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:
Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg from Random House (NG)
George Falls Through Time by Ryan Collett from William Morrow (NG)
Chasing the Clouds Away by Debbie Macomber from Ballantine (NG)
Paradise by Julie Cohen from Orion (NG)
The Messy Years by Alexandra Slater from Hudson House Press (NG)

Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West from St. Martin's Press (NG)

Never Over by Clare Gilmore from St. Martin's Press (NG)

Whispers of Ink and Starlight by Garrett Curbow from Lake Union (NG)

Waiting on a Friend by Natalie Adler from Random House (NG)

That's What Friends Are For by Wade Rouse from Harlequin (NG)

Twenty Something Else by Stephanie Mack from Tyndale House (NG)

Sara:

In Bloom by Liz Allan from Simon & Schuster (NG)

Royally Off-Limits by/from Kate O'Keeffe (ebook)

Jami:
Pinky Swear by Danielle Girard from Atria (NG)
Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel from Henry Holt (NG)

The Take by Kelly Yang from Berkley (NG)

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Book Review: Jilted

By Melissa Amster

After getting ditched at the altar, every “I do” makes me want to scream.

Which is a problem, considering I’m an associate editor at Bride magazine.

Just when I thought my job couldn’t get any worse, I got roped into being a last-minute bridesmaid... and paired with Wilder Hayes.

Gorgeous, smug, and maddening. Cue the bickering, the sparks, and one very unexpected coat closet moment.

Not my finest hour… or was it? Because that kiss? Easily the hottest thing I’ve ever experienced.
At least I’ll never have to see him again.

Until Monday rolls around, and—surprise!—he’s my boss’s son and my new work shadow for the season.

It's a match made in heaven...or hell. Only time will tell. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Jilted is my first Vi Keeland experience and I really enjoyed it! Sloane and Wilder were interesting characters and I loved their chemistry. The story had a Pretty Woman feel at times. There was even an armchair adventure involved. Plus, lots of open door heat! 🔥🔥🔥

I am glad we had both Sloane and Wilder's perspectives and I enjoyed getting to know both of them throughout the novel. I liked that Sloane had diabetes as the story brought more awareness to what is involved when someone has it. 

I felt like things came too easy with Wilder being so rich. Like he could just throw money at any problem and everything would be fine. This was my only concern and it didn't take away from my enjoyment. 

Overall, it was a romantic and entertaining page-turner and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys rom-coms. 

(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post.)

Movie casting suggestions:
Wilder: Fabien Frankel
Sloane: Jocelyn Hudon
Elijah: Bowen Yang
Will: Joe Keery
Harry: Timothy Hutton

Thanks to Tor Publishing Group for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Vi Keeland:

Something Borrowed, Something You

The Invitation

Indiscretion

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TW: Medical incident from diabetes, infidelity, death of mother (off page), Parkinsons

Margaux Eliot takes the stage

Today we are pleased to welcome Margaux Eliot to CLC. Her latest novel, Honeymoon Stage, takes place in the early 2000s and sounds like an entertaining rom-com! We hope you will enjoy learning more about it and getting to know Margaux, as much as we did.

Margaux Eliot is excited to give early aughts pop culture its due. Writing as Julia Fine, she is also the author of speculative novels The Upstairs House, What Should Be Wild, and Maddalena and the Dark. She lives in Chicago with her family.

Visit Margaux online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:

It’s the night before her wedding, and Cassidy Baum isn’t sure she wants to get married…Or maybe she just doesn’t want to get married on set, surrounded by cameras and crew, with the crushing weight of everyone watching. 

As a production assistant, Cassidy’s used to being behind the camera, not in front of it. But her fiancé is a former child star and musician, and their wedding makes the perfect spin-off for Honeymoon Stage, the groundbreaking celebreality show she once worked on. 

Five years ago, the show fell apart―for dramatic reasons Cassidy is still struggling to understand. Now, Cassidy is forced to reckon with what happened on set to search out the truth once and for all before her wedding is broadcast to the world. 

