Spotlight: Always the Last to Know

The Frosts are a typical American family. Barb and John, married almost fifty years, are testy and bored with each other...who could blame them after all this time? At least they have their daughters-- Barb's favorite, the perfect, brilliant Juliet; and John's darling, the free-spirited Sadie. The girls themselves couldn't be more different, but at least they got along, more or less. It was fine. It was enough.

Until the day John had a stroke, and their house of cards came tumbling down.

Now Sadie has to put her career as a teacher and struggling artist in New York on hold to come back and care for her beloved dad--and face the love of her life, whose heart she broke, and who broke hers. Now Juliet has to wonder if people will notice that despite her perfect career as a successful architect, her perfect marriage to a charming Brit, and her two perfect daughters, she's spending an increasing amount of time in the closet having panic attacks.

And now Barb and John will finally have to face what's been going on in their marriage all along.

From the author of Good Luck with That and Life and Other Inconveniences comes a new novel of heartbreaking truths and hilarious honesty about what family really means.

Always the Last to Know can be purchased here.

Photo by Declan Keenan

Kristan Higgins is the New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of 19 novels, which have been translated into more than two dozen languages and sold millions of copies worldwide. Her books have received dozens of awards and accolades, including starred reviews from Kirkus, The New York Journal of Books, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, People, and Booklist. Her books regularly appear on the lists for best novels of the year. Kristan is also a cohost of the Crappy Friends podcast, which discusses the often complex dynamics of female friendships, with her friend and fellow writer, Joss Dey.

The proud descendant of a butcher and a laundress, Kristan lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband. They own several badly behaved pets and are often visited by their entertaining and long-lashed children. (Bio courtesy of Kristan's website.)

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Excerpt: Seven and a Half Minutes

Before Roxy found herself “Single in Buenos Aires,” she was a single girl in London in search of true love. The third installment of The Polo Diaries series takes us back to that time, and we follow Roxy as she hires a love coach to help her navigate the dating scene. But the love coach comes up with an unexpected assignment: reconnect to a long-forgotten passion. For Roxy this means horses. Within weeks, she finds herself playing polo, thanks to a series of unforeseen events.

Torn between her desire to become the best polo player she can be and the dream of falling in love, Roxy steps fully into the exciting and demanding world of polo, where injury and recovery mix with hard training, and where celebrating the victory of a tournament comes at a high price. Will Roxy eventually become the polo player she dreams to be? And with polo being such a demanding sport, can there be any space left for love?

Seven and a Half Minutes – Extract 

Polo player Roxy turns to yoga in an attempt to get in touch with her feminine essence but does not anticipate what this would mean for her polo game…

While the week before I had been told off for dangerous riding and being too aggressive after smashing my dearest friend into the boards while fighting for the ball, this week... well, this week it’s a slightly different game.

I start by attempting to ride off someone. And that someone or something, either the guy I’m riding off, or his horse’s head, or his mallet, something knocks off my helmet, and I continue riding, blissfully unaware, until they stop the game and pick up my helmet from the muddy arena. I have three guys fastening it securely onto my head to make sure it won’t come off again, which says something about their confidence in my ability to fasten it myself. Then, a bit frightened by this initial ride-off, I try to be more gentle, until my coach starts shouting at me in an irritated voice:
“Roxy, what the hell are you doing? When I ride someone off it doesn’t look like I’m kissing him!”
I don’t have time to wonder what that was supposed to mean before I get shouted at again.

Apparently I’m in the wrong place, or I’m carrying the stick the wrong way up (never happened before, I swear). Then, trying hard to keep the ball away from our goalpost, I manage a successful backhand shot, and I feel pleased to see the ball moving away, until I hear another shout:
“It’s called a backhand because it’s done with the back of the hand! What’s that girly move?”

I realize I’ve hit the ball in a really awkward way, which is described as “shifting a handbag under your arm,” and even though it did the job, it’s seen as a big no-no by all those present.

Then I almost score a goal by hitting the ball into our own goalpost, and I hear my coach shouting again: “Dude! The other way!”

Somehow, “dude” feels more surprising than the fact that I was about to score a goal against my own team. Dude? Does he mean me?

Some more headless-chicken running around, not quite understanding where I should be, but I have a lovely feeling of being in touch with the energy, and my body, and the sun on my skin. The woman chanting in Sanskrit would have been proud of me, really. She would have, but my coach is not, and I hear another shout: “Mate! What’s wrong with you today?”

I looked around for the “mate” but, no, it’s me again. Mate? Probably sensing my lack of response, my coach switches to my name, but his tone is still harsh: “Wake up, Roxy! We’re losing here, big time!”

Fortunately, I’m helped by a kind guy from the opposing team, who, instead of riding me off and stopping me from scoring a goal, rides gently by my side and encourages me.

