Laura Greaves won't put baby in a corner

If Morello from Orange is the New Black were to go to Laura Greaves' "About" page on her website, the first thing she saw would make her very jealous as Laura talks about her honeymoon to Bora Bora (there is no third Bora in there though).

Laura Greaves is a  multi award-winning journalist with nearly 20 years' experience on newspapers and magazines in several countries. She's the former editor of a national women's magazine and regularly writes for leading Australian and international magazines including Marie Claire, Woman's Day, Grazia, Women's Fitness, Dogs Life, WellBeing, and many more. Her writing specialties are in the fields of health, lifestyle, and well-being. Let's add fiction to that list, as she's here to talk about her debut novel, Be My Baby, published yesterday by Destiny Romance. You can follow her on Twitter.

Synopsis of Be My Baby:
Ambitious Australian Anna Harding seems to have it all: a glamorous job as a gossip columnist, and a beautiful home in London that she shares with her gorgeous boyfriend, Finn Cassidy. Her only problem is her regular run-ins with their neighbor Luke, who is furious about Anna's internet shopping constantly being delivered to his place by mistake.

When her flighty best friend Helena winds up pregnant, Anna agrees to be godmother – despite her aversion to children. But then Finn announces he's moving to Belfast for a great job in television and Helena takes off to Scotland – leaving baby Ivy behind. Suddenly Anna's perfect life is in pieces as she tries to juggle the baby, her job and a long-distance relationship.

Will Finn wake up to himself and return home or will he be swayed by the charms of his seductive producer? Will the irresponsible Helena finally sort herself out with the help of her eccentric great aunt? And will Anna's life ever be the same, especially after Luke's unexpected response to the chaos unleashed next door? 

Nothing is certain in this entertaining and moving tale about the relationships that matter most. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

What was your inspiration behind Be My Baby?
They say ‘write what you know’ and that certainly rang true for me when I started writing Be My Baby. Like the book’s heroine, Anna Harding, I was living in London and working as an entertainment journalist when, back home in Australia, a good friend fell pregnant and asked me to be her baby’s godmother. (But unlike Be My Baby’s struggling mum, Helena, my friend never needed me to look after her little one – which is definitely a good thing as, like Anna, I was pretty clueless about anything to do with babies back then!)

I also really wanted to tell the story of a woman who isn’t sure whether or not she wants to have children of her own. This is a something that huge number of women wrestle with, and I hadn’t seen it addressed before in chick lit. It’s such a massive decision, and there still seems to me to be a lot of harsh and unfair judgement aimed at women who decide kids aren’t in their future.

In one sentence, what is some advice you'd give aspiring novelists?
Make the most of ‘dead time’ to write – I wrote most of Be My Baby while commuting to and from work on the ferry.

If Be My Baby were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Funny you should ask; whenever I start a new book I use pictures of celebs to create a sort of ‘mood board’ of the cast of characters I have in my mind. Being able to visualise the main players really helps bring them to life for me. Be My Baby’s main characters, Anna and Helena, would be played by Rachel Bilson and Scarlett Johansson respectively (but only if they could both manage convincing Aussie accents!). Anna’s boyfriend, Finn, is Charlie Hunnam and her next-door nemesis, Luke, is a young Gerard Butler. Meanwhile Helena’s crush, Oliver, is a Trainspotting era Ewan McGregor.

What is the funniest thing you've ever seen a baby do?
I love it when babies laugh hysterically at unexpected things. My own little one, for example, finds my dogs hilarious, especially when I feed them little tidbits from the table (sssh, don’t tell my husband!). She giggles like crazy and it cracks me up every single time.

What chick flick can you watch over and over?
When Harry Met Sally is my all-time favourite movie, and in my opinion the greatest chick flick ever made (although dudes could learn a lot from it, too!) I must have watched it at least a hundred times and can literally recite the entire film from beginning to end. ‘Is one of us supposed to be a dog in this scenario?’ Genius!

What is the last book you read that you would recommend to our readers?
I’d heartily recommend everything by my fellow Destiny Romance author Elise K. Ackers, especially her rom-com The Man Plan and romantic thriller Small Town Storm. You know when you’re so engrossed in a book that you ration the last few pages because you don’t want it to end? I do that every time I read one of Elise’s books.


