Spending the weekend with Rachel Gladstone....plus a book giveaway

Today we are pleased to have Rachel Gladstone visiting us. Her debut, The Weekend Wedding Assistant, published this week. We love the cover and it sounds like an entertaining story. Thanks to Turner Publishing, we have THREE copies for some lucky readers!

Rachel Gladstone is a staff writer for Dish Magazine where she reviews books for her column "All Booked Up" and wrote a TV pilot, Hopeful Times, for Cornerstone Entertainment which is now in pre-production. Rachel has also contributed work to The Nashville Scene, Ourselves, Foundations, GX, The Lipscomb College of Business and Nashville Lifestyles magazines and her blog, The Petty Chronicles, about the funny side of divorce had 30,000 readers on FirstWivesWorld.com and can be viewed at DivorcedMoms.com.

Visit Rachel online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
Thirty year-old Nashvillian Julia Holmes is just weeks away from becoming Mrs. Aaron DeMinthe and she has meticulously planned every detail of her big day. The one thing she didn’t plan for is her fiance Aaron’s announcement: he needs to tick something off his bucket list before they tie the knot, and that something is to hike the last leg of the Appalachian Trail. Less than 48 hours later, as he summits Mt. Katahdin, the last mountain of the trek, he’s struck by lightning and killed.

Julia is grief-stricken and inconsolable, despite the fact that she’s surrounded by her best gal pals. Returning to her wedding venue, Whitfield Chapel, in search of closure, she happens upon the Chapel’s Wedding Director, who offhandedly mentions that they’re looking for a Weekend Wedding Assistant. 

Before she can even think about it, Julia takes the job. As she ushers four brides a weekend down the aisle she was supposed to walk down herself, Julia tries to understand why she said “I Do” to a job she never set out to get, in a place she’d only meant to occupy for an afternoon– and wonders if she’ll ever find true love again.

In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like for you?
After pedaling hard and fast in the bike lane of freelancing for years, the journey towards releasing The Weekend Wedding Assistant has been an absolute joy and I’ve savored every moment from the first round of editing to choosing the cover art to holding the first ARC in my hands.

How is your main character, Julia, similar to or different from you?
Julia Holmes is an eternal optimist, as am I. Her irreverent sense of humor is both sword and shield for her when dealing with life’s challenges, and that is definitely my stock-in- trade. We both hate shopping, but her dive into a manic shopping spree which is meant to save her sanity, was something she wholly owned. Julia is younger than I am but she’s the age I will forever be in my head, and she was very indecisive when it came to choosing her life’s path while I came out of the womb singing, tap dancing and ready to rock. She’s certainly been luckier at love than I have, but the eternal optimist in me still believes Mr. Right is right around the corner.

If The Weekend Wedding Assistant were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
First of all, your lips to God’s ears! From the moment The Weekend Wedding Assistant downloaded in to my head like a movie, I have wanted other people to see it the way I did. Every time I watch TV or go to the movies I find myself searching for a glimpse of Julia and Linc in the faces of the actors on screen. Those who have come closest to my vision so far are Gillian Jacobs of Community and David Barry who played Lord John Gray in the Outlander series. If either of you happens to be reading this interview, please give me a call!

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever seen at a wedding?
The bride was making her entrance to a Whitney Houston song as she processed down a grand staircase in an historic house. The introduction to the song had just finished when she paused midway and began to sing at the top of her lungs to her waiting groom and dumbfounded guests through a microphone she’d kept hidden in her bouquet. Not only was this completely unexpected but it was especially disturbing because she couldn’t carry a tune, a fact that did nothing to dissuade her from continuing to sing her way to the altar. To add insult to injury, later in the ceremony, it was the groom’s turn to reciprocate and quite unfortunately, he was tone-deaf too! It was all I could do not to burst out laughing or run somewhere and hide until the madness was over. But instead, I stood in the back, nodding and smiling, a supportive wedding planner ‘til the end.

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?
I recently finished reading Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson. It’s hilarious and deep, filled with unforgettable characters and impossible to put down.

What is something new you’d like to do in 2020?
I’d like to be able to hold the feral kitten I rescued 11 weeks ago who is still hiding under the guest room bed. And if I could learn to bake something that was actually edible rather than doubling as material you could use to build a foundation for a house that would be marvelous.

