takes by Jill Francis and get ready to be immersed. Thanks to St. Martin's Press, we have one copy to give away!

Love isn’t exactly a priority for Lora Brooks. After all, her last break-up made it perfectly clear that she can’t rely on anyone but herself. That’s why Lora’s number one focus is her research, where she’s hard at work debunking Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. But when she’s offered a prestigious post-doctoral position in Zurich—one whose funding hinges on her having European citizenship—everything changes.

Hoping to claim citizenship through her birth father, Lora and her best friend travel to the quaint Italian town where he was born. She knows little about her father (and intends to keep it that way) but nothing, not even the ghosts of her past, will stand between Lora and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Except, perhaps, Italian bureaucracy. And an outdated filing system. And Andrea, the handsome—and slightly anxious—mayor.

Andrea’s plate may be more than full, but in between trying to increase tourism, wrangling quirky business-owners, and debating whether to run for a second term, he somehow finds the time to show Lora what it really means to live, and perhaps love, like a local. Lora is destined for a future hundreds of miles away and Andrea’s parents are pushing him to return to his fast-paced life in New York, but will they discover that their most basic need is actually just…each other?

"A sun-drenched, heartfelt romance as warm and welcoming as Italy itself. Absolutely delightful. Jill Francis weaves a tender, hopeful story about belonging, second chances, and the surprising ways love finds us."
—RaeAnne Thayne, New York Times bestselling author

"Francis’s writing is immersive, the cast of characters beautifully developed, and the dialogue crisp and clever. She’s brought this small Italian town to life in these pages. I didn’t want the book to end!"
—Andie Burke, USA Today bestselling author of With Stars in Her Eyes

“Compassionate, clever, and deeply emotional, As Long as It Takes is a tribute to discovering the places – and people – who were always meant for us.”
—Maggie North, author of Fossil Feud

Jill Francis is a writer and researcher in forensic psychiatry. She lives in Liguria, Italy with her husband and their Greyhound, Tulip. Visit Jill at her website and on Instagram.

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 July 28th at midnight EST.

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Sara and Melissa Talk About...Me Days

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

Because we both have birthdays in July, we are talking about what we'd do if we took ourselves out on a date. 

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:

If I were to take myself out on a date, it would be a day-long event! I’d start by hiking San Tan Mountain, which is close to my house. I’d pretty much roll out of bed, throw on some hiking gear, and head on out. Given the heat here in Arizona, an early morning hike is the best way to do it. My favorite trails are the Goldmine and Dynamite trails. Both stretch on for miles, allowing me time to reflect and enjoy my time to myself.

Courtesy of MTHikes.com

Afterwards, on the drive home to take a much-needed shower, I’d stop off at my local Starbucks and score a Venti strawberry-acai refresher. I’ve recently discovered how “refreshing” it can be to have a refresher right after a hot hike. Sometimes I get one before I hike–usually when I know it’s a shorter hike and I can carry the drink with me as I go. It is pretty satisfying, like a treat to myself for all that hard work. 

I’m sure I’ll have worked up an appetite after all that walking, so my next outing would be to a breakfast/lunch diner, like a First Watch or Over Easy. I’d be sure to bring my Kindle along, so I can do some reading while I sit in the booth, enjoying an eggs benedict with a side of fruit. I think the last time I had time to myself in a restaurant was a few years ago, while waiting for a doctor’s appointment. I decided to grab some breakfast and it was so nice and peaceful. I’d do some people watching in between the pages I’d read in my Kindle.

The next stop would be to a spa, like the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. I’ve been there a couple of times with friends, but never alone. It’s a long drive there, considering it’s in Scottsdale and I live in Queen Creek, but I have ulterior motives on the way home–I’ll share that in a bit. I might get a massage and/or pedicure, then spend a few hours enjoying their wellness services that you can enjoy all day, despite what you choose to have done in their spa. They have a rooftop pool, water grotto, hot and cold plunges, aromatherapy room and sauna, which would be nice to utilize before and after my service(s).

