Book Review: A Stranger in the House

By Becky Gulc

Shari Lapena has recently become one of my go-to authors when I'm craving a psychological thriller/domestic suspense read. She has written nine novels to date, and A Stranger in the House was one I recently managed to tick off my list. It certainly didn’t disappoint.

So what is it about? Karen and Tom Krupp appear to have a happy, settled married life, but when Tom arrives home one evening, Karen is missing. Shortly afterwards, she is found following a serious car accident in a dangerous part of town, with no memory of what happened.

The police become suspicious, particularly when a body is discovered nearby. As the investigation unfolds, secrets begin to surface, and Karen’s memory loss becomes increasingly difficult to understand. Karen, Tom and their neighbour, Brigid, are drawn into a web of suspicion, forcing them to question how well they really know one another.

This was a quick, easy read with plenty of twists and shifting suspicions. I liked the uncertainty surrounding Karen’s memory loss and found myself constantly wondering whether she genuinely couldn’t remember what had happened or was hiding something. The characters aren’t always particularly likeable, but that’s part of the fun when you’re trying to work out who is telling the truth.

Lapena does a great job of creating the unsettling feeling that something isn’t quite right beneath the surface. Whilst I guessed some of the twists, there were still enough surprises to keep me turning the pages long after I told myself I'd go to sleep! 

If you enjoy domestic thrillers packed with secrets, unreliable characters and suspicious neighbours, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.

A further reminder of why Shari Lapena has become one of my favourite authors and I'm already looking forward to her next book! 

More by Shari Lapena:
Getting Away with Murder
The Couple Next Door
What Have You Done?

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Amanda Elliot makes every moment count...plus a book giveaway

 

© Cassie Gonzales 2021

We're pleased to have Amanda Elliot back at CLC to celebrate the publication of her latest holiday rom-com, Eight Ways to Say I Love You! Melissa really enjoyed her previous novel, Love You a Latke (reviewed here), and is excited to read this one soon. Thanks to Berkley, we have one copy to give away!

USA Today bestselling author Amanda Elliot lives with her family in New Jersey, where she experiments with homemade ice cream flavors, tries her best to grow vegetables in her tiny garden, and writes mysteries under the name Bellamy Rose.

Visit Amanda online:
Website * Instagram

If you're looking for the perfect Hanukkah gift this year (perhaps something you can give someone along with this novel), check out Tchotchke!

Synopsis:

This Hanukkah, Shira Levinson is returning home to New Jersey riding the high of achieving major milestones. Though she only just graduated from college, she's got her dream job and a perfect Los Angeles apartment—an actual miracle in the city of dreams.

Life has not been quite as kind to Leo David. Not only did he fail out of college, he was forced to move in with his estranged dad, who he still hates for cheating on his mom years ago. The only silver lining? Getting to see Shira, his childhood friend (and crush, though he’ll never tell her that) while she’s home for her family's holiday party.

But that's just the beginning. Over the next eight years, Shira's and Leo's lives spin them in all sorts of directions as they grow and change, taking them places they never imagined going. Sometimes those paths take them farther away from each other, and other times closer together. If they can only time it right, they might uncover a love that burns forever. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“A sparkling and heartfelt romance between two childhood friends who just can’t quit each other.”

—Katie Naymon, author of You Between the Lines

"Eight Ways is the perfect Hanukkah Romance gift!"

—Dahlia Adler, award-winning author of Soon By You

"Like a delicious jelly donut, I didn’t want it to end!"

—Lauren Appelbaum, author of The Holiday House Swap

What is one thing you'd tell the debut novelist version of yourself? 
This is a marathon, not a sprint. My first novel came out in 2015, so I've been publishing for over 10 years now, which is wild. Back then I sweated every little thing, and I don't know if it's come with age or with my aging career, but I'm a lot calmer about everything now.

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing Eight Ways to Say I Love You? 
Eight Ways to Say I Love You was my first book told in multiple points of view, and it's also set over eight years, which is a long time to follow two characters. It was a challenge figuring out how to write in dual POV, first of all, with figuring out which scenes should be told from which character's perspectives and why. And it was also a challenge to fit eight years into a standard-length book without (hopefully) feeling like things were being rushed or brushed over. The reward was finishing the book itself, which I hope accomplishes those things!

If Eight Ways was made into a movie, which songs would be on the soundtrack? 
My heroine, Shira, would be very upset if the movie didn't contain cover versions of every corny Hanukkah song in existence. Taylor Swift, please sing "I Have a Little Dreidel" for me? You can make the dreidel symbolize heartbreak or something.

Tell us about a unique Hanukkah tradition you have with your family. 
When I was growing up, we'd have a Hanukkah party every year with all my cousins, and it was so much fun. I'm hoping to recreate that now that I'm an adult with kids of my own.

Which book made you fall in love with reading? 
I've been in love with reading since before I can remember, so it's hard to answer that! It was probably some picture book I don't remember. I do remember being allowed to read The Wizard of Oz aloud to my first-grade class and thinking that was a really big deal.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
Patrick Page. Go watch a video of him narrating literally anything, you'll understand.

Thanks to Amanda for visiting with us and to Berkley for sharing her book with our readers.

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

Giveaway ends November 1st at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Calamity Club

By Melissa Amster

Oxford, Mississippi, 1933.

Abandoned by her mother one Christmas Eve, eleven-year-old Meg Lefleur has learned the hard way to rely on no one. Now one of the unadoptable "big girls" at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, she fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed.

