Book Review and Giveaway: The Best Thing I Never Had

By Becky Gulc

**Giveaway is now closed**

The Best Thing I Never Had by Erin Lawless is another fantastic debut novel by an author I'd happily read further novels from in the future. But whats it all about?

This book is about seven University students who couldn't be closer in their university heyday in 2006/7. It's about bonds developing and breaking, and asks whether broken friendships or relationships can ever be repaired later in life.

The novel starts in the present, 2012, when two of the friends, Nicky and Miles, announce their engagement and we are shown the different reactions to the upcoming wedding by the other five friends. To say there is some apprehension about all getting together again after five years is an understatement. With the apprehension building up, the questions surrounding what went on between this set of friends to break some of the bonds allow us to go back in time to 2006/7 for the first half of the novel.

Here we learn what university life was like for this set of four female and three male friends. With one couple in love, a couple of cases of unrequited lust and love, and an awkward developing romance that could fracture long-standing friendships, there is a lot going on.

Without wanting to spoil what goes on, needless to say I was intrigued to see how the wedding in 2012 would pan out following what is basically a big messy fall out amongst several members of the group at the end of University. What happens in 2012 is covered in the latter part of the novel.

I enjoyed the narrative and was drawn in immediately, wondering why each character had so much angst about attending their friend's wedding, and it worked well by having a good chunk of the novel set in the past and later the present, without constantly flitting between the two.

I found the number of characters confusing for quite a while when reading this, but my head soon got around who was who, and who felt what about whom else, but I did keep having to do a little recap in my head initially. It wasn't long before I felt strongly about what I wanted to happen/not happen between the characters and who I felt was in the right/wrong when events unveil themselves. Because I felt so strongly, I was almost shouting at the book at some points when I could see where it was frustratingly going. I think i would have found it a little less frustrating if Leigha's feelings for one of the friends had been covered in more detail in the early parts of the novel; this seemed minimal, so I had little empathy to her feelings for the most part though.

Overall, I thought there was good character development, particularly for those whom I considered to be the more central characters of Harry, Adam, Leigha and Johnny. By the end of the first half, I couldn't wait to find out what happens in the present and whether my hopes for the characters were realised. I was very happy with how things were tied up at the end, it felt realistic rather than contrived.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. If you want to be reminded of University days and how happy yet complicated friendships can be (in a more care free time in someone's life as well as when older), this may be the book for you. I'd love to see some of these characters feature in Erin's future work.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have TWO e-books for some lucky readers anywhere in the world! 

How to win:

Please tell us about someone from your past you'd like to reunite with.

One entry per person.

Please include your e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win. Entries without contact information will NOT be counted.

Open worldwide. Giveaway ends April 16th at midnight EST.

Go-To-Gay: Intuition

Introduction by Tracey Meyers

I’ve lived to regret it on several occasions. Not following my intuition (aka – my gut), that is. From time-to-time I’ve been delightfully surprised, however a majority of the time I’m spot on.

The times I listen to my gut the most is in my professional life, such as when I’m making decisions to help others. However, when it comes to my personal life, it’s a bit harder because I want to believe the best in people. I want to believe that I’m the one whose compass is off. I want to see things for what they can be, not what they are at that moment.

Sometimes listening to your gut is most difficult when reason seems to make the most sense. When your head and your gut are in two totally different places.

Today, our Go-To-Gay, Gary Edwards shares with us his thoughts on intuition.


Intution
By Gary Edwards

Would have, could have should have! We all have that inner voice the one that we often tune out! Many of you are Mom’s and I am sure can tune in to your instinct for your kids. That voice that tells you when and what to do to be able to protect your kids and keep them safe from harm’s way.

Well, how come we forget to do that for ourselves. So often after a horrible situation or dealing with an awkward moment we will say “I knew better,” I had a weird feeling about that!” or “I should have listened to myself”

Is it time to slow down and connect with yourself again? Time for you can clear your head and connect to your internal voice. How do you slow down and take a minute to think a minute from rushing and pay attention to the world around you. We are all on a path with many, many options some are gifts and wonderful opportunities others may be distractions or a quick fix and total lack of judgment.

Think back to a time when you felt the most connected to yourself, G-d, a higher power, energy, whatever you want to call it. What where you doing and how to you get there again. Someone once pointed out to me once you identify with your own center; you will be able to get back to center easier. If you were always centered you would not know you were there.