On the way home, I will conveniently be by Dragon Palace, my favorite Chinese restaurant. When I lived in Arizona back in the late 90s/early 2000s, I would eat there roughly once a week, and even though I live far enough away now that it’s not as much of a temptation, if there’s ever any reason to be out in the Northern Phoenix area, or for my birthday, Dragon Palace is a must-have. For any Phoenix locals, I recommend the lemon chicken, along with an order (or two) of the crab puffs. And their hot tea is really good, too.

Dragon Palace, courtesy of Yelp

After going on an imaginative date with myself, I have to say, it sounds like a pretty perfect way to spend a lovely day. I mentioned this to my husband, who said it sounded like a pretty great date day with him, too, so maybe at some point, I can put this into fruition. And now, I’m craving crab puffs…  

Melissa Amster:

I turned fifty on Monday (Gasp!) and took myself to Woodhouse Spa for some pampering. Technically, the spa visit was a gift from my parents and sister, but it was still an afternoon to myself with no one to answer to. I took the day off from work too. Overall it was a pleasant visit and I felt rich being there as the spa was so opulent. They even offered champagne, but I don't drink alcohol all that much. (Plus, I had to drive home afterward.) The massage was really nice. So relaxing and it got rid of a lot of tension I'd been carrying. I did an herbal bath too, but had to wait a long time due to a scheduling error, so they comped me for it, which was really nice. Afterward, I went to Barnes & Noble and used my birthday gift card to purchase The Calamity Club, since everyone has been raving about it. Then I went to Starbucks to claim my birthday reward.

Courtesy of Yelp

I love having "me days." I've taken myself to the movies a few times in the past. My first birthday after the pandemic wound down was to see Where the Crawdads Sing at a movie theater. I hadn't been to one in two-and-a-half years prior to that. I think, however, the ultimate "me day" would be going into NYC for a day and seeing a couple Broadway shows. I'd take a train or bus in so I could relax and read for a while. I don't even know which musicals I'd want to see as they keep coming and going, so I'd probably wait until there were some musicals I really, really wanted to see. 

For something more local, I'd spend the day at my favorite thrift store as I just love thrift shopping. I'd also go to this amazing used books store that I recently took my mom to when she came for a visit. I could spend tons of time in there browsing books. I also would be interested in trying out a candlelight concert if it's for music I enjoy (such as showtunes or one of my favorite singers/bands). I'm all for simple pleasures. 

Just for fun, this was my idea of a "me day" back in 2013. Although I would still want to do this too!

What would you do if you could take yourself out on a date?

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Book Review: Somewhere Only We Know

By Becky Gulc

‘She thought their love story was over.

The world had other plans…

When Magnolia Jones finds her daughter’s travel journal, she can think of no better way to honour her life than setting off on the gap year trip that twenty-three-year-old Brontë had dreamed of taking.

It was meant to be Brontë’s adventure, but perhaps following her daughter’s footsteps around the world is exactly what Magnolia needs to piece her broken heart back together and begin to heal.

As her travels take her further away from home, memories of a long-ago summer come flooding back. Magnolia barely recognises that girl she used to be – the dreams she had, the freedom ahead, the midnight kisses on the beach with curly-haired, brown eyed Jackson.

Maybe, just maybe, in this magical place that is somewhere only they know, Magnolia is about to discover that her journey isn’t over – it’s just about to begin…’ (Synopsis courtesy of Cathy Bramley's website.)

In summary, I loved this book! For a while now I’ve been gravitating to psychological thrillers, but I felt like a change and this book really stood out to me. It promised emotion and adventure, and since I do love a book that makes me feel like I’m travelling and experiencing new places, it certainly delivered on that front!

Magnolia (Maggie) Jones finds her late daughter’s travel journal, covering the gap-year she planned to take but sadly was never able to. When she’s told to take a break from work, Maggie ultimately decides to honour her daughter’s life by taking the trip herself, using the journal to map out where to go and the experiences she should have. What was meant to be her daughter's adventure turns into a journey of healing and self-discovery, taking in some amazing locations along the way.

I love a character-driven story and this was spot on. I felt I knew Maggie, but also her lovely daughter Brontë and the other characters so well. Cathy handles the heavy, raw themes of grief and loss with grace and warmth, while also providing plenty of lightness to keep the story uplifting even in its saddest moments. There is sunshine and adventure aplenty, too!

