A neighborly visit from Liz Crowe...plus a special giveaway

We are pleased to welcome Liz Crowe to CLC today. Her latest novel, Cul-de-Sac, is a domestic suspense that you won't want to miss! It's hitting shelves in about a month from now. We had a great time chatting with her and enjoyed reading her answers to our questions. We hope you will enjoy them too. Liz has one signed copy, along with a $50 Amazon gift card, to share with a lucky reader!

Liz Crowe is a Kentucky native and graduate of the University of Louisville living in South Carolina. She's spent her time as a three-continent expat trailing spouse, mom of three, real estate agent, brewery owner and bar manager, and is currently a digital marketing and fundraising consultant, in addition to being an award-winning author.

The Liz Crowe backlist has something for any reader seeking complex storylines with humor and complete casts of characters that will delight and linger in the imagination long after the book is finished.

Her favorite things to do when she’s not scrolling social media for cute animal videos is walk her dogs, cuddle her cats, and watch her favorite sports teams while scrolling social media for cute animal videos.

Visit Liz online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:

Welcome to Connelly Court. A secluded, old money neighborhood, harboring a web of desires and deceit behind pristine facades and manicured lawns, where the lives of a group of neighbors, bound by their shared secrets and unconventional lifestyle, are about to unravel.

Michael and Amelia Ross move into their dream home, and get drawn into the seductive allure. But their house once belonged to a family whose lives were seemingly ruined by their participation, which leads Amelia to question everything about her new-found friends. Suspicions run rampant as the close-knit group turns on each other. Lies, betrayals, and hidden agendas are revealed, ripping apart the fabric that once bound the group together.

Cul-de-Sac is a dark tale of marriage, friendship, desire, and betrayal, where nothing is as it seems, and the truth may be more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Discover the twisted secrets of Connelly Court in this chilling domestic suspense novel that will leave you questioning just how well you truly know—or should know—your neighbors. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

What is something you learned from writing your previous novels that you applied to Cul-de-Sac?
I’ve got 30 romance novels (+/-) under my belt and in my backlist in various forms of “still available” and “about to be available again.” One of the most important things I’ve learned from my experiences in the romance genre is that relationships drive story. Character rules over plot. The characters ARE the plot—their lives, their histories, their traumas and daily dramas. I love creating stories like that…hence the massive backlist, I guess.

It allowed me to approach my first suspense/thriller project from a “character rules” perspective. Mind you, the first iteration(s) of this book were not exactly what you’d call great, at least from a thriller/suspense genre rules standpoint. Yes, there are rules in all genres, including thrillers and they are on the opposite end of the spectrum from what I like to write. PLOT drives things. The story is the story, not the characters and their various successes and failures and messy nonsense.

So I worked with a manuscript developer I trust who had me watch a bunch of movies, and read a bunch more books, none of which was a hardship for me. And with this help, plus all that research, I was able to let the plot be the driver, but at the same time, I allowed my characters set up the plot in ways that a lot of thriller/suspense novels don’t. 

Learning is all I do, every time I write a new book, whether it’s the research I’ll do for a romance, or in this case, a careful picking apart of my first iteration of Cul-de-Sac to formulate it into a more organized, thriller-style set of plot beats….also known as an “outline” which was my first ever use of one. 

What is one thing you would tell the debut novelist version of yourself?
To give yourself some grace, some space to learn and grow, and never trust anyone offering to do something for you that seems like it will only benefit you, not them.

Yes, I’ve been burned, but that’s okay. I learned from that experience the same way I learn something new every time I have a book edited or critiqued or reviewed. 

I’d also say that the aphorism: It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon is something to take pretty seriously. To win a marathon you can’t just stop in the middle, throw up your hands and say “This is too hard. I quit.” Then hope that you can simply jump back in at that same point along the course and expect things to be still waiting for you to return without changing while you gone. It’s not to say that I recommend never taking a break because this can be a brutal job on your ego, emotions, and psyche. I’d just say to newbie Liz: It’s a Marathon. Bring water and snacks, and expect it to last about as long as you’d think it will last, but don’t give up in the middle if you can help it. Stick it out and you’ll make it, at least to a point where you feel like you’ve accomplished something.