I think we are always learning, growing and striving to make our lives the best they can be. We are all here to be happy, joyous and free. How do we make that be the biggest part of our life? For me I practice yoga, run and read a lot of books about self help and also staying positive. One of the books I am reading right now is The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. When I am in a positive place of mind and I tend to listen to myself go with my gut decisions and follow my instinct. When I am in a negative place of mind I tend to make bad choices and have a lot of negative self talk, leading to me not following my heart and listening to that inner voice. Being negative, doubt, fear, and panic can set in and that is when we think we are responding, but we are reacting. Nothing good can come when we are in that frame of mind.

What are some things that you do to stay centered? What is an example of you using your instinct? I would love to hear what works for you!

Gary Edwards is the marketing and events manager for bestselling author Wade Rouse. Edwards arranges Rouse’s tour schedule, speaking engagements as well as coordinates and facilitates his writing workshops and retreats.  Additionally, Edwards has helped market and promote all five of Rouse’s books. Edwards also has a background in hospitality, and sales as well as design. 

With his vast professional back and a love to listen and help friends he is a perfect storm of love and nurture. Edwards is Martha Stewart meets Dear Abby with a dash of Mrs. Doubtfire.  For more, please friend him on Facebook and Twitter.

Susie Orman Schnall is full of "Grace"...plus a book giveaway

"Fit for 40."

A friend and I have been talking about this idea a lot.  We’re making a list of things we wish to accomplish by our 40^th birthdays...which apparently are now close enough to be worth discussing.

I’m not dreading 40, but I can’t say I’m embracing the idea with open arms like the main character in Susie Orman Schnall’s novel, On Grace.  

So it is with welcoming arms that I introduce our featured guest, Susie Orman Schnall! To learn more about Susie and On Grace, visit Book Mama Blog! Both of our blogs have TWO personalized copies to give away to some lucky US readers, courtesy of BookSparks PR!

Visit Susie at her website, Facebook, and Twitter. On Grace is also a featured spring read at SheKnows, along with Jane Green and Catherine McKenzie's latest novels!

If you knew then what you know now about writing professionally, what would you do differently?
I really enjoyed the jobs I had after college: I did marketing and communications for advertising agencies, nonprofits, internet companies, and magazines. But, part of me feels like I would have been better served working in editorial for a magazine. In my senior year of college, I even created a mockup of a Cosmopolitan magazine issue for college girls and I sent that as an application to Cosmopolitan, so it’s definitely a career that was on my radar. But back in the early 90s, there was a recession and you took the job you got, and I got a job in marketing. I’m thankful, though, for my marketing experience because authors don’t just write books these days, they have to be savvy marketers of their work as well.

If you could have any author (living or dead) mentor you, who would it be and why?
Nora Ephron. 100% Nora Ephron. I love the way her writing is so clean, simple, relevant, and authentic. But it’s very difficult to write like that. Nora Ephron was so adept at observing people and social situations and then revealing their truth through her poignant, hilarious, and spot-on writing and storytelling.

What’s the most personal thing you have ever written about and why did you feel like it was important enough to share?
Anytime someone I know finishes reading On Grace they immediately want to know what’s true and what’s not. Sure, they know it’s fiction, but those who know me hear my voice in Grace’s voice and know that many (not all) of Grace’s thoughts and perspectives on life are mine as well. This leads to questions about what else in our lives is the same. So I guess the most personal thing I’ve written about is my own take on the world through the character of Grace. We share similar struggles about being a mom, working or not working, attitudes toward friends and toward marriage, etc. I didn’t set out to be Grace, and I’m certainly not her as she experiences things in her life that I haven’t and vice versa. But that's the story that poured out of me so I guess it was my desire to be authentic about what many women go through at this point of our lives. I didn’t set out to make it personal but that’s the way it turned out.

You win a vacation that allows you to pick FIVE different travel locations. Where do you go?
There are so many places I would love to travel to, but, if I had to pick only five, I would:

(1) Visit the English countryside of Downton Abbey and Jane Austen.

(2) Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru.

(3) Relax and explore in Ubud, Bali (I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about this place).

(4) Eat my way through Paris. Cheese, croissants, and Nutella crepes, please.