Rumors, lies, and suspicions come rushing back. And if Cassidy can’t figure out a way to make sense of the past, her own happily ever after may not be so happy after all.

“Delightfully wicked and subversively romantic, Honeymoon Stage deftly cuts through all the grit and glitter of reality television to reveal a whip-smart young woman who finds not only love, but the power of her own voice. A total lollipop of a novel with a hidden tender heart—I’d eat it for dessert if I could.” 

—Amy Jo Burns, author of Mercury

“This smart, skillfully plotted novel has teeth, and it bites back at all the infuriating expectations women face whether we’re on reality TV or just trying to live our real lives.” 

—Layne Fargo, USA Today bestselling author of The Favorites

“I binged this novel faster than the juiciest season of reality TV. Honeymoon Stage feels like watching your favorite show while texting your brilliant, hilarious friend. A love story laced with celebrity secrets and high-stakes intrigue, you won’t be able to stop pressing next episode.”

—Avery Carpenter Forrey, author of Social Engagement

What is a favorite compliment you've received on your writing? 
Whenever an obscure joke that I am particularly tickled by makes somebody laugh.

How is Cassidy similar to or different from you? 
She’s much lower maintenance than I am. Cassidy is pretty good at going with the flow, and she’s happy in the background, which makes her a perfect production assistant. I’m not sure I’d be willing to pay my dues the way that she does. 

If Honeymoon Stage were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles? 
Rachel Zegler as Cassidy, Austin Butler as Gabe, Sabrina Carpenter as Maggie, Zac Efron as Jason 

What is the last book you read that you would recommend? 

Meet Me at the Crossroads by Megan Giddings

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

If we were to visit you in Chicago, what are some places you would take us to see? 
The 606, Jackson Park, Montrose Bird Sanctuary, the Art Institute, Lula Café 

Thanks to Margaux for chatting with us and Kaye Publicity for coordinating the interview.

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Book Review: The California Dreamers

By Melissa Amster

It’s 1980s California, and everyone’s dreaming of the endless summer: sun-drenched beaches, infinite waves, and most of all, beautiful, beautiful freedom. For the Merrick siblings, this idyllic vision is their reality, as they travel up and down the coast with their parents in a van year-round, surfing and swimming their days away. But when a photographer secretly snaps a stunning photo of the family with their boards in the sand, and the image ripples across the country, the only life they’ve ever known is put at risk.

Decades after, the now-distant siblings gather on a gorgeous, wild island to honor their late father. But their reunion is complicated when a journalist, eager for the truth behind the famous photo, discovers their identity and tracks them down. As the siblings reckon with the possibility that more of their lives could be shared, a revelation about their past forces them to confront long-held heartaches. Together, they’ll have to decide whether to let the same tensions rip them apart again—or if telling their story on their own terms might just be the way to recapture the family magic. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I have read all of Amy Mason Doan's novels. She's known for presenting idyllic summer memories ranging from the 1970s to the 1990s. In her latest novel, The California Dreamers, she does this as well. Going back and forth between the 1980s and early 2000s, Amy weaves a captivating story about a family living off the grid and surfing whenever possible. 

This novel had a unique premise and I appreciated that. It almost brought me back to when I would read The Boxcar Children when I was growing up. I felt like I was at the beach with Ronan and her unconventional family. The descriptions really brought the story to life and the narrative kept me captivated the entire time. 

I could see why Ronan's reason for leaving was so difficult in terms of how it affected her family and I liked how everything was slowly revealed, like a package being opened a little bit at a time while getting to peek inside every so often. 

I only had a couple concerns. The first was that the timing was inconsistent. Since this was an advanced copy, I can only hope that was fixed for the final publication. Also, I didn't understand the surf terminology. It would have been helpful to have a glossary or images. 

The California Dreamers is definitely worth checking out for an interesting read! Now that summer's over, it's a great way to recapture the feeling. This novel is perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Karma Brown, and Jessica Strawser.

(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post.)