Watching Maggie break out of the shell and safety nets she constructed around herself in the midst of her grief was beautiful. The writing flows effortlessly, drawing you straight into Maggie’s internal world as she confronts memories of a long-ago summer, youthful freedom, and a past romance. I felt for Maggie every step of the way, nodding along with her reflections on ageing, wisdom, and what it truly means to make the most of the life we are given. The supporting characters she meets along the route were great and added so much.

I really enjoyed how the narrative shifts between past and present. Maggie’s memories of Jackson and the way her travels stir up emotions she thought she’d buried give the novel a nostalgic, romantic thread that complements the central story so well.

Somewhere Only We Know is more than a standard escape-to-faraway-places novel; it is all about resilience and is a tribute to mother-daughter love, and a gentle reminder not to be afraid of starting a new chapter. I know this book will be one that stays with me for a long time—highly recommended!

More by Cathy Bramley:
The Sunrise Sisterhood
The Summer that Changed Us
My Kind of Happy

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Annie Cathryn has a delicious new story...plus a book giveaway

We're so excited to have Annie Cathryn back at CLC today to celebrate the publication of her latest novel, Eat the Cake. Melissa loved it and can't wait for you all to read it. (Check out her review on Goodreads and Storygraph.) We enjoyed chatting with her again and hope you will have fun reading our interview. She has one copy to share with a lucky reader!

Annie Cathryn has always dreamed of becoming an author and lives by the motto, “Creating is Living.” After a career in marketing communications and launching her own consulting agency, she returned to her first love—writing. Her debut novel, The Friendship Breakup, was a Zibby’s 2023 pick, reached #15 on Amazon’s New Releases in Friendship Fiction, and received multiple literary awards. 

An avid reader of more than 100 books a year, Annie is also a Bookstagrammer, podcast host, and published essayist. She lives in Chicagoland with her husband, daughter, and two fur babies, and when she’s not writing or reading, she’s organizing her personal library by color or planning her next adventure. (Bio adapted from Annie's website.)

Visit Annie online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok

Synopsis:

Leah Wright spends her days advising thousands of podcast listeners on how to live their best lives. But since her husband Elliot died, she has been running on autopilot—until a very public on-air meltdown forces her into a mandatory leave of absence. With her career at stake and her sponsors wavering, Leah is finally compelled to confront the silence of her empty home.

Then, the impossible happens.

A bouquet of flowers arrives at her door with a note from Elliot. Hidden among his belongings, Leah discovers an itinerary for the surprise trip to Florence that he never had the chance to give her. Urged by her sister-in-law to find closure, Leah flies to Italy, only to uncover that Elliot has left her one final gift: a scavenger hunt through the winding, sun-drenched streets of the city.

As the clues become more personal, the mystery deepens. How could he have known what she would need to hear months after his death? To find the final message, Leah must stop hiding behind her podcast persona and confront the secret guilt she has been carrying—or risk remaining broken forever. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"It's a beautiful, soul-stirring journey about love and loss and resiliency, with enough plot twists to keep even the most self-assured reader guessing." 

—Heidi Shertok, author of Match Me If You Can

"Annie Cathryn's luminous exploration of grief affirms that healing doesn't happen in isolation—friends can be a salve for the soul. A heartrending, hopeful, and unforgettable story." 

—Dara Levan, author of Shaken to the Core

"Annie Cathryn's latest is a warm, perceptive novel highlighting her true gift for storytelling." 

—Camille Pagán, bestselling author of Dog Person

What is a favorite compliment you received on your writing? 
My favorite compliment is when a reader tells me they both laughed and cried while reading my book. That is always my ultimate goal. I want the story to truly move people and take them on an emotional journey.

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing Eat the Cake?
The middle of a book is usually the hardest part for me. I often get caught up in what writers call a "saggy middle." To fix it this time, I had to add more scenes in Florence to keep the momentum going and help the book flow better.

The most rewarding part of fixing that middle section was the research process. It allowed me to take a wonderful trip down memory lane! Florence is one of my absolute favorite travel destinations, and I was thrilled to bring its magic to life in Eat the Cake.