(5) Adventure travel in Costa Rica.

Tell us about one of your “bucket list” items:
I’ve always wanted to be a guest on the Today Show. Okay, a couple more: be a professional dancer in a music video and star in a British period piece movie (preferably one written by Jane Austen) because I want to wear those costumes but not so much the hairdos.

One thing I’m too afraid to do is:
…ride a bike on a street with cars. Especially going downhill. I never really learned to ride a bike as a kid and I’m terrible at going straight, so mixing that with cars is a bad idea. I’m also very afraid of having regrets in life.

Thank you so much for featuring On Grace and me on Chick Lit Central. I’m such a fan of your site and I’m so excited for your readers to read On Grace! 

Thanks to Susie for visiting with us and to BookSparks PR for sharing her book with our readers!

~Introduction and interview by Tracey Meyers


How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


US only. Giveaway ends April 16th at midnight EST.

Reader Spotlight: Shop Girl

This year, we're doing "Reader Spotlight" posts on a bi-weekly basis. We want to feature readers who have been actively following CLC for a while. We're hoping you can get to know some new friends this way. One of the joys of having CLC is that readers have connected with each other, as a result. That's one of the reasons it was started up in the first place...to bring chick lit fans together from all over the world! We've made some amazing friends because of this blog and we hope you'll get to do so too!

If you'd like to be spotlighted sometime this year, please contact us.

See our previous Reader Spotlight posts.

Note from Melissa A: Sheena has been an active follower since around the time I started this blog and I'm glad to learn more about her this way!

Name: Sheena Wapneski
Age: 32
Location: Watertown, WI

How did you find Chick Lit Central?
I follow a lot of author and chick lit websites, I remember one mentioning Chick Lit Central and decided to check it out. The rest is history. :)

What are your top FIVE favorite chick lit novels of all time?
Hard to pick just five! If I had to pick five I'd choose One-Hit Wonder by Lisa Jewell, I Love The 80s by Megan Crane, The Chocolate Lovers' Club by Carole Matthews, Step Back In Time by Ali McNamara, and Heaven Can Wait by Cally Taylor.

What do you do when you're not reading?
When I'm not reading I'm working in retail. I love to bake, travel, go to sporting events and concerts. I hope to get to more book festivals this year and meet fellow "book nerds"

I'm on Facebook and Twitter. Would love to meet more chick lit fans!

Guest Book Review and Giveaway: We’ll Always Have Paris

By Allie Smith

**Giveaway is now closed**

I love to travel, especially with my children. Seeing new places together is always fun and introducing them to places I love is a personal thrill. I also treasure the memories we create together, and the camaraderie that we share, which can’t be duplicated at home. On our journeys, it’s us against the world! So I was excited to read this travel memoir about the European adventures of a mother and her daughter. And I adore the title, We’ll Always have Paris.


Jennifer, the mother, lost her dad to cancer when she was nineteen. Since his passing, she’s had a fatalistic view of life, feeling as if she were living on borrowed time. When she had her daughter, Katie, her fears were amplified. I get this, because I lost my mom when I was eighteen. Sometimes I look at my oldest child, who’s thirteen, and think - what if I only have five more years left with him? Jennifer wants to give her daughter special memories and teach her all the life lessons that she can, in case something happens to her. Fortunately, Katie doesn’t know that her mom has these dark thoughts. Jennifer’s fear of dying has evolved in to a fear of living.

Jennifer decides to take Katie to Europe, so she can show her daughter some of the world. If something happens to her, Katie can say, “We’ll always have Paris.” Lucky Katie, I certainly wish my mom had had similar notions! Paris is the first stop on their inaugural trip, when Katie is eight years old. Over eight years, the pair embark on four trips, traveling throughout France, England, Italy, Spain and Amsterdam. How cool is that?

This book however, is more than a mom memoir or a travelogue, it’s also story of grief. Losing a parent is an ache that never really goes away, flaring up periodically like a virus you just can’t shake. Jennifer’s memories of her father are interwoven with moments she and Katie share on their adventures. By remembering her father, being inspired by her vivacious daughter, traveling outside her comfort zone (quite literally) and challenging herself to have fun and enjoy life, Jennifer starts to break free of her fears and anxieties. It’s a joy to see this happen. It’s a shame that she’s lived most of her life encumbered by her grief, because she knows all too well how precious time is.