Birdie Calhoun, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford to ask her socialite sister to help the struggling family she’s left behind. But as the Depression tightens its grip, Birdie discovers her sister’s seemingly charmed life is a tapestry of lies.

Then, Birdie encounters Charlie, a woman running low on luck with little left to lose. When their fates—and Meg’s—converge, Charlie comes up with an audacious plan for them to take control of their lives. But in a place and time where hypocrisy is rife and women’s freedom is fragile, even the smallest act of defiance can have dangerous consequences.

The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to underestimated women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings. This is Kathryn Stockett at her most confident, heartfelt, and hilarious—the triumphant return of one of the most beloved storytellers of our time. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

There has been a lot of hype for The Calamity Club and the majority of it has been good, so I knew I had to check it out. It lived up to the hype, and then some! I went through a book hangover afterward and am jealous of anyone who is just starting to read it. 

I loved Birdie and Meg and all the other interesting characters (but not the villains, of course) and miss them now that I am done. Over 600 pages really allows for us spending a lot of time with these characters and really connecting with them. Birdie and Meg were both sympathetic characters and I cared about them a lot. So much happens for both of them in a short span of time and I love that they even meet and connect at one point. 

I feel like if I say anything more, it will spoil the story and I really want it all to unfold organically for you as it did for me. I had no idea what was going to happen from one moment to the next! So nothing from this novel was predictable in the slightest. 

The descriptions really brought the story to life and I could easily visualize everything that was going on. It played out for me like a movie. 

While the ending felt a bit rushed, it was still satisfying. I was just hoping the stakes would be even higher at a certain point. Especially since the idea was put out there that something even worse could happen. 

If you haven't done so already, I highly, highly recommend checking this one out! I only hope Kathryn Stockett won't make us wait another seventeen years for her next novel.

(Trigger warnings below. May contain spoilers.)

Movie casting suggestions:
Birdie: Ella Beatty
Meg: Avery Tiiu Essex

Charlie: Natalia Dyer
Frances: Zoe Colletti
Mrs. Tartt: Melissa Leo

Also by Kathryn Stockett: The Help

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TW: Poverty/loss of finances, parental neglect, marital neglect, child abuse, alcoholism, suicide, bullying, death of parent, forced sterilization, conversion therapy (for LGBTQ+).

Book Review: Back Where We Started

By Sara Steven

Katie’s wildest dreams have come true. She’s a Hollywood actress, booked and busy, and campaigning for her first Oscar. Sure, she still struggles with sexist media malignment and unimaginative roles, but from where she stands today, her hometown of Dutch Ridge, Pennsylvania feels far away—and that makes it all worth it.

Because Dutch Ridge can only ever represent Drew. Every street is filled with memories of their shared adolescence, how they were each other’s first everything, the hours they spent planning for the future. Drew was the only person in Dutch Ridge who didn’t make Katie feel crazy for dreaming big, because he did, too. Was it their extraordinary level of ambition that brought them together at sixteen? It was definitely what drove them apart in the years after.

But now, a promise to her sister forces Katie to return for Christmas to Dutch Ridge, where she runs into Drew, who seems to have followed a different path from the one they once dreamed up. And strangely, he seems...happy. As their run-ins heat up and the two can't keep themselves away from each other, Katie begins to wonder whether her accolade-filled Hollywood life really fulfills her after all.

Back Where We Started is an emotional second-chance romance, a story about allowing oneself to change, the addictive nature of achievement, and how we make room in our lives for what matters most. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Back Where We Started combined two elements I really enjoy in a book, movie, or television; second chance love, and celebrity backstory. I thought giving us the present time along with plenty of snippets of the past allowed me to really understand who Katie is and the depth she will go to in order to keep away from her toxic past. Dutch Ridge, PA was never really home for her. The only thing that represented home for her is Drew, the one who got away.

Drew and Katie could do anything and everything, with big dreams and aspirations. I thought it was interesting that over time, Drew falls into a life that he feels works for him, without the all-encompassing dream he’d originally set out to live, but Katie struggles with any delineation from their original goals. In some ways despite wanting to run from her past, she’s stuck there. And even though she’s living the life she always wanted, falling back into Drew makes her face the reality of what she really has, and how much of a microscope she’s really been under. Is that true happiness?

Drew’s sister really bugged me. She was a bit of a bully when Katie was young, and even after Katie is now known to the world as Blair, the sister still can’t stand Katie. There is a decent amount of background information provided that gives reasons behind the behavior, but it did nothing to alleviate my dislike for her. I loved my reading experience with this book and it’s worthy of the five-stars I’ve given it, and really, the one tiny thing I wish would have happened is some sort of big face-off between the two characters. Especially after Katie grows into her own and recognizes nasty behavior for what it really is, I wished for more from Katie, maybe for all of us who dealt with our mean bullies from our childhood. It was nice to have a nemesis, though, and Drew’s sister fit that description perfectly.

I felt like in a lot of ways, I had a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to reach celebrity status, the extreme highs and the awful terrible lows that we’re often not privy to. I felt really bad for Katie when she realizes that despite how hard she has worked to get to where she is, that all that glitters isn’t the glitz and glamour she imagined for herself, and the honesty of friendships, loves and insight in the celebrity realm can at times be only as deep as the popularity of that person at the time. I imagine it would be tough to know who can be trusted. Drew is always her guiding light in extreme darkness, which was a beautiful relationship to witness, but not without its own troubles. Back Where We Started was a really enjoyable read, a sweet celebrity second-chance experience!