“Come on, don’t play the gentleman, ride me off for God’s sake!” I shout. But no, he decides to look after me in the middle of the game, like a true gentleman would.

And the game carries on, with my coach swearing, and with me smiling at the sun, at the world, and at my horse, and feeling like I should be really gentle with him—the horse, I mean—so I don’t push him or whip him, and this means everyone else is far ahead of me. And, no, I don’t push anyone into the boards today either.

And after the game, there are no more grumpy comments from my coach, who comes to give me a hug instead. And I get smiles and kisses from all the other guys, which is rare in England, where people don’t touch, don’t kiss, and usually freak out if there’s less than a foot separating them from another human being.

I have no idea what happened to me today, but someone please help me! My polo is going down the drain, and I think the woman chanting in Sanskrit has something to do with this!

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK
Amazon US

Roxana Valea was born in Romania and lived in Italy, Switzerland, England and Argentina before settling in Spain. She has a BA in journalism and an MBA degree. She spent more than twenty years in the business world as an entrepreneur, manager and management consultant working for top companies like Apple, eBay, and Sony. She is also a Reiki Master and shamanic energy medicine practitioner.

As an author, Roxana writes books inspired by real events. Her memoir Through Dust and Dreams is a faithful account of a trip she took at the age of twenty-eight across Africa by car in the company of two strangers she met over the internet. Her following book, Personal Power: Mindfulness Techniques for the Corporate Word is a nonfiction book filled with personal anecdotes from her consulting years. The Polo Diaries series is inspired by her experiences as a female polo player--traveling to Argentina, falling in love, and surviving the highs and lows of this dangerous sport.

Roxana lives with her husband between England and Spain, and splits her time between writing, coaching and therapy work, but her first passion remains writing.

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Book Review: Growing Up for Beginners

By Sara Steven

It’s not easy being a grown-up, but at 47, Eleanor hoped she’d be better at it by now…

But when Eleanor waves her daughter off for a gap-year trip, she finds herself stuck as a satellite wife, spinning in faithful orbit around domineering husband Roger, with only a stash of hidden books and her brilliant but judgmental father Conrad for comfort.


Andrew isn’t mastering the art of growing up either. When he finds his belongings dumped on the drive, although he may not understand women very well, even he can see that this looks like some kind of hint… and so moves back in with his parents.

Backing onto Andrew’s parents lives artist Cecilia, always ready to recount tales of her innumerable ex-lovers, whilst her daughters feel she’s like a misbehaving teenager.

But now four lives are drawn together by long-buried secrets of the past, and it is time for them all to grow up, before it’s too late.

A desperate decision … A lost letter … A powerful secret hidden for thirty years… (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

I appreciated all of the couples in Growing Up, but the couple that really spoke to me had been Eleanor and Roger. So much of how Eleanor operates is due to her childhood, in the type of relationship she had with both parents. This bleeds over into the way she feels she has to be with Roger. I had so many emotional tidal waves while reading about her experiences, in hearing Roger’s voice speak to her in a way that makes her feel less than. I waited impatiently to see what would come of it, if there would come a particular scene or experience where she’d stand up against him. It was powerful and sad all at once.

Eleanor’s life had been partly shaped by Conrad, a man who comes off as stoic and cold. Yet, it was interesting to later learn that there is much more to him beneath the surface, secrets hidden deep. It made him more human, someone who could be relatable. And later, there is a lot of paralleling between the life Eleanor has chosen to live, and the one Conrad chose to live for several years, all in the name of duty. How important is happiness, and does it come at a cost?

Andrew moves back in with his parents; I could feel the stifling smothering that his mother projects onto him. Something I really liked about Growing Up, is we’re given a backdrop into why the characters are the way they are. Much like in real life, so much of our character has been shaped by the type of experiences we’ve had growing up, the role models we had to look up to. With Andrew, it’s hard for him to try and press on and to go outside of his comfort zone, when his parents have always been there to clean up his messes. In a sense, he’s never really lived. They’ve done the living for him.

The introduction of Cecilia brings about and reminds us of the difficult decisions so many of us have had to make in our lives, when the choice to do what is considered the right thing trumps doing what feels right for our heart. It’s skirting that line that becomes the biggest issue of all, and one that we can all identify with. I enjoyed all of the stories presented here, and enjoyed how they’re all connected and relate to one another in some way or another.

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

Claire Calman is a writer and broadcaster known for her novels that combine wit and pathos, including the bestseller Love is a Four-Letter Word. She has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Loose Ends.

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Book Review and Giveaway: The Summer Deal

By Sara Steven

Brynn Turner desperately wishes she had it together, but her personal life is like a ping-pong match that’s left her scared and hurt after so many attempts to get it right. In search of a place to lick her wounds and get a fresh start, she heads back home to Wildstone.