Movie casting suggestions (focusing on the 2002 timeline as it is easier to cast adults):
Ronan: Maika Monroe 
Griff: Cole Sprouse
Mag: Dylan Sprouse
Dyl: Charlie Tahan
Mama: Marley Shelton
Pauline: Gillian Jacobs

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

More by Amy Mason Doan:
Lady Sunshine
Summer Hours
The Summer List

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TW: Parental neglect, poverty, physical violence (off page), death of parent

Spotlight and Giveaway: Anne of Avenue A

Today we are excited to celebrate the publication of Anne of Avenue A, the latest rom-com in the For the Love of Austen standalone series by Audrey Belleza and Emily Harding. It sounds like the perfect winter romance and the cover enhances the feel of the synopsis. Thanks to Gallery, we have THREE copies up for grabs!

Eight years ago, Anne Elliot broke Freddie Wentworth’s heart when she refused to give up her five-year plan for the sake of adventure. But despite big dreams, Anne, now thirty, is still living at home with hardly a plan in sight. Anne tries to be optimistic—she knows better than anyone that regret will get you nowhere—but that goes out the window when, thanks to her father’s bad spending habits, her childhood apartment is rented out to the very man still living in her head rent-free.

Freddie Wentworth never thought he would see Anne Elliot again after she dumped him for accepting a job overseas. He spent years trying to forget her, and he’s been mostly successful. So when a job opportunity takes him back to New York, he’s shocked to find out that Anne is not only his new neighbor, but also the former resident of his new Greenwich Village penthouse.

Nearly a decade after Anne and Freddie’s fateful romance, the only thing they still have in common is a desire to leave their relationship firmly in the past. But between a disastrous off-Broadway show and a drunken Thanksgiving dinner, nosey neighbors, and flirtatious friends, Anne and Freddie suddenly find their lives more intertwined than ever before. When old feelings start rising to the surface, they must decide whether to put their hearts on the line or walk away all over again. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

"This charming and swoon-worthy second chance romance brings Jane Austen’s Persuasion to modern day New York in a delightfully tender and nostalgic journey which will have Austenites and fans of contemporary romance alike devouring the pages."
—Zoe Allison, author of The Ex-Mas Holiday

"Anne of Avenue A is a cozy holiday Persuasion retelling that every Austenite is sure to love (most ardently). With tender storytelling, wry humor, and the magic of winter in New York, Anne and Freddie’s story is a heartfelt celebration of second chances that will have you rooting for their love from page one."
—Victoria Lavine, internationally bestselling author of Any Trope but You

"Harding and Bellezza deliver yet again with this wonderful, modern-day Persuasion. Using their trademark wit and charm, Anne of Avenue A will have you kicking your feet and giggling from beginning to end."
—Alexa Martin, USA Today bestselling author of How to Sell a Romance

Emily (L) and Audrey (R); credit: Monika Normand

Audrey Bellezza is a two-time Emmy Award–nominated TV producer who has spent over twenty years writing, developing, and executive producing nonfiction television shows for a number of networks and streaming platforms. Audrey lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children. Visit Audrey on Instagram.

Emily Harding is one-half of the writing duo behind the For the Love of Austen series, including Emma of 83rd Street and Elizabeth of East Hampton. She is a graduate of Emerson College with degrees in both creative writing and film. After working over fifteen years in television development and production, she found her way back to writing. Emily lives in Dallas with her husband, two children, and an incredibly spoiled Texas heeler. Visit Emily on Instagram.

Visit Audrey and Emily at their website and on their joint Instagram page.

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

Anne of Avenue A (3 print copies)

Giveaway ends November 2nd at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold

By Jami Denison

Late last year, the country was riveted and horrified by the assassination of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Just as shocking was the reception his alleged killer received, with many regarding Luigi Mangione a hero. With the price of health insurance soaring along with the number of denials, the murder raised the question of when do the ends justify the means? Indeed, UHC members reported a higher level of acceptances immediately after the killing. 

This is the premise underlying Cate Holahan’s latest thriller, The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold. Alice is the uber privileged college-aged daughter of shipping heiress Catherine and AI billionaire Brian. Her kidnappers aren’t after money—they want the world to know about the danger that AI poses, and they’re releasing riddles to spread the word about Brian’s plans. But does Alice deserve to be the victim? How far is too far?