Thanks to Rachel for visiting with us and to Turner Publishing 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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Giveaway ends February 18th at midnight EST.

Book Review: Erotic Fiction?...plus a special giveaway

By Sara Steven

Sarah’s mind-numbing housewife existence is turning her brain to mush. With her third bun in the oven, this British mum is drowning under a mountain of play dates, bills, and head lice checks. But her man’s get-rich-quick idea of writing steamy novels isn’t her ideal way to dial up life’s passion.

Drew desperately wants a break from Sarah’s whinging. And if that means researching how to write racy books all by himself, then he’ll make the sacrifice. But as he finally warms Sarah up to the sultry side hustle, their R-rated private project gets publicly exposed…

With an office scandal brewing, it’s only a matter of time before gawking workers and a perfectly nosy PTA president turn them into social pariahs. Can Sarah and Drew earn some extra income from sizzling lit without falling prey to stiff gossip? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

This was a unique experience where writing erotic novels comes into play. Ordinarily, we read about a woman who is taking that venture on, but in this case, it’s a man who takes those steps! With that comes an interesting collaboration between Drew and Sarah, when the normal response would be to shy away from racy or sexual things from one or both partners.

When the couple takes it on, they go full force, and in doing so they find out a lot about one another. I appreciated that lens, because much of the focus leading up to that has been on what has been the contributing factor on the distance in their marriage. It’s understandable, considering how much they have going on, how both feel neglected, that there isn’t enough time in the day to do it all. Plenty of parents and couples can relate to their situation, and can find a lot of similarities in how Sarah feels as a stay at home mother, trying to keep her head above water while feeling compared to the “perfect” mothers in her world. (There’s one in particular, and those exchanges are pretty funny) There’s also Drew’s full-time employment with many stressors on his shoulders, wanting desperately to support his family at all costs. Their writing collaboration feels like a much-needed break from all of it, a ray of unconventional hope.

Through it all, the reader is introduced to hilarious humility for both characters. There were a few particular scenarios, particularly with Sarah at the post office, which really got me going! It was an unexpected situation, but one that really added to the type of chaos that she endures, and even though she doesn’t realize it, she deals with it through a lot of grace. Drew’s office antics with coworkers added a layer of funny sarcasm to the idiot coworker trope, as he often experiences with one guy in particular who acts as a catalyst for Drew in more ways than one. All of it gave way to a lightheartedness that was needed in order to balance out some of the heaviness that comes from life’s monotony.

Given the humor, the truth behind the struggling marriage, and the really unique plot, it was inevitable for me to give Erotic Fiction? five stars!

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

Hannah Lynn is an award-winning novelist. Publishing her first book, Amendments - a dark, dystopian speculative fiction novel, in 2015, she has since gone on to write the multi award winning The Afterlife of Walter Augustus - a contemporary fiction novel with a supernatural twist, Fiona and the Whale – a thought provoking romantic comedy and the delightfully funny and poignant Peas and Carrots series.


While she freely moves between genres, her novels are recognisable for their character driven stories and wonderfully vivid description.

She is currently working on a YA Vampire series and a re-imagining of a classic Greek myth.

Born in 1984, Hannah grew up in the Cotswolds, UK. After graduating from university, she has spent twelve years as a teacher of physics, first in the UK and then around Asia and Europe. It was during this time, inspired by the imaginations of the young people she taught, she began writing short stories for children, and later adult fiction. Now as a teacher, writer, wife and mother, she is currently living in the Jordan.

Visit Hannah online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Bookbub

Hannah Lynn is giving away TWO $25 Amazon gift cards! The giveaway is tour-wide and she will choose the winners at the end. Good luck!

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Spotlight and Giveaway: The Light After the War

Today we're pleased to feature Anita Abriel's recently published novel, The Light After the War. Anita Abriel writes women's fiction novels under the name Anita Hughes and this is her first foray into historical fiction. Thanks to Atria, we have FIVE copies to give away!

Inspired by an incredible true story of two Jewish friends who survived the Holocaust, THE LIGHT AFTER THE WAR (Atria Books; Hardcover; $27; February 4th, 2020) is a sweeping novel of love and friendship that spans World War II from Budapest to Austria and the postwar years from Naples to Caracas, perfect for fans of The German Girl and We Were the Lucky Ones.