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

Also by Becca Freeman: The Christmas Orphans Club

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Sara and Melissa Talk...To Our Younger Selves

We've been running a column series to get more personal with our readers. We are now getting toward the end of our seventh year!

Going along with our post about aging last month, this month we're giving advice to our younger selves. 

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.

Melissa Amster:

This topic was inspired by a movie I saw this past summer: My Old A$$. It's about a girl who is out partying with her friends and comes face to face with her older self (played by Aubrey Plaza). Her older self has wisdom to share and it affects how she sees her current circumstances. I don't want to say anything more so as to not spoil it. It's definitely an interesting movie though!

A while back at my personal blog, I wrote a letter to myself to be opened in ten years (which would be 2024). It was funny how accurate some things were, especially the part about the trip to Europe! 

Recently, I read Twenty Something Else (reviewed here), which is about a woman who gets to relive her twenties in any order she wants, but with the mind of her forty-year-old self. There was a part where she was telling her best friend about everything that happens in the future. 

For this post, I wasn't sure how I wanted to talk to my younger self. Like how far back should I go? Twenty years? More? Less? I also don't want to tell myself to make any changes that could affect my present life. (I read too many time travel books and just know better as a result.)

18 years ago

Do I want to tell myself to avoid some relationships that may have had an impact on my life at the time but weren't worth the heartache or aggravation? Neither would have kept me from meeting my husband as they weren't connected to the people who led me to him. One is my second boyfriend in college, with whom I probably would have been friends to this day if we hadn't dated. The other is the friend who ghosted me over twenty years ago, even though I enjoyed the time we were close and told each other everything. However, I did have an impact on the life of the friend as I indirectly connected her to her husband and she wouldn't have had the kids she has now if she had ended up with someone else. So it would be selfish of me to toss that relationship out. 

I would tell myself to stay in touch with one of my close friends when she graduated two years before me, as we lost so many years before we reconnected on Facebook. Thankfully we've made up for that time, but I still wish we had those years. I could also do better with staying in touch with friends I don't see on social media. 

I would also tell myself not to leave a job I was somewhat unhappy at for a job that was much worse. (I didn't realize it would end up being worse at the time, but it did.) I could have dealt with some management I didn't really like that much over having to be stuck with a cell phone 24/7 to deal with stuff that was nearly impossible to manage from a distance in the middle of the night. 

While there are things I regret, they also led to other good things down the road. So I can't stop myself from making those decisions knowing what could happen later on. 

In the book world, knowing what I know now, I wish I had traveled to one of Sophie Kinsella's tour stops when she visited the US because that can no longer happen and she was an author I really wanted to meet. 

I'd tell myself to stock up on masks, cleaning supplies, and toilet paper in the beginning of 2020. 

Finally, I'd tell myself to be more adventurous. I'm still more of a homebody than I should be at my age. There's still so much I haven't done, even in the state I've lived in for seventeen years. 

Ten years ago

Sara Steven:

On my blog, (a space that hasn't seen action in years), I've participated in posts where I address my younger and future self, like the one I'd composed in 2012: https://momarock.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/dear-sara-a-letter-to-my-younger-self.

And then there's the post from 2014, addressing my future self: https://momarock.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/dear-sara-a-letter-to-myself-revisited.

It's funny to me that the date listed in the future post is for the year 2024, just two years ago. My oldest is now 21 years of age. The little guy isn't so little anymore; he turned 16 just two days ago. 

I thought it might be interesting to re-address the blog post I'd written in 2012, considering I was the ripe old age of 33 when I wrote it. At the time, I wanted to give sage advice to my 23 year-old self, convinced I had a lot more insight into life. While a lot of what was important to me back then hasn't changed, time and age and even more living experience has put a different spin on things; less the optimistic, more the realist.  

Dear 23 Year Old Sara: 

Now I'm 48, newly minted this year.

Hi there. It’s me. Or should I say, you.

I’m currently 33 years old. I know, hard to imagine, isn’t it? You used to think that age was OLD. I’m here to tell you, it’s not. 

At 23

Well, if I thought 33 was old, imagine how I feel being 15-years older than that!

Guess what? I’m a runner. I’ve done marathons. I eat healthy, and I actually enjoy it! I know you don’t, right now. And that’s OK. Don’t worry about it. Just enjoy your life. Enjoy being young! Let me worry about keeping us healthy and youthful the rest of our life. Your job is to revel in being 23, because you can’t get that time back, ever. 

Guess what? You're still a runner. You love to run. Pending any health conditions or ailments that might keep us from it, you will continue to run until your last breath on this earth. You've also picked up yoga, a pastime that arrived a few years after the original blog post was created, and you're currently pursuing a yoga certification so you can instruct others into developing a deep love for yoga. Healthy eating habits? Well, that's still there, despite the cravings for Starbucks chai tea lattes and strawberry acai refreshers, and anything sweet in general.

You are most likely going through a very traumatic period. You are dealing with some serious grown up issues. At my current age, I can see why getting married young is a BAD IDEA, but you didn’t know any better. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time, and you will get through this. Don’t forget how strong you are, and how brave. You’ve been through so much in your young life leading up to this point, don’t let it be what knocks you down. 