Thanks to Laura for chatting with us and Destiny Romance for coordinating the interview.

~Interview by Melissa Amster

Guest Post: Johanna Lehmann loves San Francisco

Why San Francisco? The perfect scene for a chick lit novel! 

When a woman crosses oceans to start a new life, that’s already thrilling. When that new life begins in San Francisco, “the Paris of the West” – though, it's a whole new world. When I was writing my chick lit novel I wanted readers to discover a spirited young woman who finds adventure in the city. Somewhere that when she's offered work for a year, that it would be able to turn her life upside down in the most surprising and wonderful ways. Where else could she get infected by the Silicon Valley virus to start her own company, falls in love with an American guy whose behavior causes her to question her understanding of relationships? Where else could convince her to sacrifice German caution for American optimism, where she would have to navigate the ups and downs of a bizarre new world? Where could she decipher the cryptic code of American dating, while developing a taste for the ‘secret sauce’ of Silicon Valley? There was only one real option, the most expensive city in the US....It had to be San Francisco.

I'm Johanna Lehmann, author of How to Love San Francisco which, incidentally, is available for pre-order until 18th of June at IndieGogo. Today, I want to share with you exactly why San Francisco just might be the perfect location for your chick lit novel too.

San Francisco has all what it takes to be the perfect setting for a chick lit novel. Let's look at why:

New York may be The City That Never Sleeps, but San Francisco is the City That Knows How. ‘How’ to do what? Well – everything! How to have fun, how to embrace diversity, how to recover from adversity, and how to shine a light on people that are loving & warm. And then there's the light.

I love the sunlight of San Francisco for my novels! I'm sure you will, too. You just need to spend a few days with the sun in San Francisco – and then you know: this city gives you so many great backdrops to set the stage for your characters most important moments and discoveries. This is mostly because San Francisco is so atmospheric. The city wins you over with its light – its color and variety: the beautiful amber blanket that spread through the main characters room, awakening Hanni (our heroine) on her first morning in San Francisco; the golden light of the sun peeking through the morning clouds in the Financial district when Hanni is excited to start her first working day; the dim yet refreshing light shining through the branches of the old eucalyptus trees in Golden Gate Park; and the skyline sparkling yellow and white shimmer beneath the sunset fog.

With all of the impressive nature of San Francisco to explore, you have a broad palette of experiences for you to explore and share with your readers. Only eleven miles outside San Francisco are the Muir Woods, a National Monument and part of the National Park Service that was preserved as a result of the efforts of John Muir, a famous naturalist and conservationist.

There are many locations like this that combine romance, nature and discovery. For example, slightly further north, about thirty miles from San Francisco, is Point Reyes Natural Seashore. This is where Hanni and her American boyfriend visit for a weekend, discovering the ocean, Pacific grey whales... and each other. With a location like this, readers can expect a weekend with consequences! ;)

The city is already chock full of potential experiences: with different types of stories in every one of San Francisco's neighborhoods. There's never room for boredom. You need somewhere like this where your characters, and readers, can spend weeks, even months without needing to force the plot to have them to go anywhere else and, to discover more. What kind of personalities and stories could you explore in a place where your characters can go sailing in Berkeley, experience Chinese New Year or run the Bay to Breakers. San Francisco has so many aspects to it’s personality. It’s not a one-note city, but a collection of personalities, of neighborhoods, each with its own scents, tastes and feelings, its own unique history, more like different countries that happen to share a border. You can try to create a rich and complex tapestry like this to develop your characters in... or you can experience one that already exists, and let it inspire you.

Of course, it's never just buildings and views in a location that move your readers.  People connect with people. If you have a great location, you'll have a wealth of characters born of that location to intrigue, amuse, enrage, inspire your readers and more. Where better to find the diversity of characters to choose from, than one of the most multicultural cities in all of the United States, with people drawn for so many reasons from every corner of the world. San Francisco has a willingness to embrace people of different ethnicities and different cultures. It’s nicknamed the “Least American” of American cities -which gives me, and you, something interesting to play with in the novel as well. It’s open and welcoming to people from all cultures and backgrounds. It's a true melting pot. San Francisco welcomes everyone arriving on its shores with all of their hopes and dreams, from the gold miners who arrived in 1849 to seek their fortune, to the new explorers of our age, like Hanni, open to adventure and eager to experience as much of life as she can.

