Guest Book Review: Cold Feet

By Nancy Farrow

Only a week before Emma Moon’s big day, she and her best friend, decide to take a detour from their originally planned bachelorette weekend and travel to San Francisco to find Emma’s birth father. Emma comes from a broken home, with a mother who is consumed with her work, and a father who left her when she was a baby. No wonder Emma gets pre-wedding jitters and wants to learn more about herself, find out what really happened and who her father is. Will she succeed? Will her anxieties uncover more family drama and past secrets?

Read this charming debut novel by Amy Fitzhenry, to find out what happens with Emma Moon.

Cold Feet is a delightful novel about family history, friendship, and commitment. I very much enjoyed this book, as the characters Amy created felt real. Most people that come from broken homes have one question in common: "Why?" Some spend their lives thinking that they were the cause to why things did not work out; the nagging feeling of abandonment causes them to inflict unhappiness and seek answers. This novel was a page-turner with more hidden secrets from people who were close to Amy. At times I found myself laughing, then tearing up and most definitely saying to myself "just one more chapter," before putting the book down. It is a romantic and real story with some interrelated passages to law jargon and explanations, which I loved. Great novel, quick read; I look forward to further masterpieces from Amy Fitzhenry.

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

Nancy Farrow is a devoted mom of twin girls, loving wife, and healthcare professional. Her love for books and world travel inspired her and her family to build a beautiful Little Free Library for the community she lives in. She believes that all things are possible with a little imagination and love.

Elin Hilderbrand's winter wonderland...plus a book giveaway

Today I am thrilled to introduce our latest author interview, Elin Hilderbrand. Not only is she a full time mom, author, and member of her community, but she is also (thankfully) a Breast Cancer Survivor. What better way to celebrate her than in October, during Breast Cancer Awareness month. I have read every single book that Elin has written and I'm proud to call myself one of her biggest fans. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ask Elin some personal questions and get to know a little more about her and what makes her so amazing. Melissa A and I were pleased to find out that she is a fan of Billy Joel, a musician we both love! Her latest novel, Winter Stroll, was published earlier this week. It is the sequel to Winter Street, which was published last year and is now on paperback. To celebrate, Little, Brown has THREE sets of both Winter Street and Winter Stroll to give away to some lucky US readers!

Thanks for joining us here at Chick Lit Central, Elin. We are so honored to have you! #mamastrong

Visit Elin at her website, Facebook, and Twitter.

To which of all of your main characters have you felt the most connected? 
Of any of my main characters, I think I feel the most connected to Margaret Quinn in the WINTER STREET series. That's a current answer. I've been writing novels since before my kids were born so I personally have done a lot of growing and changing since my first novel was published; I've not only raised my kids into teenagers, I've gotten divorced, fought breast cancer and I'm in the midst of buying a big, beautiful house now. Margaret is a very busy, very high profile woman who sacrificed a lot of mommy time in order to focus on her career (she's the anchor of the CBS Evening News). I have my own guilt about being a working mother and so I made Margaret into a working mother hero as a guide to myself.

Do you have any writing rituals or superstitions when working on a new project?
Rituals: I write longhand, I work outside when the weather permits, if I'm inside and it's raining or gloomy I light candles in my Ted Muehling candlesticks which are very precious to me.

Do you listen to a specific playlist or band/artist when writing? 
I listen only to classical music when I'm writing. I was the same way in high school -- classical only during homework, otherwise I got distracted.

Do you have any hidden or odd talents? 
I know all the state capitals. And all of the presidents, in order.

Who has been the biggest inspiration to you in your life and why? 
I have a few heroes and all of them are self-made women, women who have done amazing things in their careers on their own: Diane von Fursternberg is a great example. Love her. She's gorgeous, strong, independent, successful, a mother and a grandmother, but most of all, she is herself. Her autobiography says it all: The Woman I Wanted to Be. I fell like I get closer to being the woman I always wanted to be very day -- still a few things yet to accomplish...

If you could time travel, what year(s) would you go to and why? 
As a 50th birthday present to myself, I'm planning on writing a novel called SUMMER '69 which will come out in summer 2019. I would love to be able to come back to Nantucket in 1969 and see how things were then. Luckily, I have friends in their 70s who still have sharp memories and who kept good photo albums...

Thanks to Elin for chatting with us and to Little, Brown for sharing her books with our readers.

~Introduction and interview by Melissa Patafio.

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

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US only. Giveaway ends October 20th at midnight EST.

Book Review: Pippa’s Cornish Dream

By Becky Gulc

‘Every summer has a story…

Since Pippa Harte was forced to take over her parents’ farm, she’s barely had time to shave her legs let alone make time for a date. Now she’s more likely to be getting down and dirty mucking out the pigs – and avoiding those of the human male variety.

When Ben Retallick walks out of her childhood and back into her present it seems that perhaps Pippa has more time than she thought. All Poldark smoulders and easy-going charm, Ben’s definitely worth whipping her wellies off for!

But Ben is a man with his own past and his own issues – and as much as she’s enjoying having him around, she’s got to get a grip. After all life isn’t always a beach … Then again, this is Cornwall.