I remember that traumatic period. And you'll have others in the coming years, an ebb and flow of peace and serenity, mixed in with chaos. Looking back with even more clarity, there is no regret for me now in getting married young. It is what brought us here, to this point, and it isn't so bad. I can tell you, you will continue to hold onto your strength to get you through some tough times, but you will also allow for help and guidance, something that has never been easy for you. You will lean on your friends more than you ever have, seeking comfort and advice from safe circles.

Don’t put your passions on the back burner. As you’ve gotten older, you’ve had to take care of responsibilities that don’t allow much time for writing a novel, or being in a play. Do it now, because you won’t be able to later, and I should know. Believe me, I know. 

At 33

You will be there as a constant for your children. It will be one of your most appreciated aspects of life, but it has been tough to focus solely on you and your passions. As the kids age, they will become part of your support system, encouraging you to do more and get involved more. Writing isn't happening. You haven't been in a play. But never say never. Right now, you are working part-time and pursuing the two-year yoga certification, taking care of three wily guinea pigs, spending time with your family, tending to your garden, and running. And you were wrong. You WILL be able to do it later. The older you get, the more you realize that you can still continue to pursue your interests. Never. Say. Never.  

You are going to have some amazing friends who stay with you over the next decade. In fact, some of them you currently are holding onto right now, will be like sisters to you. Trust them more, and let them in. They mean well, and they love you a whole lot. Those are the types of friendships you never want to let go of. 

Some of those friendships have remained intact. Some have gotten stronger, while you've had to let go of other relationships--mostly due to self-preservation. Remember how you used to say that you were a people collector? You still are, but you are more selective in who you choose to hold onto. And that's OK.

You are going to do some crazy things over the next ten years or so. I’d love to divulge more information, but if I did, you’d change the course of our life, and I don’t want that to happen. It all has brought us here, and here is a pretty good place. It might be a difficult path to get here, but there is peace. And it is worth it. 

Oh yes, there is craziness. But I agree--it has been totally worth it.

And speaking of crazy… promise me that you get your tattoo. Don’t chicken out. That tattoo is a symbol for you, and it continues to be one. And, she still looks like a good girl.

You still don't have an additional tattoo, and you don't feel any guilt in that! You're allergic to metal, so unless you plan to go with a vegan tattoo that is void of metal, does it really matter if you get one? The one and only tattoo you have still looks good, with a little less color in it as the years have gone by. It's still a symbol for you; a reminder of a time in your life when you rose above the s*** and managed to come out of it with your soul intact. Your tattoos are scars--from your children, from running mountain trails and tripping on large rocks, from the skin cancer that was removed from your right cheek. They are scars from your existence, and they've become coveted and in the end, absolutely worth it.

Now

What would you tell your younger self?

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Spotlight: The Christmas Competition

The local rumor mill in Nisa Ansari's small highland town is swirling about the downfall of her marriage, and in desperate need of a distraction, she enters her town’s Christmas house-decorating competition. The competition comes with the added bonus of getting on neighbor Kerr Murdoch’s last nerve. It’s the least she could do, considering her ex-husband left Nisa for Kerr’s girlfriend. And maybe if Kerr smiled or cracked a joke—just once!—his girlfriend would’ve stayed, and Nisa wouldn’t find herself alone during the holidays.

Introverted Kerr has trouble feeling comfortable around people he doesn’t know well. Newly single, he decorates his house in remembrance of his mother, who always had a soft spot for Christmas lights. But when Nisa's and Kerr’s decorations end up nearly identical, he incurs Nisa’s wrath.

This means all-out war, complete with gaudy wreaths, twinkle lights, and too many reindeer to count. Never mind that Nisa can’t keep her eyes off Kerr’s toned forearms. Or ignore that he’s a pet-loving veterinarian with a heart of gold. After conceding to her husband’s wishes for years, Nisa is determined to get her way. But as Christmas draws near, Nisa must decide what she actually wants: the familiar rivalry she’s had for years with Kerr, or opening herself up to the chance to fall in love with someone new. 

Purchase The Christmas Competition.

“Zoe Allison has written a truly gorgeous Christmasy nearly lovers-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story that will remind you just what happiness is.”
—Lucy Keeling, author of Just Friends in Vegas

“Fans of this genre, and Christmas novels, will love this one.”
—RedCarpetCrash

Credit: Zoe Allison

Zoe Allison is a graduate of the RNA's New Writers' Scheme. Alongside her day jobs as a doctor and a writer, she started a TikTok account in 2021 where she regularly shares comedic sketches based on writing, and the romance genre in particular.

Visit Zoe online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram

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Book Review: The Twenty Dates

By Sara Steven

Claire’s marriage is in (total!) crisis. Her husband, Mark, is distracted, presumptuous, and utterly clueless - smart scales for their 19th wedding anniversary? Really? Perhaps she'd be better off alone. At least there'd be less laundry.

When Claire suggests separating, Mark panics. He asks for one last twenty dates, one for each year of their marriage, to prove they're better off together than apart.

What follows is a series of adventures Claire never saw coming - some mortifying, some exhilarating, and some that make her question everything she thought she knew. About Mark. About marriage. And about the woman she's quietly become while she wasn't paying attention.

As the dates tick down, Claire must is the spark still there - or has their marriage simply run its course?  (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I felt I could really relate to Claire and Mark in The Twenty Dates. So many changes can happen in a long-term marriage, and this couple has been handed a lot in a short span of time, with their son leaving the nest, Claire dealing with the ever-changing world of menopause, and both dealing with changes in employment status. On top of all of that, Claire is looking for security and solidarity from Mark, proof that despite all of the change, he still has her back. Yet, when his ill-attempt at a 20-year anniversary gift doesn’t go over as smoothly as he assumed it would, bringing all of their issues to the surface, they both take a step back to try to evaluate what has gone wrong.