If Eat the Cake was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
This is such a fun question to think about! Here is my dream cast for the book:

Leah: Emma Roberts. She fits the role completely!
Elliot: Austin Butler. He has those perfect, bright blue eyes to pull it off.
Megan: Maya Hawke. I absolutely adored her in Stranger Things and know she'd be incredible.
Marco: Leo Howard. He has the exact right look, plus he actually plays the guitar!
Frank: Ethan Hawke. How amazing would it be to see him share the screen and play a role with his real-life daughter, Maya?

Which book made you fall in love with reading?
For me, the spark ignited when I discovered the Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High series. I was captivated by the dramatic world of Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield. Following the twins as they navigated everything from middle school friendship shifts in Sweet Valley Twins to the high school drama of Sweet Valley High made me keep turning the pages. 

I used to rush to the bookstore or library to grab the next one just to see what the Wakefield twins would do next. It was the fast-paced storytelling that hooked me—and it ultimately shaped my own love for writing stories filled with deep friendships, relatable awkward moments, and plenty of heart.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 

Personally, I would choose Anna Kendrick. I’ve always loved her dry humor and the way she delivers the punchline to her own jokes. Plus, she is incredibly relatable with her straight talk about anxiety and being awkward. Honestly, I think she and I would be friends IRL!

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see? 

I live in Geneva, Illinois, and it’s so charming. If I were taking you on a tour of my favorite hometown spots, our first stop would be Graham’s—the best local chocolate shop, which you might recognize because I featured it in Eat the Cake. It is a must-visit! 

Next, we would wander over to Evernia, a gorgeous boutique housed in a stunning Victorian building. This exact property inspired the chocolate shop in The Friendship Breakup, and I am thrilled to be hosting my Eat the Cake book launch there! 

Finally, we would head to The Little Traveler for some incredible shopping. Built in 1862, this historic 36-room Victorian mansion is filled with unique treasures curated from all across the globe.

Thanks to Annie for chatting with us and 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 July 26th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Freshman Parents

 

By Sara Steven

Single parent Heather isn't neurotic (honest!) — she's simply dreading the day her only child leaves for university — so her meticulous checklists grow longer by the hour. When she seeks advice from a parents' forum, she clashes with Scott, a single dad, whose "helpful" statistics and assertions about "helicopter parenting" leave her fuming.

Move-in day delivers the ultimate surprise: their daughters aren't just room-mates — they're self-declared best friends for life.

Despite their intentions to avoid relationships at all costs, unpredictable events keep throwing Heather and Scott together, making it increasingly difficult to ignore each other...  (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Heather and Scott are complete opposites; Heather needs mass amounts of control in her world in order to feel safe, and Scott claims he doesn’t need to be in control at all, although the verdict is out on that. To him, Heather is a helicopter parent who has too much say in how her daughter Georgia lives her life, and for Heather, Scott has been a total hands-off parent with his daughter Brianna, convinced he’s taught her how to be self-sufficient and independent that way. Truthfully, both parents are dealing with their newfound empty nest situations–and both are struggling with it in their own ways. 

The need for control (or lack thereof) comes from the experiences both characters have had in their pasts. Heather has seen a lot of absence, and Scott has dealt with a lot of loss. Despite how completely different they are from one another, there are plenty of ways they meet in the middle and can understand what it feels like to lose someone they loved and cared about. It causes Heather to cling too tightly to her daughter and not let anyone in. For Scott, he wants his daughter to take care of herself at all cost, creating a bit of distance from her. It’s like the best of both worlds for parenting would be to meet in the middle of those parenting styles, which starts to happen the more time Heather and Scott spend together. 

There are chat messages in The Freshman Parents between Scott, Heather, and the rest of the freshman university parent group, and I could really relate to the dialogue there, having my own child who is in college, with another one right on their heels in high school. While both of my kids still live at home, I imagine the day either (or both) of them move out will be incredibly hard for me, and such a huge adjustment. The various questions asked and the advice given in the parent group is reminiscent of what I’d imagine for my own support group, should I need that someday. It takes a village to raise a child, but what happens to the parents once that job is done? 

Both Heather and Scott have some hidden secrets they’re keeping from one another, mostly in an effort to lay low and not succumb to drama. But in not being completely honest, they put a lot of doubt on their budding relationship, which makes them wonder if it’s even worth getting involved. Over time, they see more than what they’d originally assumed–maybe Heather isn’t such a control freak. And Scott cares a lot more than he lets on. The high dive into what it takes to try to heal from the proverbial empty nest syndrome and come out at the other end mostly unscathed was fun, touching, and a worthy five-star experience! 