Set on the gorgeous Cornish coast at the height of summer, this is the perfect romance to take on your hols!’ (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon UK.)

Pippa's Cornish Dream has both the kind of look and synopsis I would be drawn to, and it didn’t disappoint. You get the sense from the synopsis that Debbie has quite a witty style of writing, and she does indeed. There is good balance though, so it’s not too full on.

Well, Pippa is probably one of my favourite fictional characters for a long time. She’s in her twenties, yet has the responsibilities of someone twice her age, yet she just gets on with it. This isn’t a downtrodden woman, she’s strong, pragmatic and extremely likable. She’s truly an inspirational character that you really warm to.

The chemistry between Pippa and Ben was so strong and immediately so, it just oozes off the pages, yet feels genuine and romantic at the same time. You quickly learn you can trust in these characters despite the difficult situations they’ve both encountered in the past.

I loved the setting of the farm; the quirky animal characters and the very distinctive children. It felt like such a strong family unit and you just want them all to be happy (not to say that they aren’t to begin with, which is part of the novel’s charm). The twists and turns in the novel felt very fitting and at moments had me on edge, but all in all this is such a pleasant and comfortable read set in a lovely location.

My only niggle has nothing to do with the author, it was just the font size, I found this too small and I admit it did affect my overall enjoyment of the book as I felt I was straining a bit despite not needing glasses.

This is a great light read with lovely characters. At 167 pages it’s also a shorter than average novel so if you like a quicker read this may very well suit you. Definitely an author I’ll enjoy again.

Thanks to Harper Impulse for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Come knock on Amy Sue Nathan's door...plus a book giveaway

Ever since we heard that Amy Sue Nathan was publishing a second novel, we've been awaiting the day when she'd visit CLC. That is because her debut novel, The Glass Wives, was a hit over here (see Amy's review), so we know her sophomore novel, The Good Neighbor, is going to be something special. Also, Amy is really friendly and she has things in common with some of us, being both Jewish and having called Chicago her home since the late 90s. (Some of us are from there or live there now.) She also loves chocolate and dogs. (Maybe that's an Amy thing?)

Amy Sue Nathan lives and writes near Chicago where she hosts the award-winning Women's Fiction Writers blog. She has been published in Chicago Tribune, Writer's Digest, the New York Times and the Washington Post online, and Huffington Post, among many others. Amy has two grown children and is busy writing her next novel. Visit Amy at her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, we have FIVE copies of The Good Neighbor for some lucky readers in the US and/or Canada! 

Check out Author Liaison Cindy Roesel's review.

Synopsis of The Good Neighbor:
In this heartwarming story, we meet Izzy Lane, who has always played by the rules. She's an excellent mother, has loyal friends, and a rich career as a school counselor. Fresh from a new divorce, however, Izzy feels like she needs a little fun. So when, on a whim, she starts a blog it seems like a rather benign indulgence. But as her online quips begin to gain traction, Izzy makes a slip. Somehow a new boyfriend winds his way into the picture. The problem? Izzy makes him up.

What, at first, feels like a harmless fib quickly spins out of control and Izzy must figure out how to balance fantasy and reality. Keeping up appearances while managing an absent ex-husband, two very nosy friends, a toddler son, and full-time job soon prove impossible, and Izzy feels utterly lost. It's only when her long-time neighbor and surrogate mother, Mrs. Feldman, re-enters her life that Izzy begins to see the mess she's made. And it's with Mrs. Feldman's guidance that Izzy learns to face reality, find comfort in new norms, and open herself up to the possibility of real love. (Courtesy of St. Martin's Press.)

In one sentence, what was road to publishing like?
My road to publishing was long and had a few forks in it!

Do you base characters on yourself?
No, but I do inform the characters with a tidbit here and there, whether it's a character trait or a favorite food or a pet peeve--and not always just tidbits of me but of others from people I know well to passers by. Frankly if I've ever met you or had an encounter with you, something about you could possibly end up in a book. Creepy, huh? Yep, that's a writer for ya.

Which authors have inspired you?
Meg Waite Clayton and Jennifer Weiner inspired me to write my first novel. Any time I read a novel and think "I wish I'd written that" it inspires me. Currently, Jojo Moyes also comes to mind. I admire many authors. Their work ethic, perseverance, and friendship inspires me as much as their writing.

If The Good Neighbor were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I don't see faces when I write, but I picture Betty White as Mrs. Feldman in a movie because of her age--but that doesn't mean Mrs. Feldman looks like Betty White. I picture Mrs. Feldman more as a compilation of all my old female teachers from elementary school. I do see Ann Hathaway as Izzy only because since I'm casting -- why not?


Which TV show were you too young to appreciate in the past but would totally watch if it were around now?
I'm a TV addict so I don't think there are any show I want to see that I haven't seen. Plus, at 51, I was around for all the awesome shows of the 60s and 70s and I was a huge fan of "old movies" even when they were just shown on UHF channels on Sunday mornings, not to mention reruns!