The plan of twenty dates to represent twenty years of marriage is a really unique idea, one that I thought could be pretty interesting to incorporate into my own marriage. I’m seventeen years in this year, and while I read about Claire and Mark’s experiences, some well-handled, others tragically and comically funny, it made me reflect on the time spent with my own husband and whether something like this could help us to build an even better relationship. For Mark and Claire, it certainly appears so, but there are still a lot of stumbling blocks and years of old habits that need to be assessed, much like any real-life couple would struggle with when they are coming to terms with being a better spouse and partner for their significant other. 

I loved that aside from the marriage building, both characters find themselves on a journey of self-discovery as well. Claire sets out to accomplish some long-term goals she’s been wanting to fulfill for a very long time but never felt she had the time to do so. And Mark is working towards goals he’s set out to accomplish with his employer, which has caused strife in the marriage at times, but as Claire begins to feel stronger and more accomplished in her own right, it becomes less of an obstacle, and less of a threat. I always appreciate books that highlight older individuals who still continue to grow and change–not looked on as past their prime. It only adds more fuel to my own fire to continue paving my path, because there is a lot of life left to live for this couple, and there is a lot of life left to live in mine as well.

The dialogue was fun and cheeky, particularly when Mark and Claire banter. There is a rather steamy scene while Mark is away that surprised me, but pleasantly so. For some of the book when Mark makes his plans to travel for work, I thought, “Why isn’t Claire going with him?” For me, personally, if my children were no longer at home and I wasn’t employed, I’d travel to new lands in a heartbeat! But I also realize that Mark needed to leave in order for Claire to truly discover who she is again, which might never have happened had she gone along as Mark’s plus one.

Having read the first book in the Empty Nesters series (reviewed here), I was excited to see what The Twenty Dates had to offer, and I feel this was the perfect complimentary read and a great addition to the series. While I might not be an empty nester (yet), there really is a lot of relatable dialogue and situations that I think any woman (or man) could identify with. I hope there will be more to add to this series in the future!

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 ten.   

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 mid-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 a Funeral Celebrant.   

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 of her own and is now navigating her own empty nest.   

The Twenty Dates is Ko’s second novel and the second book in ‘The Empty Nesters’ series.   

Visit Ko on Facebook and Instagram.

Visit all the stops on Ko's blog tour:

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Now That We Don't Talk

Today we're celebrating the publication of Rachel Pologe's debut novel, Now That We Don't Talk, a forced-proximity, enemies-to-lovers Hanukkah rom-com. Melissa is excited to include it in her holiday reading queue this upcoming winter and we're excited to share a copy with you, thanks to Berkley!

If you're looking for the perfect Hanukkah gift this year (perhaps something you can give someone along with this novel), check out Tchotchke!

Norah Gold is a bolter. She avoids emotional situations at all costs, doesn’t do meaningful relationships, and when things get a little too real, she runs. She hasn’t let herself fall in love in nearly a decade, not since her whole world fell apart when her dad suddenly passed away. Desperate to escape a friends-with-benefits situation gone clingy, she returns home to Chicago for the holidays. Her one goal? Avoid Henry Cole, the boy who blew up her life and broke her heart back in high school. Easier said than done when she discovers that their mothers are dating and insist on celebrating the holidays together.

A decade later, Henry Cole is all custom suits and condescension. He is order to her chaos and absolutely insufferable about it. When Norah and Henry get snowed in together and learn just how serious their moms’ relationship is, they call a truce to make it through all eight nights of Hanukkah without setting each other on fire. As they begin to rediscover the foundation that made them so close growing up, Norah is desperate to keep her distance—the last thing she can handle is reopening decade-old emotional wounds. But even though they’ve tried to escape the past, Norah and Henry have unfinished business too pressing to ignore. Can Norah shake off her deep-seated impulse to bolt, or are they destined to flame out just like they did as teenagers?

“Rachel Pologe's debut is dazzling, and a perfect romance for the holidays--or any time of year.”
—USA Today bestselling author Jenna Levine

"This second-chance Hanukkah romance delivers the kind of swoony satisfaction that will keep you happily hooked for all eight nights.”
—Lindsay Hameroff, author of Rewrite the Stars

“This rom-com hits the genre’s most beloved tropes just right, and thoughtfully explores one of the truest expressions of love: owning up to our mistakes. This is pure childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers joy.”
—Ellen O’Clover, author of The Heartbreak Hotel

Rachel Pologe writes swoony, character-driven contemporary romance novels about messy but relatable people you can’t help but root for. Rachel has spent her career working in television writers’ rooms, but books were her first passion. In sixth grade, a popular boy said something nice and unprompted about her creative writing assignment, and she’s been riding that high ever since. Originally from Baltimore, Rachel now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. Now That We Don’t Talk is Rachel’s debut novel. Visit Rachel 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 October 25th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Plus-One List

By Melissa Amster

Eloise, who struggles with anxiety, strongly prefers the company of her senior rescue dogs to people. But when her best friend announces she’s getting married in Mexico City and every guest must have a date, the pressure is on. Using an exclusive “plus-one list,” Eloise winds up with Agustín, a charming journalist and immigrant who recently moved to New York City from Mexico.