And what about adding a touch of glamor and stardom to your novel? Merely by basing your novel in San Francisco, the opportunity for your characters to bump into famous celebrities opens up in your novel. For instance in the famous Tosca Café on 242 Columbus Avenue where your characters can realistically spot such Hollywood luminaries as Francis Coppola, Sean Penn, Robert DeNiro, Bono or Sharon Stone.

Granted, that maybe San Francisco isn't the right location for every story that could ever be told. You need a location though that can provide opportunities. You need a location that can provide you with inspiration. You need a location that gives you a wealth of characters, personalities and experiences. If somewhere else fits the story perfectly, then by all means, set your story there. If you're still looking for a place that easily provide you with all of these, and more... then San Francisco just might be the perfect location for your chick lit novel.

I look forward to reading it.

About the author

Johanna Lehmann is a San Francisco-based writer. She loves the Bay Area – which is why she devoted an entire book to San Francisco: “How to love San Francisco - One year in the City by the Bay”. She holds an MBA from Ingolstadt School of Management & INSEAD and took Creative Writing at Stanford University.

Her previous work on San Francisco won the “2013 Writer's Institute” and was a semi-finalist at the Tuscon Festival of Books in Arizona. LovelyBooks, Germany's biggest reading community, selected Johanna as a Top 50 non-fiction author. The German version of “How to love San Francisco” is the highest rated book in its category on Amazon. In May 2014 she launched her IndieGogo Crowdfunding Campaign to make the San Francisco novel a reality in the English-speaking world. You can pre-order it here: http://bit.ly/HowtoloveSF

Book Review and Giveaway: The Summer Without You

By Becky Gulc

**Giveaway is now closed**

The Summer Without You is the first book I’ve read by Karen Swan, I’d heard so many great things about her previous novels so I was keen to read this book. A perfect summery cover added to the appeal; just the kind of book I would pick out for a beach holiday myself. Here is the synopsis:

‘Rowena Tipton isn't looking for a new life, just a new adventure, something to while away the months as her long-term boyfriend presses pause on their relationship before they become engaged. But when a chance encounter at a New York wedding leads to an audition for a coveted houseshare in The Hamptons - Manhattan's elite beach scene - suddenly a new life is exactly what she's got.
Stretching before her is a summer with three eclectic housemates, long days on white sand ocean beaches and parties on gilded tennis courts. But high rewards bring high stakes and Rowena soon finds herself caught in the crossfire of a vicious intimidation campaign. Alone for the first time in her adult life, she has no-one to turn to but a stranger who is everything she doesn't want - but possibly everything she needs.’ (Courtesy of Amazon UK.)

I quickly became engrossed in this book, feeling sorry for Rowena (Ro) as her long-term boyfriend Matt suddenly decides to go travelling for six months without her. As the synopsis says, rather than sit around moping (which I think she would have quite happily done) a chance meeting whilst working in New York as a photographer prompts Rowena into taking up the offer of spending the summer at the Hamptons, along with housemates Hump (this name never really grew on me), Bobbi and Greg. Whilst Rowena wants to make enough money whilst out there to pay her bills back home in England and the rent out there , she is otherwise quite happy to live a quiet life, adorned in Matt’s clothes as she eagerly awaits each Skype call. Needless to say this doesn’t last, with high-flying housemates, aggressive strangers and charming locals all in the mix, this will be far from a quiet summer.

I love a book which has a good sense of place, essential for transporting me to sunnier climes as I try and ignore the rain outside in England. I had a little idea of what the Hamptons would be like (mainly from an episode of Sex and the City!), but I felt just like I was there enjoying the summer with these four intriguing housemates. Whilst as a reader we know Ro well, we only really get glimpses into the lives of the other three housemates which added to the intrigue throughout and the interesting dynamics in the home, but we feel we know each of them a bit better by the end, even if I still have a couple of questions in my head.

A key aspect of this story is the question surrounding who has it in for Ro’s new friend Florence, with Ro herself becoming injured in the process as well as Florence. Who would want to injure a lovely older lady who wants the best for the community? I enjoyed this story-line and it developed nicely throughout the novel and I was on tenterhooks by the end, and the culprit was someone I didn’t anticipate.