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

Purchase links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

Ko Porteous lived in a tiny fishing village in the north of Scotland before moving to Edinburgh aged 10.  

Ko loves meeting people with interesting stories to tell and is constantly on the lookout for knotty story themes, particularly involving women navigating the messiness of life. She has worked as a Research Chemist, Assistant Chef, Teacher and School Leader.  

As well as writing, Ko works as a Business Manager and provides listening services for a mental health charity aiming to reduce the number of deaths caused by suicide.  

In her free time Ko loves to run, meditate and travel; preferably all on the same day.   

Ko has been married for 25 years, has two children, and is now navigating her own empty nest.  

The Freshman Parents is Ko’s debut novel and is the first in ‘The Empty Nesters’ series.  

Visit Ko on Facebook and Instagram.

Visit all the stops on Ko's blog tour:

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Book Review: How to Kill a Crime Writer

By Jami Denison

Some writers say the characters they create dictate the plots to them. That they figuratively sit on these authors’ shoulders as they type, spelling out what happens next. They can barely type fast enough to keep up. 

I am not one of these lucky writers—it’s as hard as giving birth for me—but author Sarah Lotz may be. Her latest book, How to Kill a Crime Writer, features a living, breathing, wisecracking muse who dictates the protagonist’s actions. The kicker? Niamh, the protagonist, is not the muse’s creator. Rather, her mother Annie created hard-bitten PI Leah—and now Leah needs Niamh to prove that Annie didn’t die by falling off a ladder, but was murdered. But is Niamh, a grief-stricken Millennial who failed to launch her own writing career and suffers from an anxiety disorder, up to the task? 

Private investigator Leah Rebecca Overton is the best part of the book, even if she’s the figment of Niamh’s imagination. Leah is a combination of all the toughest female PIs, from V.I. Warshawski to Kinsey Millhone to Veronica Mars. Even though Niamh helped Annie create Leah, she still feels inferior to her. Leah is active when Niamh is passive, strong when she’s weak, brave when she’s scared. Leah is the daughter Niamh fears that Annie wished she had. And when she shows up in Annie’s kitchen, Niamh hides in the bathroom for two days. 

Eventually, though, Niamh comes out of the bathroom and listens to Leah’s argument about why she thinks Annie was murdered. And since Leah only exists in Niamh’s mind, Niamh is the only one who can investigate and put the clues together. Leah’s prodding forces Niamh out of the house, out of her shell, and into the world. As they get closer to finding out the truth about Annie’s death, Niamh starts to rely on Leah… and realizes the PI might not be as tough as she acts. But when Niamh realizes the killer might be closer than she thought, she has a painful decision to make. 

With its supernatural concept and submissive but humorous protagonist, How to Kill a Crime Writer should appeal to fans of Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Auntie series and The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. While the plotting is strong, the pacing is a bit slow, and sometimes it’s hard to keep track of all the different characters.  

How to Kill a Crime Writer has much to offer. For fans of cozies, the book takes place in a small English hamlet with the usual collection of wacky British neighbors. For crime readers, there’s a convention like Bouchercon and insider gossip about agents and reviewers. For pet lovers, there are cats. And for anyone dealing with grief, Niamh’s heartbreak over her mother’s loss and reluctance to move forward will ring true. Lotz’s author’s note at the end of the book gives readers a sad insight into her motivations here. 

Lotz may have written her as a parody of fictional series detectives, but I’d love a book starring Leah Overton. In the meantime, is Veronica Mars streaming anywhere? 

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

More by Sarah Lotz:

The Impossible Us

Missing Person

The White Road

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Rachel Beanland lives life to its fullest...plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to welcome Rachel Beanland to CLC today to talk about her latest novel, The Half Life, which is now available. This sounds like a really interesting story and we are loving the cover. Thanks to Simon and Schuster, we have one copy to give away!

Rachel Beanland is the author of The House Is on Fire and Florence Adler Swims Forever, which won the National Jewish Book Award for Debut Fiction. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and earned her MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University. She lives with her family in Richmond, Virginia.