Agustín is on a mission to write the article of his career, but to do that, he’ll need to snag an interview with a man who’s proven impossible to track down. His only chance is to catch the source unaware at the upcoming “wedding of the century.” At first, being Eloise’s plus-one seems like the perfect solution, a purely transactional arrangement. Eloise is not looking for romance, and Agustín sees no need to tell her about his true motives for coming to the wedding.

As they play tourists in Agustín’s hometown, sampling smoky cocktails and delicious street food and meeting his family, Eloise slowly comes out of her shell. Suddenly, her blossoming trust in Agustín starts to grow into something deeper. But if Agustín wants to keep that trust, he’ll need to come clean—before their fragile connection is broken forever.

The Plus-One List is a deeply vulnerable and intimate romance novel that will make readers long for a dazzlingly romantic summer vacation. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I loved The Plus-One List for so many reasons! It was really well-written, for starters, and I found myself absorbed in the story right away. Agustín was a swoonworthy male romantic lead. Beyond swoonworthy, even. There were cute dogs. And they each had their own unique personalities. It was a virtual vacation. And there was just so much love packed into this story that it was just brimming over.

I can't even imagine how difficult it must have been for Eloise to go through so much social anxiety all the time. It made her more endearing, especially since she was really trying hard to overcome it. However, once she had Agustín's attention, it was hard not to be jealous of her. You'll see... 

I also love how Eloise brought a group of people together without even trying. It was really sweet too. 

The vivid descriptions made everything jump off the page and I could visualize people and settings, even for places I've never been before. I could practically smell the food cooking, as well.

My only concern, which is a minor one, is that I would have liked the setback to have a bit more time before being resolved. However, I was glad that it was resolved no matter when or how!

This is just a really wonderful rom-com and you'll be glad you've read it, once you pick it up and have trouble putting it down. It's perfect for a summer beach read or a cozy autumn evening, or really any time of the year!

Movie casting suggestions:

Eloise: Molly Brown

Agustín: Diego Boneta

(Trigger warnings below. May contain spoilers.)

Thanks to Over the River PR for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Also by Amy Ewing: The Irish Goodbye

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TW: Death of parents, infidelity (secondary character), losing one's home, panic attacks.

Book Review: You with the Sad Eyes

Christina Applegate came of age on sets and stages, expected to be on time, with lines learned, ready for lights-camera-action. What started as a financial necessity soon became an emotional escape from a tumultuous home life in the infamous Laurel Canyon scene of the 70s and 80s. She rocketed to stardom on the sitcom Married...with Children and went on to captivate audiences in classics like Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead, Anchorman, and Dead to Me in her five-decade long career.

Then it all stopped. A Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in 2021 confined her to a king-sized bed and the company of memories she’d rather forget: memories of the self-doubt and body dysmorphia that stalked her meteoric rise, of her mother’s fight against addiction and abuse after her father left, and of the tax life had taken on her body and mind that was suddenly coming due.

Now, at her most intimate and vulnerable, she unveils a story not even those closest to her fully know. She returns to the diaries she kept her whole life, finding the pain matched by joy, the losses mitigated by the extraordinary, and the weight of life lifted by her unrelenting belief that something greater lay ahead. No longer willing to lock herself away and with the perspective only our own mortality can bring, she knew it was imperative to tell it all.

You with the Sad Eyes presents a remarkable woman and her legacy. In her own words, “I truly believe that books can make people feel less alone. That’s why I’m doing this. You with the Sad Eyes won’t be some big violin scratching for my life. But it will be real. It will be filled with the ups and downs, the humor and grief of life.

So here I am.

Real me.

Lots to say.” (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Melissa Amster:

I've seen many shows and movies featuring Christina Applegate. My favorite is Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. So I was interested in reading her memoir and finally got a chance to on Audible. It was nice to hear her narrate her own life story and felt more impactful coming directly from her voice.

This book gets intense early on. Christina talks about a lot of things that are listed in the trigger warnings at the bottom of this post. If you're going to read or listen, please go easy on yourself and take breaks. It's just a lot! Especially the "orange curtain" chapter.

Christina jumps around in time a lot, which makes things confusing. Especially when listening to it vs. being able to go back and look at dates. So if you're going to listen, you may want to read along and pause as needed. She also goes off on tangents or completely switches topics in the chapter. She started a chapter talking about The Sweetest Thing and then switched to talk about her wedding with no segue. 

I appreciated Christina's honesty and vulnerability. Some parts felt uncomfortable to listen to because of her candidness with sharing too much information. It's also strange to me to hear people cry on an audiobook. I understand her emotion, but it felt like too much sometimes. 

I really liked the chapter about Sweet Charity, as well as the ones learning what happened behind the scenes of shows and movies, especially Dead to Me. I also loved hearing her talk about her daughter, who is close in age to mine. That felt so relatable and I also heard her mom pride shining through.

It was sad to learn about how she found out she had MS and all the limitations it has since put on her. 

Overall, this was a tough one to listen to, but I feel like I got to know the real Christina, including the name she prefers to go by when she's not performing. 

When I was listening to the book, there was this video that came to mind and I couldn't remember if I really saw it or was just dreaming. Turns out, it really exists. In the video, she's performing 1960s songs with Kristin Chenoweth and Carrie Underwood. Check it out! (Start at 2:25.)