It is 1946 when Vera Frankel and her best friend Edith Ban arrive in Naples. Refugees from Hungary, they managed to escape from a train headed for Auschwitz and spent the rest of the war hiding on an Austrian farm. Now, the two young women must start new lives abroad. Armed with a letter of recommendation from an American officer, Vera finds work at the United States embassy where she falls in love with Captain Anton Wight.

But as Vera and Edith grapple with the aftermath of the war, so too does Anton, and when he suddenly disappears, Vera is forced to change course. Their quest for a better life takes Vera and Edith from Naples to Ellis Island to Caracas as they start careers, reunite with old friends, and rebuild their lives after terrible loss.

Moving, evocative, and compelling, this timely tale of true friendship, love, and survival will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

“A finely-woven story of post-war romance, second chances, and resolve that refuses to give in or give up. The setting details are evocative and inviting. Well done!”
—Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Last Year of the War

“Set against the vividly drawn backdrops of Naples, Caracas and Sydney in the aftermath of WWII, The Light After the War by Anita Abriel is a beautifully written and heartfelt novel. I was completely swept up in Vera’s and Edith’s lives, their friendship, their heartbreaks and their triumphs. An unforgettable story of strength, love, and survival.”
—Jillian Cantor, USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Letter and In Another Time

"Fans of Georgia Hunter’s We Were The Lucky Ones should race to grab Anita Abriel’s The Light After The War, spanning continents and set against a vividly drawn canvas of World War II and the post-war period. Based on Abriel’s own family history, The Light After The War is a heartfelt and memorable tale of family, love, resilience and the triumph of human spirit."
 —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris

"I was utterly moved and transfixed by The Light After the War, a beautiful novel that spans a decade across four continents in the wake of World War II. You'll be swept away by this fast-paced, heartbreaking, and hopeful tale of friendship, family, second chances, and the enduring power of love, based on the true story of author Anita Abriel's mother and her fascinating journey away from war-torn Europe in the 1940s. A must-read for anyone interested in the emotional toll of the Second World War."
—Kristin Harmel, international bestselling author of The Room on Rue Amelie

Anita Abriel was born in Sydney, Australia. She received a BA in English Literature with a minor in Creative Writing from Bard College, and attended UC Berkeley’s Masters in Creative Writing program. She lives in California with her family and is the author of The Light After the War which was inspired by her mother’s story of survival during WWII.

Visit Anita online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

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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Giveaway ends February 17th at midnight EST.

Book Review: Five Wakes and a Wedding

By Sara Steven

Nina is your average 30-year-old with a steady job, a nice home – and dead bodies in her basement. As an undertaker, she often prefers the company of the dead to the living – they’re obliging, good listeners and take secrets to the grave.

Nina is on a one-woman mission to persuade her peers that passing on is just another part of life. But the residents of Primrose Hill are adamant that a funeral parlour is the last thing they need… and they will stop at nothing to close down her dearly beloved shop.

When Nina’s ‘big break’ funeral turns out to be a prank, it seems like it’s the final nail in the coffin for her new business. That is, until a (tall, dark and) mysterious investor shows up out of the blue, and she decides to take a leap of faith.

Because, after all, it’s her funeral… (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

The synopsis begins with Nina and how she’s an average individual, but I think Nina is anything but. This is my first time in reading a chick-lit themed book that centers around the protagonist and her profession as an undertaker, and I found it to be an interesting and unique experience!

I loved how the premise of Nina and her profession is discussed and showcased as though it’s just an ordinary job. This added an element of comedy to a topic that could have been a heavy one, but in treating the job with normalcy, it balanced everything out. Her ideas are very unconventional but come from a good place and as a reader, I could see the sensibility behind Nina’s thought process, suggestions that could very well be applied to real life. On the flip side, as much as I disliked the protagonist- as well I should- I could understand why they and the rest of the town are afraid of Nina and her business, aptly named “Happy Endings” (I love the contrast with that sort of name!). Death can be a very scary subject, and their reactions to the funeral parlour were real and honest.