If Cul-de-Sac were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
Oh that’s easy. I tend to write with people in mind or sometimes even with cut outs of movie stars or models for my characters stuck around my work area so…here we go:

Amelia Ross: Ana Taylor Joy
Michael Ross: LaKeith Stanfield

Melissa Murphy: Kaley Cuoco
Ryan Murphy:  Ryan Gosling

Cassie LeBlanc: Florence Pugh
Barrett LeBlanc: Matthew McConaughey

Janice Cooper: Allison Janney
Allen Cooper: George Clooney

Emily Arya: Elizabeth Olsen
Sai Arya: Maulik Pancholy

It would be a star-studded affair, without a doubt.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
That would be a tie between Meryl Streep and Tina Fey and I think Tina would win the arm wrestling contest for it.

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
I’m in Greenville, South Carolina, which is the “Upstate” of SC, which is close to a lot of things, including Atlanta GA and Charlotte NC. But here in Greenville we would definitely head to the Swamp Rabbit Café for coffee and breakfast, take a short walk along the Swamp Rabbit Trail into downtown GVL to check out the Falls at the Reedy and the Liberty Bridge before we dip into one of my fav French style cafes for lunch. Then we might hop in the car and head to Asheville NC, about an hour away to go to some of my favorite breweries like Hi Wire and Wicked Weed.

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
Like many of you, I reserve the actual “going to the movies” thing for special occasions and stream most of my entertainment these days. But the last two movies I saw at the theater were Barbie and Dune 2 and I can’t recommend either of them loudly enough.

I’ll also throw in a plug for a couple of shows I loved recently, Resident Alien on Netflix, Shogun on Hulu/FX, Man in Full (Jeff Daniels was totally amazing in it) on Netflix, and I just did a rewatch of Deadwood (HBO/Max), one of my all-time favs.

Thanks to Liz for visiting with us and for sharing her book and a gift card with our readers. Thanks to Author Marketing Experts for arranging this interview.

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. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends May 21st at midnight EST.

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Sara and Melissa Talk About...The Mothers in Our Lives

We've been running a column series to get more personal with our readers. We are currently in our fifth year!

This month, we are talking about the mothers in our lives. Even though Mother's Day is over, there's still plenty to say! 

We're always open to topic suggestions, so please don't hesitate to share those in the comments. We'd also love to know if you can relate to anything we've said or hear your own thoughts on the topic. So don't be shy. :) We look forward to getting to know you as much as we're letting you get to know us. You can find our previous columns here, in case you missed them. 

Sara Steven:

I’ve been watching the most recent season of Hacks, and while it’s true I’m behind by a couple of episodes, I’m enjoying the new episodes and the obvious camaraderie between the two primary characters, Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart, and Ava Daniels, played by Hannah Einbinder. They’ve formed a unique friendship, but I also get this sense of motherly oversight that Deborah seems to have for Ava, possibly due to Deborah’s strained relationship with her own daughter Deborah Jr. (DJ). Maybe she’s bestowing sage advice and wisdom because she doesn’t feel she can do that for DJ. Or maybe she wants to look out for Ava, considering there doesn’t seem to be anyone else who is doing that for her. But it made me think about the various television “mothers” who sort of “raised me” by way of their own sage advice, particularly during a time when I didn’t feel like I had a very prominent mother influence. I imagine a lot of 80s children felt that way. We were encouraged to sit in front of the old boob tube, a welcome respite for our hands off parents. The term “helicopter parent” hadn’t been invented yet, that’s for sure. 

I thought of six mothers who had an impact on me while I was growing up, in various ways. They are:

SIX: Angela Bower from Who’s the Boss?

My own mother had been a stay-at-home parent, so it was a different experience for me to see a mother figure who helmed her own company and could juggle parenting along with a job that was outside the home. Angela was quick-witted and held her own with Tony, showcasing how she could be an amazing role model for her own children and Tony’s daughter Samantha. 