In terms of the romance side of things, for the reader, but maybe not for Rowena, there are two possible men which may just test how strong her and Matt’s relationship really is. Whilst I enjoyed the anticipation of what was going to happen, the closer I got to the end I realised that what I wanted to happen wasn’t going to happen. I was gutted to be honest, but I hope I’m in the minority here. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who will read this but I just didn’t feel ‘it’ for the guy in question, even though there are certain insights into his life that are designed to make us warm to him, it just didn’t work for me. When things develop between Ro and the guy in question, it just felt a bit sudden, and a bit cliché in the descriptions when I’d loved the rest of the writing.

All in all, I did really enjoy this book, and at 500+ pages it’s a long story, but I never felt bored by it; it never felt stretched out. I loved spending time at the Hamptons with these characters, I just wish that the ending had been different, but like I said, I hope I’m in the minority of readers that think this, and wouldn’t it be boring if you always got the ending you wanted in a book?

Thanks to Macmillan UK for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have THREE copies for some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

How to win:
Please tell us what kind of ending you prefer in a book (i.e. wraps up neatly, has a surprise twist, goes against what you wanted for the characters, etc.)

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 (and we do not count Google + as contact information).

Open worldwide. Giveaway ends June 22nd at midnight EST.

More by Karen Swan:

What's in the mail

Melissa A:

The Harm in Asking by Sara Barron from Get Red PR

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty from Amy Einhorn Books

One Evening in Paris by Nicolas Barreau from St. Martin's Press


Be My Baby by Laura Greaves from Penguin Australia

Amy:

Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers from Meryl Moss Media Relations

It Comes in Waves by Erika Marks from Penguin

So Much a Part of You by Polly Dugan + Elin Hilderbrand's favorite Nantucket treats from Little, Brown

The Dog Park by Laura Caldwell from Kaye Publicity

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes from Viking Books

Becky:

Where I Found You by Amanda Brooke from Harper Fiction

Book Review and Giveaway: Save the Date

By Gail Allison

**Giveaway is now closed**

Cara Kryzik is living a balancing act. She's struggling to keep Bloom (her flower shop) afloat, to keep her bills covered, to keep her father placated (he's appalled that she owed him money, needs more, and thinks she should give up and close up shop), and to just find time to breathe! She barely has time for a relationship with her dog, much less a man. Luckily, ever since her husband cheated on her and she kicked him out, that suits her just fine. When Cara is offered the chance to not only do the flowers for, but plan an entire society wedding, she knows that this may just be the moment she's been waiting for. The commission will get her out of debt, get her father off her back, and prove to the world that she can do anything she sets her mind to.

Enter the inevitable road blocks: an overbearing step-mother who views this wedding as a society event, and not a marriage. A bride who doesn’t know what she wants, and doesn't care to decide any time soon. The assistant at Bloom who's acting more and more squirrelly and proving again and again that maybe he can't be counted on as much as Cara initially thought. The new, hip florist in town who's schmoozing the society ladies and luring away Cara's loyal clients. And the attractive restoration specialist who keeps bumping into Cara in the oddest places.

I'm a huge fan of Mary Kay Andrews, so when I heard she had a new book coming out for the summer, I was immediately hooked. I devoured this one in two days. It was so good. I love how she writes believable yet whimsical chick lit that doesn't take itself too seriously, but at the same time doesn't come off as frothy or lacking in plot or character development. Save the Date did not disappoint on any of those fronts. I felt immediate empathy for Cara, and couldn't wait to see what happened through all her clients and adventures. As a florist she was dealing with a number of different characters and the way she went over and above to make their special days as wonderful as she could really made me want to like her even more. As well, the amount of detail that Ms. Andrews put into describing the flowers and the arrangements throughout this novel was amazing. She never got too technical, but provided enough description that I could see everything perfectly in my mind's eye. At times I could practically smell the flowers wafting out of the book. It was a wonderful read.