I also appreciated the backstory that led into why Nina chose this profession, which was needed considering how different of a job it is. That gave deeper meaning into her connection to the parlour and her need to save it, at all costs. Along for the ride are her friends, Gloria and Edo, who not only support her, but are part of the parlour scene, too, and make for some great dialogue and funny situations. They are a hodgepodge mix of characters that seem to fit well.

There were moments where I wasn’t sure in which direction Nina wanted to go, in terms of her romantic notions. Given her past, it’s been hard for her to let someone in. While I appreciated watching that part of things unfold, I felt it took a backseat to the relationship she has with her friends, and more importantly, the one she has with herself. Five Wakes was a fun and entirely different take on life and death!

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK
Amazon US

As a former journalist, broadcaster and advertising copywriter, Karen Ross has followed a fairly traditional path into writing fiction. Five Wakes and a Wedding is her fourth book, and like its predecessors, the novel has two common threads: the setting is London’s Primrose Hill – Karen’s own neighbourhood – and one of the characters is a dog . . . this time he’s called Chopper and he’s almost the same size as a Shetland Pony

Karen has been self-employed for many years, and continues to work as a marketing consultant, in the absence of an offer to manage Tottenham Hotspur. By way of credentials, her other ‘job’ is trading profitably on the world’s first football stockmarket, a platform called Football Index, where you buy and sell players with real money.

Visit Karen at her website and on Twitter.

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Book Review: When Adam Met Evie

By Sara Steven

When former Olympic Swimmer, Michael Adams—now reluctantly Canada’s hottest reality TV star— insults his fake showbiz wife on social media, he escapes the ensuing scandal and jumps on the first flight to Australia. Desperate to experience ordinary life again—if only for a few weeks—he becomes “Adam”, just another tourist traveling through the Outback. But with a reward out for his safe return and his fame’s nasty habit of catching up with him when he least expects, he needs a disguise… and he’s just found it.

Sweet and scruffy British backpacker, Evie Blake, is taking a year out of her busy London life. Tired of lies and liars, she’s looking for adventure to heal her broken heart. So when the hot Canadian she meets at the campground offers to be her travel partner through Western Australia’s wild Kimberley region, she grabs the chance, unaware he’s got the world out looking for him. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

This was the perfect debut novel from Guilia Skye. Right from the get go, I fell right in step with “Adam” and his quest in trying to escape his life, instantly endearing me to his character and what he’s trying to achieve. And when he runs into Evie? That scene went down as one of the most cringe-worthy (in a good way) scenarios I’ve ever encountered, but it set the tone for the way both characters relate and identify with one another. It was with a definite bang!

When the pair are on the road, or making multiple stops along the way, it gave the reader an in-depth look into their personalities and backstories. We also got to witness majestic scenery, wild and brazen, like many of the scenes that occur between Adam and Evie, and it was all very much appreciated! Hot and steamy, just like the Australian landscape.

Paradise is tainted with much of the baggage that Adam carries along with him, and I could feel the frustration for him, and for Evie. I understood Adam’s need for anonymity, yet on the other hand I’d wanted him to live the life he really wants to live, regardless of the repercussions. That showed real character evolvement, in witnessing his need to grow up some and really decide on what (and who) is most important to him.

There were many moments that dealt with tipping scales and figuring out what’s right, for the person involved. This happened for both Adam and for Evie, and it was nice to see that as When Adam and Evie progresses. And while I’m not the one who ordinarily casts celebrities in the roles of the characters in a book, I couldn’t help but picture Michael Phelps for Adam, and Emma Watson as Evie. I thought the premise was unique and refreshing throughout, and well worth the five stars I’ve given it!

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK
Amazon US

Italian-born Giulia Skye spent her childhood watching classic Hollywood films and thinking up her own romantic stories. After two decades working in TV production, she knew turning those stories into novels would be much more enjoyable - and far cheaper – than turning them into films. She still keeps her hand in TV production but is at her happiest being a stay-at-home mum, spending time with her family, growing her own vegetables and conjuring up sizzling stories about sexy heroes meeting fiesty heroines who aren’t always as they at first appear. When Adam Met Evie is her first novel, Book 1 of her “Take a Holiday” series.

Visit Giulia at her website and on Twitter and Instagram.