FIVE: Carol Brady from The Brady Bunch

I imagine many of us grew up watching The Brady Bunch, and even though it had originally aired before I was born, I utilized Nick at Nite as much as possible so I could submerge myself in a life from the 70s. Carol was sweet and always placed her children as a top priority, a deep down conversation at every turn when the kids had questions or needed guidance about something. I loved the original show and I loved the spoof movies too. I thought Shelly Long did a great job as Carol.

FOUR: Peg Bundy from Married with Children

Peg gave no f****. She did what she wanted to do, said what she wanted to say, regardless of what anyone else thought. I think she most represented the type of mother I was used to, who didn’t tend to my every whim or make me home cooked meals or bake cookies after school. It was interesting because before Peg, mothers were often portrayed without much autonomy. They were always an extension of their kids. But with Peg, she was her own person and had a separate life from the kids. She didn’t think she had to keep Al happy, either. He was responsible for his own damn happiness.

THREE: Maggie Seaver from Growing Pains

I mainly watched Growing Pains because of Kirk Cameron. Kirk Cameron circa 1980s, not the Kirk Cameron of today. There is an episode where Maggie is talking with her husband, Jason, and while they’re conversing, Maggie is applying body lotion to her arms, her legs, and even her elbows. It was a scene that had taken place right before bedtime, and I didn’t understand at the time why she’d apply lotion like that. But now that I’m in my 40s, I completely understand why. It felt like she was showing us what it is like to live the life of a woman. She was feminine and charming, and tough. 

TWO: Caroline Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie

I loved this show! Little House transported me back to old fashioned values and what I imagined a close-knit family to look like. Caroline had an immeasurable amount of patience. For her kids; her husband. She did what she needed to do to provide love and care to her family, but never took any of Harriet Oleson’s guff. 

ONE: Roseanne

Roseanne (from the 80s/90s) really spoke to me when I was growing up in the 80s. Her family was a lot like my family. We were blue collar. My father worked for the local cannery, doing his best but at times we struggled to make ends meet. When Roseanne grabs two boxes of mac and cheese from the kitchen pantry, proclaiming it’s what’s for dinner, I knew exactly where she was coming from. Those were my type of dinners, too. When her daughter Becky wanted a new dress for a party, there wasn’t enough money to buy one, and I knew how that felt, too. But despite the struggles, there was a lot of love there, too, and I loved that. I loved the acerbic humor. That show had been my comfort show for years. She was my comfort mother.   

Melissa Amster:

I consider myself to be a good friend matchmaker. My friends can attest to this! However, there's one friend match I would really like to see happen, even though it's been about 20 years already. I haven't given up hope though! I would like my mom and my mother-in-law to be friends. They're friendly toward each other, but I doubt they are in contact outside of family get-togethers. I would attribute it to long distance, but most of my friendships (including my friendship with Sara) are long distance and thriving! I have good relationships with both my mom and my mother-in-law, and could sit and talk with either of them for hours. And while they are different in some respects, I think they actually have a lot in common! Here are some examples:

1. They both like their homes to be clean, and that somehow translates to wanting my home to be clean too.

2. They both have a good sense of humor, even in different forms. My mom enjoys comedies and loves to laugh. Her laugh is distinct and recognizable too. My mother-in-law likes to tell jokes and always has a good pun to share. So she could easily make my mom laugh! There you go.

3. They enjoy being grandmothers and they can easily bond over sharing one set of grandchildren. 

4. They both like musical theater. I'm sure the musicals they enjoy would overlap and they'd find some in common. 

5. They're both fashionable and have a great sense of style. They would enjoy going shopping for clothes together. 

6. They both love drinking coffee. How they raised kids (at least their firstborns) who only drink tea is beyond my comprehension, but they share the coffeemaker when they visit our house at different times. 

7. They like to travel, whether it's within the US or to another country. I'm sure they could spend hours talking about the various trips they have taken.

8. Saving the best for last....they both love to read! And that's something I bond with both of them about. I'm sure they've read a lot of the same books from my collection and recommendations. I know historical fiction is at the top of both of their interest lists. They could even start a book club together if they were so inclined! 

There you have it. I don't expect them to be besties or BFFs, but I think it's never too late for them to connect and form a friendship and I think they would actually enjoy getting to know each other all over again. They are going to be in the same room in a few weeks, when my son graduates high school, so who knows what could happen! 