Even the minor characters were well-developed, and I really didn't find this book to be missing any crucial pieces. As always, the loose ends were wrapped up tidily, and all the good guys got their happily ever after, but that wasn't the best part of the book. The best part was the simple story woven throughout of a girl trying to make her dreams a reality. Those dreams got a little tangled in places, and reality snarled them up into a bit of a mess at times, but Cara never looked around for a prince to save her. She was determined to do it herself, and I love that quality in a protagonist. There's nothing better than a character who wants nothing more than to be self-reliant. At times Cara could seem prickly, but not without good reason.

Save the Date was a fantastic read, and is coming out just in time for summer. Pick up a copy, pack a picnic, and go find a spot next to some lilacs or peonies…something that smells like summer. Let yourself get carried away in the story…I sure did! This one's definitely in the re-read pile for me.

Thanks to Tandem Literary for the book in exchange for an honest review. They also have one copy for a lucky US reader!

How to win:
Tell us a crazy or funny story involving a wedding (your own or someone else's).

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 (and we do not count Google + as contact information).

US only. Giveaway ends June 18th at midnight EST.

More by Mary Kay Andrews:

Go-to-Gay: Words won't bring us down

Introduction by Melissa Amster

Last fall, when Jennifer Tress visited CLC, I talked about my crazy curly hair, which made me an easy target for bullying. Aside from that, I wore my heart on my sleeve and made it easy for people to say mean things to me. It sure didn't make the awkward years of junior high and high school very easy for me in return. However, over time I started to appreciate my looks. My nose that my mom wanted me to have fixed adds character to my face and I can't imagine changing it now. And yes, I still have bad hair days where I wish I could be as brave as one of my friends and just take scissors and do what I want with them. (I have a feeling I'd regret that later!) However, I have embraced my curls for what they're worth and I live in a community where no one questions if I choose to wear a hat or scarf to keep them under control!

It would have been nice to have Gary around during my pre-teen and teen years. I looked to straight guys to validate my appearance, but gay guys tell it like it is without any hidden agenda. (At least that's the case with my gay friend who would rip on my clothes because his honesty meant that when he did give approval, it would mean more. And yes, I'm still close with this friend.)

Inner Divas

Ugly | Define Ugly at Dictionary.com
very unattractive or unpleasant to look at; offensive to the sense of beauty; displeasing in appearance. 2. disagreeable; unpleasant; objectionable: ugly tricks; ...

Urban Dictionary: ugly
A word used by arrogant a$$holes to make them seem like they are the most beautiful person ever and the person that they are calling "ugly" as a lower life form.

Negative people using negative words are nothing but unhappy control freaks! It is a way to control, hold power over you and fill the void in their own lives. I have worked my whole life to feel self love, acceptance and to be confident about the person I am. The mind, body and spirit of me, my entire being. For years I was shy and didn’t fit in because I didn’t allow myself. I didn’t allow myself because I had let someone have my own power. While seeking acceptance from others along the way I had let go of me. I was wanting and needing validation that I should have been giving myself. I was looking and wanting something from the wrong people. I had surrounded myself with people who wanted to hold me back to put me down so they could stroke their own ego. So many hours of my time were given to worrying about them, about what they think, was I good enough, will I ever be good enough, how can I make them happy. I now know the difference and surround myself with people that love, respect and honor my relationship with them. None of us have to be perfect, we don’t always have to be this shining bright light . When we are down they are there and when life is great they are there, too. No where along the road do they pass judgment. I love the old quote, “A friend is someone who knows you are not perfect, but treats you as if you were.”

I was having breakfast today with a friend who is beautiful on the inside and out, a very intelligent person full of acceptance and compassion. In a conversation she had stated that she was ugly. I was shocked, beyond shocked. I was so far taken back by what she had said. Here I am talking to her as her beautiful curly red hair blew in the wind and then gently lay by her light porcelain skin. Skin and hair some would kill for. I said, “You are beautiful on the inside and out. You don’t really think you are ugly?” She said, “I was told this when I was young, so it is what it is.” Somewhere along the way my friend had given away her own power, her own soul and beauty. The person who took it has not knowledge they even did. Today I hope and pray that I helped her get it back, fill the inner void of loving yourself mind, body and soul. To be able to let the beauty that I see and so many see in her shine.