If someone were to visit you, what is something they'd HAVE to do while they were in town?
I live near Chicago and Michigan so my must-sees would be Millennium Park in downtown Chicago and St. Joseph, Michigan with its beautiful beach!

Special thanks to Amy for chatting with us and St. Martin's Press for sharing her book with our readers.

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

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US/Canada only. Giveaway ends October 18th at midnight EST.

Book Review: While You Were Gone

By Melissa Amster

While You Were Gone is a novella companion to Thought I Knew You (reviewed here). If you haven't read Thought I Knew You yet, there are spoilers for that book in here, which are hard to hide in the review. So go read that book first (very much worth your time) and come back here afterward.

Despite Karen Caughee’s intense focus on her music, her life is drifting out of its lane. Her mother is falling head-first into alcoholism and her brother refuses to acknowledge it. Her love life and music career have both stalled out. When she meets a charismatic but aloof stranger in a bar, she is uncharacteristically smitten. He seems to "get her" in a way no one else does, and she begins to second guess everything she's ever held dear.

After a tragic accident, Karen finds her support system in the unlikeliest person imaginable. A shattering revelation brings her to a crossroads, and she must face the full truth about who she loves and who she has become. (Synopsis courtesy of Red Adept Publishing.)

SPOILERS ahead for Thought I Knew You...

I enjoyed this story; even if it were separate from Thought I Knew You, I would have still enjoyed it. It was interesting to see what would happen in this story, given what I knew from the outcome of the novel. There were also some surprises and twists from Karen's side of the story that I didn't see coming at all.

Karen had a rough go of things, so I don't blame her for clinging to the first person who gives her attention, even if he might not be who he seems. I can't really blame her for her part in any deception that was going on because she really had no idea.

I would have loved a few more chapters in the end of this story, as it felt a bit rushed to get to the finish line after taking so much time to develop the story and allowing readers to invest in Karen's situation. It would be interesting to have another novella written from Greg's point of view, just to bring things full-circle.

Once again, Kate Moretti has proven herself to be a dynamic writer and I look forward to more full-length novels from her in the future.

Thanks to Sage's Blog Tours for the book in exchange for an honest review. Visit all the stops on the virtual book tour.

Kate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She’s worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life.

She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like.

Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.
Visit Kate on Goodreads, Facebook, and her blog.

What's in the mail

Melissa A:

Too Many Cooks by Dana Bate from Kensington (Enter to win a copy!)

Bliss by Shay Mitchell and Michaela Blaney from St. Martin's Press

Falling Into Ever After by/from
Tracy Krimmer (e-book anthology)

Say Yes to the Death by Susan McBride from Witness Impulse

My Fat Dad by Dawn Lerman from Berkley

Winter Street and Winter Stroll
by Elin Hilderbrand from Little, Brown

I'll See You in Paris by Michelle Gable from Thomas Dunne Books

The Gift of a Charm by Melissa Hill from
St. Martin's Press

Somewhere Out There by Amy Hatvany from Atria

Twain's End by Lynn Cullen from Gallery

Totlandia: Book 5: The Twosies-Fall by/from
Josie Brown (e-book)

The Chocolate Lovers' Christmas by/from Carole Matthews (e-book)

Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella from Penguin Random House

Amy:

The Two-Family House by
Lynda Cohen-Loigman from St. Martin's Press

Tracey:

The Best of Enemies by Jen Lancaster from Penguin Random House

Sara: 

Queen of the Universe by Geralyn Corcillo (e-book)

Denise:

The Witch's Market by/from Mingmei Yip

The Charm Bracelet by Viola Shipman from St. Martin's Press

Gail:

I Wish For You by/from Camilla Isley (e-book)

Guarded by/from Angela Correll (e-book)

Book Review and Giveaway: The Knockoff

By Melissa Patafio

The Knockoff by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza is one of the greatest books I've read in a while. Some have compared it to The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, and while it does have a similar "feel" to it, the story holds its own.

As the editor of Glossy magazine, Imogen Tate is grappling with the fact that as she is getting older and becoming somewhat of a "dinosaur" in the magazine world, the new generation is younger, hipper, and more technologically advanced. How can she compete?

This book takes us through the trials and tribulations of being an aging woman in the fashion world, the pros and cons of maternity leave, the stress of being a working mother, and mostly the feeling of being 'left behind' in the workplace.

I supremely enjoyed this book and not because I'm a working mother trying to juggle it all (I'm not), but because I'm a woman in an industry made up mostly of men, a "boys club" if you will. For anyone that has felt their head hit the glass ceiling and has been afraid that their gender may hinder their success, this is definitely a story you can relate to. If you haven't felt any of those things, you will still love the writing and the story and be able to connect with many of the characters. I would recommend The Knockoff to anyone that enjoys a story that has wit, emotion, and realistic scenarios and characters. I laughed a lot when reading it and I also felt Imogen's fears and anxiety.

If you haven't yet read this story, you might want to move it to the top of your list...I couldn't put it down!

Thanks to Doubleday for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have TWO copies for some lucky US readers!

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

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US only. Giveaway ends October 14th at midnight EST.