Having said all this, it's rare for me to find pictures with my mom and mother-in-law together. The only ones I know I have are from my wedding and from my (soon graduating) son's bris. (I shared the latter in a post a few years ago, but I doubt anyone would remember seeing it.)

To give some background to the picture from my wedding:

At the tisch, the groom’s gathering before the badeken (the ceremony where the groom veils the bride after checking they are marrying who they are supposed to), the mothers of the bride and groom break a plate as a sign of tenaim, symbolizing the couple’s commitment to one another since the plate can never be put back together. (Adapted from Ketubah.com) In this picture, they are holding a napkin that contains the pieces of the plate, but I guess the camera caught them at a weird angle.

L to R: My mom and my mother-in-law (2004)

L to R: Me, my mother-in-law, and my mom (2005)

Tell us about the mothers in your lives!

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Book Review: A Wedding in Lake Como

By Allyson Bales

Best friends Ava, Madison, and Chelsea made a pact to reunite for each other’s weddings when their careers sent them in different directions. But after one of them makes a choice that tears the group apart, an upcoming wedding might be their last chance to heal old wounds.

Ava is about to marry the man she loves in a lavish ceremony on the shores of Lake Como, but she’s haunted by the mistakes she’s made.

Madison’s made a name for herself as an influencer in the fashion world but is threatened by a scandal impacting everything she holds dear.

And Chelsea has the perfect family she always craved, but her professional dreams have fallen by the wayside.

As they return to Italy’s gorgeous coast, the three women revisit their life-changing first trip to Lake Como during college. When Madison comes face-to-face with the college sweetheart who was at the heart of one of the most pivotal times of her life, can they forge a new way forward? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

A Wedding in Lake Como was such an engaging story with exploration of so many meaningful themes, a backdrop of New York City and Italy, and characters you will hate and love with equal measure.

Probst's writing is so descriptive and thoughtful.  I have now done a deep dive of Brunate and Nesso, small towns in Italy I really want to explore as soon as possible, have a newfound appreciation for what celebrities go through, and need to talk to my best friend from college as soon as I am done writing this review!

This is a bingeable, quick read that made me think so much about true friendship.  I think so many of us can name at least one person we met in our twenties who really was there for the awkward, often bad-decision making, transitional time in our lives.  I think back on some of the choices that I made in my early twenties and cringe.  The three main characters in this story come together around the start of college and have their ups and downs.  I love how Probst explores what it means to hold grudges, forgive, and find your peace.  

I loved Maddie’s character the best. Maddie is an influencer but I think anyone can certainly relate to her.  

”I was a walking contradiction, shy and awkward inside, yet dying to be seen and recognized by others.”

Not only is she trying to make it in fashion where the demand to grow followers and find her own artistic voice is tough, but she’s also trying to piece herself back together after things change.  This story also depicted what happens when someone in the public eye makes one poor public mistake. Celebrities are human and I love how her character works on herself after that mistake.  I also really enjoyed the way Maddie’s brain processed things.  She is emotional but also balanced  and tries very hard to look at all perspectives.  

Maddie experiences something with her two best friends that changes everything, and I think most of us  can relate to what her character does to try to get back on track.  There is so much depth in the story and I was so invested in what happens to all of them!  To be honest, I would love another book in this Italy series with these characters!  

If you’re a fan of beautiful Italy or want to visit there someday, women’s fiction, and self-reflection, this is a book I think you’ll really enjoy!

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

More by Jennifer Probst:
Our Italian Summer
The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti
Unbreak My Heart

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Book Review: Swiped

By Jami Denison

I had my share of horrible dates when I was trying to meet Mr. Right on the dating apps. But I did meet my husband on Match, so they worked for me! Gwen Turner, heroine of L.M. Chilton’s debut novel Swiped, can’t say the same. Her dates have been disastrous, featuring men who lie about their age, their wives, and only seem interested in nudes. But do they all deserve to die?  