And then there’s Kinsey Davis, who after battling serious health issues her entire twenty-nine years of life, is tired of hoping for...well, anything. She's fierce, tough, and pretty much the opposite of Brynn except for one thing: they're half-sisters. Kinsey is keeping this bombshell, and a few others as well. Long time frenemies from summer camp, there’s no way she’s going to tell Brynn they’re related.

But then Brynn runs into Kinsey's lifelong best friend, Eli, renewing a childhood crush. He’s still easy-going and funny and sexy as hell. When he gets her to agree to a summer-time deal to trust him to do right by her, no matter what, she never dreams it’ll result in finding a piece of herself she didn’t even know was missing. She could have a sister, love, and a future―if she can only learn to let go of the past.

As the long days of summer wind down, the three of them must discover if forgiveness is enough to grasp the unconditional love that’s right in front of them. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

This is my second trip to the Wildstone series, and my experience this time around was just as enjoyable as the first visit. While I appreciated Brynn and the journey she is on in finding a way in healing from a bad relationship, I think Kinsey is my new favorite heroine. Her acerbic personality reminded me so much of a dear friend of mine, who could appear bristly and rough, hiding an extremely sensitive heart. It’s a means of protection, in trying not to get hurt. It’s understandable, given Kinsey’s health and what she’s gone through.

I loved the way that Brynn and Kinsey slowly discover who they really are and how they’re connected. It happened gradually, which kept me guessing on when the bombshell would hit. There were romantic relationships, and I enjoyed seeing that unfold, yet taking center stage is the frenemies turned potential friendship, potentially leading into a familial status that Brynn can’t comprehend, due to the way Kinsey had always treated her when they had gone to summer camp years ago. I liked how that played out, because it’s hard to forgive and forget when you’ve been hurt in your childhood.

Eli is like the glue that holds this ragtag crew together. You don’t often see platonic relationships, but the one that Eli and Kinsey have is special. Not to mention Eli’s half-brother, Kinsey’s love interest, and now Brynn. A common theme thread within the pages of The Summer Deal is the fact that family is a choice. It’s who you choose to let into your circle, whether they’re related or not. It’s that mentality that makes Eli fiercely protective over the ones he loves, but this can also be a detriment, placing him in sticky situations, particularly when it comes to Kinsey and Brynn.

There were plenty of struggles for nearly every character within this unique family. Will Kinsey let her guard down, will Brynn trust, will Eli feel accepted? Watching all three find their way was at times inspirational, challenging, and in the end, more than worth it. The Summer Deal is part of the Wildstone series, but it can be read as a standalone, and while this is my second visit to Wildstone, I plan on visiting again soon. A worthy five-star read!

Thanks to William Morrow for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have one copy to give away!

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 June 16th at midnight EST.

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Catching up with Catherine McKenzie...plus a book giveaway

Photo by Jason Trott

Today we are thrilled to have Catherine McKenzie back at CLC to celebrate the publication of her latest novel, You Can't Catch Me. Melissa A couldn't put it down. Check out her review. Find out what inspired this novel and enter to win one of the TWO copies that Kathleen Carter Communications is giving away!

Catherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. A graduate of McGill in History and Law, Catherine practices law in Montreal. An avid runner and skier, she's the author of numerous bestsellers including HIDDEN, FRACTURED, THE GOOD LIAR and I'LL NEVER TELL. Her works have been translated into multiple languages.

In 2019, I'LL NEVER TELL was a #1 Amazon Bestseller, a Globe & Mail and Toronto Star Bestseller, was shortlisted for the Hugh McLennan Prize for Fiction and was optioned for a television series by Paramount TV.

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Synopsis:
Do you want to play a game?

Twelve years ago Jessica Williams escaped a cult. Thanks to the private detective who rescued her, she reintegrated into society, endured an uncomfortable notoriety, and tried to put it all behind her. Then, at an airport bar, Jessica meets a woman with an identical name and birth date. It appears to be just an odd coincidence—until a week later, when Jessica finds her bank account drained and her personal information stolen.

Following a trail of the grifter’s victims, each with the same name, Jessica gathers players—one by one—for her own game. According to her plan, they’ll set a trap and wait for the impostor to strike again. But plans can go awry, and trust can fray, and as Jessica tries to escape the shadows of her childhood, the risks are greater than she imagined. Now, confronting the casualties of her past, Jessica can’t help but wonder…

Who will pay the price? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

How did you come up with the idea for You Can't Catch Me (a cult escapee who goes after an identity thief)?
I have a good friend, who the book is dedicated to, who has a common name. I travel with her frequently and we kept getting stopped at the US border (I live in Canada) because someone who had a similar name to her and the same birthday was wanted by the police. This caused my friend problems for years. Around the same time, I met someone with the exact same name as me (middle name included) and one day it occurred to me that it would be very easy to steal from someone who had the same name as you because you would have ID. It grew from there.