Sara Steven:

Like many people who grew up in the 1980s, I am a big fan of Christina Applegate. Watching Married...with Children when you’re a kid felt a little scandalous back then, but a lot was allowed in those days. Even now, when I visit with my parents, my dad will say, “Thank your father, kids,” and in response I’ll say, “Thanks, Dad,” just like Kelly and Bud would do on the show. In Christina’s book, she mentions how the character of Kelly was meant to be a biker chick who later morphed into a sex symbol who never really fully committed to that role, and even then, I could see exactly what she meant by that. Kelly was all about the illusion, and I found it interesting that for Christina, the majority of her childhood and younger years had been built around that same premise; an illusion. You never knew what was really going on for her and for her life behind the celebrity.

There were a lot of surprising elements to You with the Sad Eyes. I did not know how funny Christina is; not just what we’ve seen in movies like Anchorman, but the way she described her world as a whole was deeply personal, at times tragic, painful, but always with a tinge of humor. I imagine it’s a coping mechanism to get through some tough days, and through her explained chaos that has ensued since her recent MS diagnosis, it would not surprise me one bit. We only know what we’re privy to, and often it’s online articles that will tell us how Christina is doing, so it was enlightening to actually hear it from her own perspective, without the interruption of news-worthy fodder. 

I enjoyed reading about her life, and her experiences in shows like Married...with Children and movies like Bad Moms, which by the way, I loved her in. I think I would have liked to hear a little bit more–I felt like maybe to give her costars privacy, she didn’t say as much, but it would have been nice to learn more about some experiences she’d had on the sets of shows and movies that I loved seeing her in. I do feel like I learned some new things about her, like her background in dance. I had no idea that she was so passionate about it, or that she’d co-founded The Pussycat Dolls. I could tell by her descriptions and the yearning she has for dance, just how important it is to her, and in the moments where she reflects on the past and now having MS, I felt those painful emotions from her. 

What I appreciated most about this book is the blunt honesty Christina gives her readers. Even when she tells us about the various times in her life when she wished she would have been more candid and open about things, she doesn’t sugarcoat it. She doesn’t sugarcoat her upbringing, her childhood, or the toxic relationships she’s been in. Ultimately, she lets the world know that love her or hate her, she chooses to be herself, whether we like it or not, and I think it’s that type of brute inner strength that has carried her through dealing with an autoimmune disease. She says that being on Dead to Me was her best work ever, and while I do agree, I’m hopeful that we will see more from her in the near future.  

(Trigger warnings below. May contain spoilers.)

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TW: Molestation, toxic/abusive relationship, alcohol and drug use, addiction, death of friend, cancer, multiple sclerosis, parental abandonment, miscarriage. (A lot happened in this book so if we missed something, we apologize.)

Book Review: The Christmas Rift

By Sara Steven

Daisy and Kate are broke, single and facing another Christmas in their decidedly less-than-luxurious London flat. But at least they have each other. And Nigel, their cheese-stealing resident mouse, although technically nobody invited him.

Then Maximillian Taylor arrives.

Tall, golden-haired, impossibly handsome and working in fashion, Maxi is supposed to be the answer to their financial problems. Unfortunately, he creates a much bigger one.

Because Daisy thinks she might have found The One.

Kate has something rather less romantic in mind.

And Nigel doesn't trust him as far as his tiny mouse paws could throw him.

As Christmas approaches, friendship gives way to jealousy, misunderstandings and one spectacular festive rift. With a meddling landlady, questionable life choices and a philosophical rodent watching the whole disaster unfold, this is one Christmas nobody at Miller Avenue is likely to forget. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

They say you should never let a man come between you and your best friend, but Daisy and Kate never got that memo! And I’m glad they didn’t, because The Christmas Rift was delightfully charming in all the best ways, starting with the lengths the two women will go to, all in an effort to gain the attention of Maxi, their newest roommate. 

At first, no one would have ever guessed that Maxi would actually be Maximillian. When their landlord informs them that she’s found the perfect roommate to join their dilapidated flat, the biggest concern they have is whether the newest addition would fit in well enough. But Maxi is a lot more than they can take, and Maxi as a character is just plain narcissistic, but neither Daisy nor Kate can see him for who he really is. I loved that the book gives viewpoints from all three primary characters, because it’s plain obvious just how vastly different each character can be. Daisy leans more on the sweet side, erroring on the side of optimism, while Kate is rough around the edges. Daisy wants an ever-after love story with Maxi, and Kate? Well, how about happiness in the moment, as long as it’s with Maxi between the sheets.

Maxi intends to use all of his slimy charms to get everything he wants, even if it means going behind his roommates’ backs, stealing food and never lifting a finger. An unexpected surprise is the viewpoint from Nigel, a sarcastic mouse who has lived through five cycles of roommates in the flat and has seen it all. At least, he thought he'd seen it all, until Maxi shows up. I’m not usually prone to reading books that have a rodent’s perspective, but his take on things really did add fun to the book. His best friend is Winston the spider, which made me flash back to one of my favorite books of all time, Charlotte’s Web. Who better to give the lay of the land than Nigel? It was cute how in some ways, he seems almost protective of Daisy and Kate, especially when he sees how often they’ve been wronged by Maxi.

Can Daisy and Kate survive Maxi? Can their friendship overcome their newfound obstacle? There were some really touching moments sprinkled in amidst the chaos, providing a cute holiday read to lighten the load this season. And we all need a lighter, brighter season this year! All of the characters were fun, but Nigel is the star. I suggest reading The Christmas Rift just for him! 