Gwen’s made some pretty big mistakes in her life—quitting a great job to run a coffee truck, breaking up with a man who truly loved her—and now her roommate/best friend is moving out and getting married. Gwen wants to bring a date to the wedding, but the pickings are slim in her small coastal English town. At her friend’s hen do, she’s desperate for an excuse to leave, and messages one of her matches on the dating app. But he responds with a newspaper clipping about a man who was murdered. Shaken, Gwen realizes she had gone out on a date with him. And then her other dates start dying, their bodies found in the same location where Gwen had met them. Is the killer after Gwen? Or trying to frame her?

While the plot of Swiped is a bit like the classic 1989 Al Pacino thriller Sea of Love, the tone is closer to Bridget Jones's Diary. It’s a terrific send-up of the dating app culture, where sometimes it’s hard not to wish death on certain daters. But Gwen herself isn’t faultless either, which she reveals as the novel progresses. Although at times the book got too silly for the danger to feel serious, overall, it’s a fun ride. 

Women on the apps might want to stock up on a few copies of the book. Sending one over to an obnoxious guy who asks for nudes is a great way to make a statement.  

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

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Book Review: Summers at the Saint

By Melissa Smoot

Welcome to the St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia, where traditions run deep and scandals run even deeper. . .

Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as “the Saint.” If you grew up coming here, you were “a Saint.” If you came from the wrong side of the river, you were “an Ain’t.” Traci Eddings was one of those outsiders whose family wasn’t rich enough or connected enough to vacation here. But she could work here. One fateful summer she did, and married the boss’s son. Now, she’s the widowed owner of the hotel, determined to see it return to its glory days, even as staff shortages and financial troubles threaten to ruin it. Plus, her greedy and unscrupulous brother-in-law wants to make sure she fails. Enlisting a motley crew of recently hired summer help―including the daughter of her estranged best friend―Traci has one summer season to turn it around. But new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel threatens to come to light, and the tragic death of one of their own brings Traci to the brink of despair.

Traci Eddings has her back against the pink-painted wall of this beloved institution. And it will take all the wits and guts she has to see wrongs put to right, to see guilty parties put in their place, and maybe even to find a new romance along the way. Told with Mary Kay Andrew’s warmth, humor, knack for twists, and eye for delicious detail about human nature, Summers at the Saint is a beach read with depth and heart. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I have always enjoyed books by Mary Kay Andrews, and Summers at the Saint is no exception. Set in a luxury resort in a coastal town of Georgia, this story had all the makings of a perfect beach read. Although the book is over 450 pages, I could not get enough and finished it in less than two days. That is saying something since I also have a full-time day job! 

The main character, Traci Eddings, had grown up on the “wrong side of the causeway”, but was now the owner of the luxury resort where she started as a lifeguard as a teenager. When a tragedy strikes Traci’s family, she not only has to figure out who did it, but how to save the beloved hotel that has become her home, and the staff like family. Andrews really takes the time to fully develop the characters and the story line, so I didn’t feel like there were any unanswered questions when the book ended.

I spent many years working in the luxury hotel business, and I could relate to many of the obstacles and inner workings of spending 12-15 hours a day, sometimes six days a week, at a resort such as this. If you are looking for a top notch beach read this summer, look no further. You will not be disappointed in Summers at the Saint.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Mary Kay Andrews:

The Homewreckers

The Newcomer

Hello, Summer

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What's in the (e)mail...plus a giveaway

Melissa:

Hers for the Weekend by Helena Greer from Forever (NetGalley)

The Trade Off by Samantha Greene Woodruff from Lake Union (NetGalley)

A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber from Tor (print)

Sara:

The Mother by Valerie Keogh from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

Far From Home by T.A. Williams from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

Sly as a Fox by Wendy Koenig from Author Marketing Experts (ebook)

It Started with a Book by Camilla Isley from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

The Perfect Home by Natasha Boydell from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

Jami: 

Once More from the Top by Emily Layden from MB Communications (NetGalley)

A Season of Perfect Happiness by Maribeth Fischer from Dutton (NetGalley)

Melissa S:
Elizabeth of East Hampton by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding from Gallery (print)
Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins from Berkley (print)

A Friend Indeed by Elka Ray from Kaye Publicity (print)

The Unraveling by Melanie Hamrick from Berkley (print)

What could be in YOUR (e)mail:

Keep This Off the Record by Arden Joy. 