So the bottom line is simple: Surround yourself with people that will nurture you, love you and respect you! None of us are perfect, none of us are flawless. We are all unique individuals. So let’s all let ourselves shine. Not for anyone else, not to impress, entice or seduce. Not for approval of any kind. Be unique, be bright, and be happy. I look at my clothes and exterior like I do my house. I want it to feel warm, fun and a little quirky, too. We all have our own sense of style, our own drag! Respect yourself, take care of yourself, be true to yourself and never give away your energy and love to a person who can’t give back! Those are the people that are UGLY, and what an UGLY way to live!

I would love to hear your stories of how you stay true to yourself and how you have reclaimed your inner diva when someone robbed you from being genuine and true to yourself.

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.

L. Alison Heller finds her Neverland...plus a book giveaway

We are pleased to have L. Alison Heller back at CLC to talk about her sophomore novel, The Never Never Sisters! She was here last year to introduce her debut novel, The Love Wars, which was met with high praise by one of our reviewers.

Synopsis of The Never Never Sisters:
Marriage counselor Paige Reinhardt is counting down the days to summer, eager to reconnect with her workaholic husband at their cozy rental cottage in the Hamptons. But soon a mysterious crisis at Dave’s work ruins their getaway plans. Paige is still figuring out how to handle the unexplained chill in her marriage when her troubled sister suddenly returns after a two-decade silence. Now, instead of enjoying the lazy summer days along the ocean, Paige is navigating the rocky waters of a forgotten bond with her sister in the sweltering city heat.

As she attempts to dig deeper into Dave’s work troubles and some long-held family secrets, Paige is shocked to discover how little she knows about the people closest to her. This summer, the self-proclaimed relationship expert will grapple with her biggest challenge yet: Is it worth risking your most precious relationships in order to find yourself? (Courtesy of Goodreads.)

Thanks to Wunderkind PR, we have one copy of The Never Never Sisters for a lucky US reader!

Visit Alison at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

What was the inspiration behind The Never Never Sisters?
Lies! Does that sound too horrible? In my defense, years of being a divorce lawyer have given me a pretty high threshold for lies. But even outside of my practice– just as a human being I’ve of course lied and been lied to with the best of intentions. It’s so common, from not mentioning that your friend’s haircut isn’t so great to keeping your vulnerabilities under wraps in an attempt to self-preserve. I wanted to explore the effect of well-intentioned lies on a family as well as how someone comes back from the lies she has told herself.

Which of your books was easier to write?
This is a tough one! I worked harder and thought more about structure and timeline with The Never Never Sisters—the whole book takes place over a few weeks and my calendar for this July still has all of the various things the characters are doing every day (so that Paige’s appointments with clients and Vanessa’s social engagements are in there with dinners with my friends, etc.) That said, I had the benefit of working with a wonderful editor this time and was somewhat more familiar with the feeling of writing a novel.

You cast The Never Never Sisters over at Writer's Corner already, and since you seemed to enjoy coming up with a soundtrack for The Love Wars...what would be the theme song for The Never Never Sisters?
I think it would have to be "Under African Skies" by Paul Simon, given the album Graceland’s prominence in the road trip scene as well as, of course, this line: “This is the story of how we begin to remember.” AND—that beautiful harmony between Paul Simon and Linda Ronstadt, which gets me every time.

What is one thing you would never (never) do?
Ha! Thank you for asking that this way. This is an extremely loaded answer in context of this book, but I would never (never) deliberately hurt my kids.

Who are your favorite sisters from a movie or TV show (or celebrity sisters in real life)?
Something about the Olsen twins intrigues me—I first saw them as sitcom babies and now they’re designer moguls with a third sister who’s an actress. The amazing Olsens! I am fascinated with sisters, I admit. I have one and I’m the mom to two. I feel like it’s the luckiest thing in the world to have a sister but it’s also complex: the competition, the being parts of a whole, the nuance and that deep-down familiarity that can be the most supportive thing, as well as sometimes suffocating.

What is the last book you read that you would highly recommend to our readers?
I just went on a reading tear, so can I mention two? I loved getting swept up in Elin Hilderbrand’s Beautiful Day (I always enjoy her novels. Always.) and I really, really enjoyed Anne-Marie Casey’s No One Could Have Guessed the Weather, which is witty and unique. I loved her writing too.

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

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US only. Giveaway ends June 17th at midnight EST.