Coburn is a seasoned writer, having numerous chick lit books to her credit. Her voice shines through as she eloquently and frankly tells her story with vivid descriptions of people and places. Her love for her late father is poignant and she successfully brings him alive on the pages. Now I miss him! The book is well balanced, just when something made me sad, Coburn instinctively lightens the mood with her humor. This memoir was a joy to read - a great choice for mothers, daughters and readers with a case of wanderlust. Jennifer’s a very cool chick - I’d love to travel with her.

Allie Smith, a former CPA who five years into her career decided that she hated working with numbers and willingly gave it all up to be a stay-at-home mom, lives in suburban Atlanta with her husband and four children. In between carpool, play dates and refereeing the kids, she loves to read and write. The mother of a child with autism, she is currently working on a memoir of their journey. She can be found at her blog.


Thanks to Sourcebooks for the book in exchange for an honest review. They also have TWO copies to share with some lucky readers in the US and/or Canada!

How to win:
Please tell us something special that a parent has shared with you OR something special that you would like to share with your child(ren). (Or you can just tell us the vacation you'd like to put on your bucket list.)

One entry per person.

Please include your e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win. Entries without contact information will NOT be counted.

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends April 13th at midnight EST.

More by Jennifer Coburn:

Carolyn Brown spices things up...plus a giveaway

Now that spring is here (hopefully to stay), we see a lot of food gatherings in your future. Carolyn Brown is here to share a tasty recipe for you to share with your family and friends! You can also learn about her latest novel, The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off!

Carolyn Brown is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than sixty books published. Her bestselling cowboy romance series include the Lucky trilogy, the Honky Tonk series, Spikes & Spurs, Cowboys & Brides, and the new Burnt Boot, Texas series. She has also launched into women’s fiction with a Texas twang. Born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma, where she credits her eclectic family for her humor and writing ideas. For more information, please visit  Carolyn at her website and Facebook. 

Thanks to Sourcebooks, we have TWO prizes to give away for some lucky US/Canada readers: ONE person will win a print copy of The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off and ONE person will win a Carolyn Brown Prize Pack (print copy of The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeno Society Jubilee, print copy of The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off and a cute recipe card set).  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s a delight to be here today at Chick Lit Central to talk about the recipe blog tour we’re right smack dab in the middle of for The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off, the second book in the trilogy set in Cadillac, Texas. 

It seems that the girls down at Bless My Bloomers have decided to enter the chili cook-off in Cadillac and it’s causing a pretty big stink since up until now it’s been a man’s world that no woman dared set her foot in. However, that was before Carlene found out that her husband was a two-bit, lyin’, cheatin’ son-of-a-bitch. Seems Lenny Joe got careless and left his newest girlfriend’s red bikini under britches in his brief case…and Carlene not only found the, she’d made them right there in Bless My Bloomers. So she and her cousins who are co-owners of the shop, Patrice and Alma Grace, and their mothers, Gigi, Tansy and Sugar, along with the lady who works at the shop, Josie, have formed a team. Their goal is to knock Lenny Joe off a five year winning streak and take this year’s chili cook-off trophy from him. The only trouble is none of them can cook and they’re trying to learn.

This is the night they are making chicken chili. It’s the same night that Tip Gordon arrives to talk to Carlene about the divorce. The women in town have stopped by and brought rum cake and Mexican casserole to keep them encouraged. Today they get flowers.

The sisters arrived just as the shop was closing on Monday afternoon. Sugar met them in the kitchen and handed each of her sisters a little bibbed apron printed with roses and edged with lace that matched the one she already wore. Gigi wore a hairnet over her up-do and the other two had on ball caps. Sugar’s curly ponytail, pulled out of the hole at the back of the cap, looked like a ball of twisted yarn, and Tansy’s didn’t look much better even if it was a little bit longer.

“So you are trying chicken chili tonight, I take it?” Josie said.

“We found Mama’s recipe for it. The chicken is already cooked,” Gigi said.

“Which one of you handled the cold, dead bird?” Josie asked.

Gigi raised her hand. “I did.”

“And she didn’t even put oven mitts on her hands,” Tansy said.