Arden has one audiobook to give away! And it's narrated by Mara Wilson!

See Melissa's review.

Synopsis:

Abigail Meyer and Freya Jonsson can’t stand one another. But could their severe hatred be masking something else entirely?

From the moment they locked eyes in high school, Abby and Freya have been at each other’s throats. Ten years later, when Abby and Freya cross paths again, their old rivalry doesn’t take more than a few minutes to begin anew. And now Naomi, Abby’s best friend, is falling for Freya’s producer and close pal, Will.

Both women are thrilled to see their friends in a happy relationship—except they are now only a few degrees of separation from the person they claim to despise…and they can’t seem to avoid seeing one another.

Keep This Off the Record is a fun and fresh LGBTQIA+ story about the freedom to be who you are, even if that means falling for the person you hate. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"Delightful! This modern-day twist on Much Ado About Nothing is sure to please both lovers of romance and Shakespeare." 

--Jean Meltzer, International bestselling author

“If there is a fine line between love and hate, high school enemies Abby and Freya are happy to cross it. Readers will be happy too! Arden Joy lives up to her last name. Keep This Off the Record is a joy!” 

--Meredith Schorr, author of Someone Just Like You

“I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and this charming love story, complete with a delightful cast of characters, Jewish, and LGBTQIA+ rep, checked every box. With equal parts humor and heart, Arden Joy delivers a feel-good romance that reminds us to love ourselves for exactly who we are.” 

--Lindsay Hameroff, author of Till There Was You

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Giveaway ends May 15th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Crow Talk

By Allyson Bales

Frankie O’Neill and Anne Ryan would seem to have nothing in common. Frankie is a lonely ornithologist struggling to salvage her dissertation on the spotted owl following a rift with her advisor. Anne is an Irish musician far from home and family, raising her five-year-old son, Aiden, who refuses to speak.

At Beauty Bay, a community of summer homes nestled on the shores of June Lake, in the remote foothills of Mount Adams, it’s off-season with most houses shuttered for the fall. But Frankie, adrift, returns to the rundown caretaker’s cottage that has been in the hardworking O'Neill family for generations—a beloved place and a constant reminder of the family she has lost. And Anne, in the wake of a tragedy that has disrupted her career and silenced her music, has fled to the neighboring house, a showy summer home owned by her husband's wealthy family.

When Frankie finds an injured baby crow in the forest, little does she realize that the charming bird will bring all three lost souls—Frankie, Anne, and Aiden—together on a journey toward hope, healing, and rediscovering joy. Crow Talk is an achingly beautiful story of love, grief, friendship, and the healing power of nature in the darkest of times. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

This is my first Eileen Garvin read and I am not really sure what I have been doing with my life but adding the rest of her backlist to my TBR is first on my to-do list this week!

Garvins writing, the characters, the plot, and how I felt reading this book all made this a book I will remember for some time to come.

I found that this is a slower moving read.  I really took my time with it reading a few chapters at a time allowing myself time to really absorb the story and I recommend you do the same.  I also really loved all the details and facts about crows.  I see them all the time but now have a new understanding of the species and have shared a few of the facts with people around me.  The crow represented a lot of the themes of the story which I also really enjoyed and especially feel in love with Charlie Crow and Aiden.

I love characters that are harder to get to know and understand, but once you do they are characters that leave a lasting impression.  Both Charlie Crow and Aiden were that for me and I really can’t wait for you to meet them.  How both help other characters in the story reflect and grow was very heartwarming and thought provoking.  The characters explore themes of grief, healing, friendship, and what it means to find yourself again and they are so incredibly relatable. 

While this story was a slow burn, it really snuck up on me at the end and I found myself so overcome with so many feelings.  I really don’t remember the last story I read where that happened.  I found so much hope in this story and don’t think I will ever look at crows the same way again.

Thanks to Dutton for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase Crow Talk here.

More by Eileen Garvin:
The Music of Bees
How to Be a Sister

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