Visit Rachel online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:

When twenty-three-year-old Eileen O’Malley meets charismatic naval officer Paul Archer in a Charleston department store, she doesn’t expect to fall so hard, so fast. But Paul is funny and ambitious, and soon, Eileen’s got a ring on her finger and is following him to the tiny, sun-drenched Mediterranean island of La Maddalena, where Paul will be heading up Radiological Controls aboard a submarine tender.

In La Maddalena, Eileen joins a makeshift community of navy wives who are hell-bent on making the island feel a little more like home. But for Eileen, whose brother died in Vietnam, home is a loaded word, and as she settles into life on the island—taking Italian lessons and learning to make culurgiones—she begins to love the place for all the ways it is not like where she comes from.

Still, it doesn’t take long for Eileen to be confronted with the complexities of being an American abroad. The decision to send nuclear-powered subs into the La Maddalena Archipelago was a contentious one, and the U.S. government is doing whatever it can to ensure that the island—not to mention all of Italy—doesn’t go communist in the next election.

When Italian activists and scientists begin to sound the alarm about possible nuclear contamination in the water, the island erupts in a series of protests, made worse by the ongoing mishaps of the U.S. Navy. Soon, Eileen’s marriage falters and her loyalties begin to shift as she is drawn into a web of secrets—and to a local journalist who forces her to imagine a life beyond the one she’s been handed.

Atmospheric, sexy, and quietly defiant, The Half Life is a story of love, complicity, and awakening—of one woman forced to choose between loyalty to her husband and country and to the Italian locals who show her the high cost of American exceptionalism. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"A captivating, whip-smart novel about love, loyalty, and a woman torn between two lives. I utterly adored it."

— Clare Leslie Hall, New York Times bestselling author of Broken Country

"The Half Life is a page-turner. Historical in setting, but contemporary in emotional terrain, I felt immersed in the landscape of La Maddalena and in the lives of these characters from the very first page." 

— Mary Beth Keane, New York Times bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes

"The Half Life is a summer read with scope and heart." 

— Adriana Trigiani, author of The View from Lake Como

What is a favorite compliment you've received on your writing?
I like it when people compliment my prose because that feels less subjective, somehow, than complimenting a novel’s characters or plot. I also love it when people tell me they lost sleep reading one of my novels. It’s a great feeling, to be so absorbed in a book that you can’t put it down.

How is Eileen similar to or different from you?

Eileen and I both have connections to the South, and South Carolina specifically. We’ve both spent time as Americans abroad, and in La Maddalena specifically. We’ve both known real grief, and we both married young—while we were still trying to figure out who we were. That’s probably the point at which our stories diverge! 

If The Half Life were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I live in a bubble where I still think actresses like Julia Roberts and Halle Berry are in their twenties, so this question is difficult for me. When I put it to my friends, who’ve read The Half Life, they tell me they want to see someone like Abigail Cowen or Sadie Sink in Eileen’s role. And maybe someone like Elena Kampouris would make a good Laura? Paul’s handsome but pretty complicated, so maybe a guy like Austin Butler? And all my friends think Eugenio Franceschini would make a great Teo, but I lean toward Leonardo Maltese.

Which book made you fall in love with reading?
There were lots of books I loved growing up. The Laura Ingalls Wilder books, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and Jean Webster’s Daddy-Long-Legs were some of my favorites. But L.M. Montgomery probably did more to help me fall in love with reading than any other writer. I loved the Anne of Green Gables series with my whole heart, and went on to read the Emily books as well as some of her stand-alone novels like Jane of Lantern Hill.

What is a question you'd like someone to ask you?
I always like talking about craft, but something tells me I’m going to be answering a lot of questions about infidelity on this book tour. The Half Life has got readers asking if infidelity is ever justified and under what circumstances.

If we were to visit you right now, what places would you take us to see?
If you visited me at home, we’d be in Richmond, Virginia in the middle of a sweltering summer, so I’d suggest we meet up in La Maddalena, Italy instead. We’ll spend our days at the beach, swimming in crystal clear water, and our evenings at the piazza, sipping Aperol spritzes.

Thanks to Rachel for visiting with us and to Simon & Schuster 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 July 21st at midnight EST.

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