Josie looked up at Gigi’s hairnet. “Goes real well with your longhorn earrings but the apron clashes with your orange jersey.”

“They made me put the hairnet on,” Gigi said.

“Well, I was wondering.” Josie smiled.

“Y’all about to get busy?” Patrice asked.

“Yes, we are. You want to stick around and taste our product?” Sugar asked.

“No, ma’am. I’ll taste it at the cook-off.” Patrice pulled her platinum hair up into a messy ponytail and secured it with a rubber band she pulled from the pocket of her snug-fitting jeans.

“How about you, Carlene?” Gigi asked.

“Carlene has had a hangover all day. She’d upchuck if she ate chili,” Patrice told them.

“I do not!” Carlene said right behind her. “I’ve got a wine headache and I took four aspirin and it’s wearing off.”

“It’s Lenny’s fault. She wouldn’t drink so much if he hadn’t riled her up,” Josie said.

Patrice nodded in agreement. “She went to the house and talked to him and finally figured out there is no future with him.”

Josie threw up her hands. “I heard all about it this morning at the convenience store. I’m glad you’ve figured out what most of us knew all along, honey. Now let’s get on with the job of running a business and beating the shit out of him in the cook-off.”

A hard knock on the kitchen door sent Tansy to open it.

“Floral delivery for the Fannin sisters,” the man said.

“I’ll take it. Thank you,” she said.

“Have a nice day.” He nodded.

Tansy set a lovely arrangement of yellow daisies, white mums, and purple-tipped baby carnations on the kitchen table and opened the envelope with the card. “I bet it’s from our husbands.”

Sugar and Gigi were suddenly glued to her side.

“Well?” Josie asked.

Gigi took the card from Tansy. “She don’t have her reading glasses. It says: We are all proud of you for entering the cook-off and we’re rooting for you even though our husbands are the Wildcat Team. We hope you teach the whole bunch of those male chauvinists that women can do anything a man can.”

“I’ll be damned,” Josie grinned.

Since the first lady who stopped to tell them she hoped that they beat Lenny and the other all-male teams brought a Mexican casserole, I thought we’d share that recipe today. Y’all got a favorite casserole you take to church pot lucks or to a friend in need? We’d just love for you to share it with us.

MEXICAN CASSEROLE

1 pkg. flour tortillas
1 lb. ground beef
1 (17 oz.) can chili beans, drained
1 c. prepared picante or salsa sauce
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 T. chili powder
3 c. shredded Mexican blend shredded cheese (NOTE: If you can’t find Mexican blend cheese, then use a mixture of cheddar and pepper jack or Monterey jack)

Remove tortillas from refrigerator. Heat oven to 375°F. Brown meat and drain. Add salsa, beans, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning mix and chili powder. Simmer, stirring frequently for 5 minutes. Line bottom of greased 13 x 9 baking dish with 5 tortillas, overlapping edges. Top with half the meat mixture and half the cheese. Arrange 5 tortillas over cheese mixture. Spread remaining meat mixture all over and top with shredded cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese melts and casserole bubbles. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Be sure to follow along on The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off Recipe Sharing Tour!

April 1: Carolyn Brown’s Facebook Page

April 2: Dew on the Kudzu

April 3: Fresh Fiction

April 4: Book’d Out

April 7: Book Reviews & More by Kathy

April 8: Chick Lit Central

April 9: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

April 10: Bitten By Love Reviews

April 11: From the TBR Pile

Learn more about The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off and find out some delicious recipes from Carolyn and other readers along the way. Chances to win at each stop!

To purchase The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-a-Million

Chapters/Indigo

IndieBound

iBooks

Sourcebooks

THE RED-HOT CHILI COOK-OFF BY CAROLYN BROWN – IN STORES APRIL 2014

More Than the Chili's Heating Up Cadillac, Texas

Carlene Lovelle, co-owner of Bless My Bloomers lingerie shop, found a pair of fancy red-silk panties in her husband's briefcase, and all hell is breaking loose. She custom-made those fancy bloomers herself—and she remembers the bimbo who bought them. If her husband had a lick of sense, he'd known there are no secrets in a town like Cadillac.

Carlene's cohorts—and their mamas—plan to exact revenge on Lenny Joe where it'll hurt the most: break his ten-year winning streak at the prestigious Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off. Never before has a woman dared to compete. But the ladies of Bless My Bloomers are cooking up a storm...and it seems the whole town is taking sides in the showdown.