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

K.L. Crear is an author, over-sharer and walking cautionary tale. Think sweary teenager trapped in a menopausal woman’s body, one sneeze away from a wardrobe malfunction. You’re welcome.

After years in banking, the Civil Service and property management (The Beige Trilogy), she found herself broke, baffled and built from biscuit crumbs and unresolved trauma. So she wrote it all down and flogged it in paperback.

A two-time cancer survivor, Karen tackles life’s shitshow with inappropriate laughter, questionable humour and “F*ck off!” for inspirational quotes. She writes jaw-dropping memoirs and hilarious women’s fiction about women who’ve had enough, snapped slightly and are thriving regardless.

She lives in a sleepy Northern town with her long-suffering, partially deaf husband and their permanently unimpressed cat, Pickle. Her hobbies include pastry, shouting at the Real Housewives and threatening to adopt an absurdly cheerful axolotl.

A portion of every book sale goes to Women’s Aid, Great Ormond Street, the Epilepsy Society and Macmillan. The world’s a shitshow, but we can all make a little difference.

Visit K.L. Crear online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Visit all the stop's on K.L. Crear's blog tour:

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Andrea Thome plants the seeds of love...plus a book giveaway

We are pleased to introduce you to Andrea Thome, whose latest novel, Mine Again, is now available. We enjoyed learning more about Andrea and this novel and hope you will too. Thanks to BookSparks, we have one copy to give away!

Andrea Thome is the author of the award-winning HESSE CREEK SERIES. A former sports and news anchor and occasional emcee, Andrea has two grown children and has been married to Hall of Fame baseball player, Jim Thome, for almost thirty years. The travel-loving couple divides their time between Chicago, Illinois and life on the road, usually with friends and always in search of hiking trails. The mountains are Andrea’s happy place.

MINE AGAIN is the first book in the SUNFLOWER SERIES.

Visit Andrea online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:

Delilah Spencer is a rolling stone. A big city attorney from Chicago on a temporary work assignment in Sunflower, Montana.

Ranger Beckham's Sunflower roots run deep. Three generations to be exact. The high school band director and single father is adrift, fresh out of a marriage of convenience. He's all but given up on finding true love.

Until he bumps into Delilah, the fixer with trust issues who has a hard and fast rule: never get attached to the places she visits or the people in them. They strike a deal when the chemistry between them burns too hot to ignore, convincing themselves they'll be able to part as friends when Delilah's gig is up, no matter how scorching things get between them.

But the slower pace in tight-knit Sunflower is a balm for Delilah's restless soul, and it becomes impossible to imagine leaving Ranger or Montana behind.

Will Delilah break her own rules and finally put down roots, or will she cut and run when her contract is up, leaving Ranger and the life she never knew she wanted in the rearview mirror? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"Charming first installment in the Sunflower Series."
- Kirkus Reviews

"Snappy--A charming opposites-attract romance." 
- Booklife Reviews

What is a favorite compliment you've received on your writing? 
I’m always grateful when readers thank me for writing green flag MMCs. I love writing guys  that are strong and stoic while also remaining emotionally available and vulnerable. When that works for readers—it’s validating. We need real life green-flag men in our current  climate more than ever! 

How is Delilah similar to or different from you? 
Delilah and I both like a plan. I work well if I have a framework fin place, even if plans change and I need to make adjustments. That is where Delilah is a bit different. She struggles a bit with the idea of breaking the rules she’s set for herself. She eventually comes around, but she’s more of a horse with a bit in her mouth about it than I am. It helps that I am a Sagittarius. 

If Mine Again was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading  roles? 
I would love to see unknown actors, especially in the roles of Delilah and Ranger. As an  indie author, it can be hard to break into a career where there are authors with the backing  of major publishing houses. I imagine it’s even more difficult for actors trying to make it—which is why I’d love to see someone get their break playing my characters.  

That said, I’ve always imagined Pop being played by Tim Robbins. He played a baseball player when he was younger—it would be fun to see him play Pop as a retired Hall of  Famer.  

Which book made you fall in love with reading? 
I’m not sure I could pick just one book. I loved Judy Blume books when I was a kid, and then  Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts romances when I was a bit older. But I read everything. I’ve read every John Grisham book he’s ever written, and I love historical fiction, too. My all time favorite book? The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. That book met me in a  moment where it ultimately changed the way I see the world. 

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
I love the raspy gentleness of Demi Moore’s voice and I think she’s an incredible actress. 

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to  see? 
I live in Chicago, so there is no shortage of places I could take you. We’d start with a walk  along our gorgeous lakefront, making our way over to the Bean for a quick selfie, before heading into the Art Institute. I could mosey around there all day, especially when the sun is shining in the atrium. Endless inspiration. Lunch would be at the iconic RL on  Michigan Avenue and afterward, we’d catch the architectural boat tour that departs from  the Wrigley Building. It’s a must-do when you’re in town! 

A perfect day in Chicago isn’t  complete without taking in one of our world class sporting events, and since my son was drafted by the Chicago White Sox this past summer—I’d take you to Guaranteed Rate on the South Side, with a quick stop at The Grandstand first for some Sox gear. Fireworks after  we win would cap off a quintessential visit to the windy city, and I hope it would leave you wanting to return sooner than later.

Thanks to Andrea for visiting with us and to BookSparks 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 October 20th at midnight EST.

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