Kidnapping reads like Gone Girl as if Michael Crichton wrote it. Told from two points-of-view—Catherine’s and Alice’s diary—Holahan naturally weaves in the capabilities and possibilities of Brian’s AI company. Two different camps of thought become clear: Brian’s, who believes in the benefits offered if AI runs everything, and the kidnappers, who worry about jobs ending, economies collapsing, and wars run by drones. Catherine is caught in between: She desperately worries about her daughter, but as she watches how Brian handles the kidnappers’ demands, she begins to worry that her husband doesn’t care about anything but the future of his precious company. 

Catherine may be an heiress and a billionaire’s wife, but she’s a mother first, and a character who is easy to identify with despite her wealth. In her diary, Alice comes across equally well. Raised in privilege, she never saw herself as better than others, and has rented an apartment in a sketchy neighborhood near Berkeley to stand on her own two feet. Although she’s initially frozen in fear when the kidnapper attacks her, eventually she fights back valiantly, describing several episodes in which she attempted to gain her freedom. She also uses her diary to describe her relationship with Brian, a man who ignored her in favor of building his company, and even humiliated her when she objected to his vision of the future of AI. 

As Alice’s kidnappers clue her in on their objections, their heart-felt worries about the future have the reader wondering if Alice will fall victim to Stockholm Syndrome. Then Holahan starts pulling out the twists, and the ride gets even better.

As a writer myself, I’m particularly concerned about how AI might further disrupt publishing, an industry already dominated by a few and extremely difficult to break into. The thought of how AI might leave everyone jobless is absolutely chilling. I began reading The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold afraid for Alice’s future. I ended it afraid for everyone’s. 

Thanks to MB Communications for the book in exchange for an honest review. It is available for FREE for Prime members and $1.99 otherwise through Friday from Amazon First Reads.

More by Cate Holahan:

Lies She Told

One Little Secret

The Widower's Wife

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Book Review: Atmosphere

 

By Melissa Amster

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.

Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easygoing even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.

As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, it all changes in an instant.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting listeners to iconic times and places, creating complex protagonists, and telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love—this time among the stars. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

After seeing a lot of good reviews for Atmosphere, I decided to check it out. I have read and enjoyed a bunch of Taylor Jenkins Reid's previous novels, and even though I have no interest in space travel (the movie Space Camp was boring for me), this one grabbed me right away and didn't let go! I'm just waiting for one of my close friends to tease me about reading it. ("You read a book about astronauts?!?" is on the same level as "You watched a movie about football?!?")

The space aspects of this novel were more interesting than I expected them to be, although I wish there were pictures to go along with it. I still don't know what a payload looks like. It was also hard to envision some other parts of the spacecraft. There was definitely a high level of intensity that went along with space travel and I know it's not something I could ever see myself doing. I give kudos to everyone who is courageous enough to give it a try. 

I really loved the social and emotional aspects, as well as the romance between Joan and one of the other astronauts from her group. Joan's relationship with her niece was really special and it made me so angry at her sister at the same time. The dialogue was great and kept the story flowing smoothly throughout. It was easy to visualize people and locations outside of the NASA space station. I also loved that this novel was set in the 1980s, which was a simpler time in some ways, but not in other ways. I even got verklempt at one point.

I really wish there had been an epilogue, as I feel this story would have benefitted from it. Even if it was set further out in time from when the story started, to perhaps see Frances as an adult. 

If you haven't picked this one up yet, don't miss out! You will be surprised and moved and won't be able to put it down or to stop thinking about it. Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah.

Movie casting suggestions (I heard it was optioned for film):

Joan: Evan Rachel Wood

Vanessa: Alia Shawkat

Griff: James Lafferty

Lydia: Bryce Dallas Howard

Donna: Jessica Rothe

Hank: Jai Courtney

Barbara: Lily James

(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post.)

More by Taylor Jenkins Reid:
Malibu Rising
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
One True Loves

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TW: Death during space travel, homophobia, child neglect, vomiting mentioned a lot