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
That they read the book very quickly. Early in my career I took that as an insult because I had worked so long and hard on my first book, but now I take it for the compliment it is. I love getting lost in a book and reading it in one long sitting and if I can give others that pleasure it's an amazing feeling.

If You Can't Catch Me were made into a movie, what are some songs that would be on the soundtrack?
Many of the chapters in the book are, in fact, song titles. I invite readers to check them out when you read it and play the song.

What TV series are you currently binge watching?
I just finished Defending Jacob and am now watching I Know This Much is True. Two books I loved.

What is your comfort food of choice?
Chips of any kind. I am helpless around chips.

What happened in the last dream you remember having?
I dream every night and always remember in the morning, but then forget over the course of the day! Since I'm writing this in the afternoon, I can't remember. Is that weird? Potentially!

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 June 15th at midnight EST.

Spotlight and Giveaway: Perfect Happiness

Today we are featuring Kristyn Kusek Lewis's latest novel, Perfect Happiness, which publishes tomorrow. Melissa A has enjoyed Kristyn's previous novels and is excited to read this one soon. Kristyn has TWO signed copies to give away!

For Charlotte McGanley, happiness is her thing (well, that and a glass of chardonnay). She teaches the most popular class in Georgetown University’s history, preaching the gospel of positive psychology to her students. Her viral TED talk, and then her best-selling book about how to live a contented life, have earned her dedicated audiences across the country, along with a social media following that relies on her no-nonsense advice to get through the day. But being the personification of happiness is a tough role to play, and it’s started to wear on Charlotte—and her family.

Jason, Charlotte’s husband of many years, doesn’t recognize the woman sitting absentmindedly across from him scrolling through the day’s feed, more interested in her evening drink than in talking to him. He misses the woman he married, and as the cracks in their relationship deepen, his longtime coworker seems to offer a romantic escape. Meanwhile, Charlotte and Jason’s daughter Birdie, a freshman in high school and star of its varsity tennis team, is navigating her teen years with more than a few hiccups, and none of Charlotte’s trademark advice seems to help.

"In Kristyn Kusek Lewis’s Perfect Happiness, Charlotte McGanley has two sides: the happiness guru with the perfectly curated Instagram profile; and the struggling wife and mother, whose life is crumbling under the pressure. In this timely novel, Lewis deftly explores the price we pay when our outer self doesn’t match our inner one. Insightful and relatable, this book proves our flaws don’t need to define us, and that happiness is always within reach."
— Karma Brown, bestselling author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife

Kristyn Kusek Lewis is the author of HALF OF WHAT YOU HEAR (Harper Paperbacks, 2019), SAVE ME (Grand Central, 2014) and HOW LUCKY YOU ARE (Grand Central, 2012). A former editor at publications including Glamour and Child, she has been writing for national publications for over twenty years. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Reader’s Digest, Glamour, Self, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Parents, Allure, Good Housekeeping, the New York Daily News, and many more. Kristyn is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and the Vermont College of Fine Arts, where she earned an MFA in creative writing. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area with her family

Visit Kristyn online:
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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 June 14th at midnight EST.

What's in the mail

Melissa A:
Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris from Kensington
The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)
Hadley and Grace by Suzanne Redfearn from Lake Union (e-book via NetGalley)
The Wedding Thief by Mary Simses from Back Bay Books (e-book via NetGalley)
Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland from Simon & Schuster  (e-book via NetGalley)

A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee from St. Martin's Press (e-book via NetGalley)
The View from Here by Hannah McKinnon from Atria (e-book via NetGalley)
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)
Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)
The Mash-Up Summer by/from Tracy Krimmer (e-book)
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren from Gallery (e-book via NetGalley)

Times Like These by Laura Carter from Canelo (e-book via NetGalley)
Come Again by Robert Webb from Little, Brown
The Switch by Beth O'Leary from Flatiron Books (e-book via NetGalley)
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London from John Murray Press (e-book via NetGalley)

Sara:

A Sunset in Sydney by Sandy Barker from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book via NetGalley)
Tell That to My Heart by Eliza J. Scott from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book via NetGalley)
Poll Dancer, Finding Tranquility, and Make Your Move by/from Laura Heffernan (e-book)
What's Not Said by/from Valerie Taylor (e-book)

Fate and Blind Dates by/from Melissa Baldwin (e-book)
Love Me Like You Do by Aimee Brown from Aria (e-book via NetGalley)
You May Kiss the Bridesmaid by Camilla Isley from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book)

Jami:
The White Coat Diaries by Madi Sinha from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)
What's Left Untold by Sherri Leimkuhler from Red Adept Publishing (e-book via NetGalley)
The Menopause Support Group by/from Heather Wardell (e-book)