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What's in the mail

Melissa A:
The Borgia Confessions by Alyssa Palombo from St. Martin's Press
Not That Kind of Guy by Andie J. Christopher from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles from Atria (e-book via NetGalley)
Perfect Happiness by Kristyn Kusek Lewis from HarperCollins (e-book via NetGalley)
If You Must Know by Jamie Beck from Montlake Romance (e-book via NetGalley)
Side Trip by/from Kerry Lonsdale (e-book via NetGalley)

Think I Wanna Marry You by/from Piper Lennox (e-book)
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa from Avon (e-book via NetGalley)
Beach Read by Emily Henry from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)
Where We Belong by Shann McPherson from HarperCollins (e-book via NetGalley)
The Light After the War by Anita Abriel from Atria (e-book via NetGalley)
The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman from Graydon House
The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis from Kathleen Carter Communications

Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing by Allison Winn Scotch from Lake Union (e-book via NetGalley)
The Shape of Family by Shilpi Somaya Gowda from William Morrow (e-book via NetGalley)
I Know How This Ends by/from Amy Impellizzeri (e-book)
How to Save a Life by/from Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke (e-book via NetGalley)
She's Faking It by Kristin Rockaway from Graydon House

Sara:
From Thailand With Love by Camilla Isley from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book)
Mom Genes by/from Hilary Grossman (e-book)

Jami and Melissa A:
Grown-Up Pose by Sonya Lalli from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)

Jami:
Safe House by Jo Jakeman from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)
Little Wonders by Kate Rorick from William Morrow (e-book)

Book Review: A Dozen Second Chances

By Sara Steven

Seventeen years ago, Eve Roberts had the wonderful life she’d always dreamed of: a degree in archaeology, a gorgeous boyfriend, and exciting plans to travel the world with him, working on digs. But when her sister Faye died, the life Eve knew ended too. Faye’s daughter Caitlyn came to live with Eve, her boyfriend left, and she quickly gave up on her dreams.

Now approaching her fortieth birthday, Eve faces the prospect of an empty nest as Caitlyn is leaving home. Caitlyn gives Eve a set of twelve ‘Be Kind to Yourself’ vouchers, telling her that she has to start living for herself again, and that she should fill one in every time she does something to treat herself.

With her very first voucher, Eve’s life will change its course. But with eleven more vouchers to go, can Eve learn to put herself first and follow the dreams she’s kept secret for so long? Because life is for living – and as she well knows, it’s too short to waste even a moment… (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

There were a few plot lines blended into and all around A Dozen Second Chances; Eve and the demons she faces where her family is concerned, Eve and her need to settle for mediocre in order to put everyone else in her life first, Eve and the pain she still experiences when dealing with former relationships. It made for a very flawed character, yet a likable one, and the type of person we can all relate to, given our own familial experiences and potential heartaches. The vouchers Eve receives become a catalyst in digging Eve out of the rut she’s been in for years, a simple gesture, but one that spoke volumes.

I felt I could identify with Eve on a very basic level. As a mother and wife, I strive to do all I can for my family, and while I appreciate having that opportunity and enjoy my life, there have been times where I feel as though my own needs are put on the back burner. This is by my own doing, given the various ways I could change the situation in order to feel as though I’m more of a priority in my own world, and it is that same experience Eve goes through in taking care of Caitlyn, or in choosing a job that doesn’t fulfill her but checks a box to ensure her employment. It’s not that she doesn’t want to change, it’s that she’s worried on what it will do to those around her.

There are layers to Eve, reasons she’s the way she is, and those layers are peeled back like an onion. At times, not even she recognizes what the issues are, so the reader gets to discover that right along with her. It takes her a long time to figure it all out, but it seemed more than fitting for the type of person Eve is, given the gigantic cement wall she’s built up to block out so many things. Along the way we’re met with fun characters, like Eve’s grandmother, providing a much-needed lightheartedness to some serious topics. A Dozen Second Chances was an evolution of character, making me wish for my own vouchers so I’d feel a kick in the pants to make some changes in my own life.

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

Kate Field writes contemporary women’s fiction, mainly set in her favourite county of Lancashire where she lives on the edge of the moors with her husband, daughter and cat. Her debut novel won the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon Award for new writers. Visit Kate on Facebook and Twitter.





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