Welcome to Cadillac, Texas, where the chili is hot, the gossip is hotter, and friends stick by each other, no matter what the challenge.

Praise for The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off:

"With a cast of characters that will leave readers grinning, Brown’s latest is delightful, humorous “chick lit”... Fun, fun and more fun is on hand in a story that wins a blue ribbon in both originality and wit.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“Fun, fresh and hilarious... The author showed that laughter is the best medicine and a sure fire cure for the toughest of challenges in life.” —Chick Lit Reviews

“The characters are vibrant and engaging, the story is endearingly off beat and full of down home folksy charm. A wonderfully heartwarming and highly entertaining novel.” —Book Reviews and More by Kathy

Thanks to Carolyn for sharing her recipe with us and to Sourcebooks for sharing her book with our readers. Participate in the Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off Recipe Sharing Tour by sharing your own casserole recipe in the comments!

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends April 13th at midnight EST.

Book Review: Tempting Fate

When Gabby first met Elliott she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him - even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away. For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt . . .

Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear.

Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Amy Bromberg:

It’s no surprise that I loved Tempting Fate. You know why? Because I’m a Jane Green-aholic! Her novels always encompass such beautiful and well crafted characters, and dynamic relationships between them. As with all of Jane’s novels, the book kept my attention right from the first page until the very end.

Oh boy, so what can I say about Gabby? As much as she’s a great mother, warm and caring person, committing adultery is unacceptable. I do have to say that the way Matt was described, I envisioned him as some lovely eye candy. Even though this may be the case, you don’t cheat on your spouse. If my husband ever cheated on me, that would be the end of our marriage. All of this being said though, I felt sorry for Gabby when she realized her marriage was ruined. I could really sympathize with her daughters. My parents got divorced when I was nine, and let me tell you, going indirectly through a divorce is horrible.

I felt so much pain for Elliott. He’s such a wonderful man and it broke my heart that he had to deal with Gabby cheating on him. You can just tell that he’s the kind of man who’s a great husband, father and an all around decent man.

One thing that I felt was a bit unrealistic was how Gabby and Matt ended up becoming friends when they met up again a year later, and their sexual chemistry just went away. That sounds highly unlikely. I can understand perhaps the chemistry faded, but not 100% non-existent anymore, especially because of what they had before.

Tempting Fate explores the complicated facets of motherhood, marriage and betrayal. It makes the reader think about their own views on infidelity, and whether it can ever be justified. In this aspect this is one extremely thought provoking story. If you’re like me, you will gobble up this entertaining and emotional read.

Melissa Amster:

Jane Green is one of my favorite authors and she proves once again why with this novel. It was so incredibly written that I felt like I was right there, along with Gabby for the ride. It read like a horror story about infidelity, which could also be seen as a cautionary tale. When I had to put it down (even though it was very difficult to find a stopping point), I kept thinking about it and wondered what would happen next.

While I have read books about affairs from both men and women, this one seemed more harrowing than the others. It haunted me long after I turned the last page and I even felt compelled to write a letter to my future self to threaten what would happen if I ever had an affair. Given what I read though, I wouldn't even allow myself to be tempted if Chris Messina were to walk into my house at this very moment.

As always, Jane used great description and detail to bring the story to life and make it feel genuine and real. Given that she set it in her home town, it allowed me to get to know more about where she lives. While her story is perfect for the most part, that extends to the ending, which wraps things up too perfectly. While I'm relieved that it takes away from the horrific outcomes of Gabby's actions, it also sets up unrealistic expectations for women who may end up in Gabby's shoes someday, even if they're also convincing themselves they never could. There was also a situation that happened with one of Gabby's daughters that I would have liked to hear more of an outcome from, given the repercussions of the incident. I felt it just got dropped after that part.

Overall, another stellar novel from Jane Green that I highly recommend. I already am eagerly awaiting her next novel!

And, of course, I had to cast this one! I even shared my ideas with Jane a few weeks ago and she liked them!

Gabby: Minnie Driver
Elliott: Dermot Mulroney
Matt: Chris Hemsworth
Olivia: Sarah Hyland
Trish: Laura Linney

Thanks to Penguin UK for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Jane Green: