Spotlight and Giveaway: The Harvey Girls

Today we are pleased to feature Juliette Fay's latest historical fiction novel, The Harvey Girls. If you enjoyed Come Fly With Me by Camille Di Maio, you'll appreciate this one too! It sounds really interesting and Melissa has it in her Kindle queue. Thanks to Get Red PR, we have TWO copies to give away!

1926: Charlotte Crowninshield was born into one of the finest Boston society families. Now she’s on the run from a brutal husband, desperate to disappear into the wilds of the Southwest. Billie MacTavish is the oldest of nine children born to Scottish immigrants in Nebraska. She quit school in the sixth grade to help with her mother’s washing and mending business, but even that isn’t enough to keep the family afloat.

Desperate, both women join the ranks of the Harvey Girls, waitresses who serve in America’s first hospitality chain on the Santa Fe railroad. Hired on the same day, they share three things: a room, a heartfelt dislike of each other…and each has a secret that will certainly get them fired.

Through twelve-hour days of training in Topeka, Kansas, they learn the fine art of service, perfecting their skills despite bouts of homesickness, fear of being discovered, and a run-in with the KKK. When they’re sent to work at the luxurious El Tovar hotel at the Grand Canyon, the challenges only grow, as Billie struggles to hide her young age from would-be suitors, and Charlotte discovers the little-known dark side of the national park’s history. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

"Compulsively readable and immersive, Fay writes another winner!" 
-- Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author of Queens of London

"Fay brings to life a fascinating piece of jazz-age history through the lens of two women who, at first glance, appear to have nothing in common besides their jobs at a fast-paced restaurant chain that was once ubiquitous. The novel crackles with secrets while also highlighting the struggles of women trying to make their way in an unforgiving world." 
-- Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen

“THE HARVEY GIRLS is Juliette Fay at her very best: a gorgeously written, impeccably-researched novel filled with resilient and beautifully drawn female characters. Billie and Charlotte will capture readers’ hearts and bring them back in time to a true and fascinating historical piece of the west in this powerful story of female friendship, strength, and ultimately love.” 
-- Jillian Cantor, USA Today bestselling author of Beautiful Little Fools

Juliette Fay is the bestselling author of eight novels, including City of Flickering Light and the USA TODAY bestseller The Tumbling Turner Sisters. A graduate of Boston College and Harvard University, she lives in Massachusetts. 

Visit Juliette online:

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Giveaway ends August 19th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: It’s Always the Husband

By Becky Gulc

I do love a good psychological thriller and whilst I read and enjoy a wide-range of author’s work there are just some ‘go to’ authors where I just have to read everything they produce. C.L. Taylor is one of those authors for me; I’ve never failed to be transfixed by her novels. It’s Always the Husband is her latest release; here is the synopsis:

Welcome to Lowbridge. Where secrets hide behind every door…

When newly divorced Jude arrives in the small town of Lowbridge, she is soon drawn to widower Will, the father of her young daughter’s best friend.

But Will’s past is shrouded in tragedy, with questions that no one knows the answer to – and after two tragedies tore his life apart in just a few short years, gossip and rumours abound about what really happened to the women he loved.

As whispers of murder surround Will, Jude becomes determined to uncover the truth – and with her own father’s tragic fate haunting her, she refuses to let another innocent man suffer.

Yet in Lowbridge the darkness runs deep, and nothing is as it seems. Can Jude protect Will from a community out for blood? Or will she become the next victim in this web of deceit?

Because whilst one dead wife is tragic, two starts to look like murder… (Synopsis courtesy of C.L. Taylor's website.)

This is another great novel by Cally; yet again one where once I’d started it, I couldn’t stop, and I enjoyed it throughout. I noticed some of the descriptions of this novel as being “motherland meets murder/motherland meets Big Little Lies” and these are spot on. It navigates the complexities of the school gate, the cliques, the friendships, and the isolation, but with the added speculation and mystery about what happened to Will’s former partners and what secrets people may be holding. Having lost two partners, is Will as innocent as Jude wants to believe, or is everyone else simply jumping to the wrong conclusions?

I enjoyed the narrative this was told through multiple perspectives which added to the intrigue and breadth of the story. The story is much more than just Jude and Will; there are a number of characters to get to know (other parents) and whilst initially it seemed a lot of names were mentioned it was easy to keep track once I got into it. Also as some were more supporting characters than big parts in the novel this worked fine for me. Chapters were also short and snappy, which I increasingly enjoy. 

A good test of my enjoyment is often whether I see things coming and there are a number of twists, dead ends and revelations in this novel which kept me guessing. I never saw the ending coming either and had to take a deep breath. C.L. Taylor can’t produce novels fast enough for me. I thoroughly recommend them!

More by C.L. Taylor:

Her Last Holiday

Strangers

Before I Wake

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Spotlight and Giveaway: For the Record

We're excited to celebrate the publication of Emma Lord's sophomore adult rom-com, For the Record. Melissa enjoyed The Break-Up Pact last year (reviewed here) and looks forward to picking this one up soon. Thanks to St. Martin's Press, we have one copy for a lucky reader!

Once the most notorious rivals in the music scene, pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rockstar Sam Blaze electrified audiences as their bands clashed on stage. But behind the scenes, their simmering tension grew into something more — until suddenly both bands fell apart, and the idea of Mackenzie and Sam did, too.

Two years later, Sam has traded the rockstar lifestyle for a quiet life raising the son he didn’t know about. Meanwhile, Mackenzie is dealing with a postoperative change in her voice by only singing under a pseudonym. The only way to revive their public careers? A joint comeback album.

With fans over the moon and their futures on the line, Sam and Mackenzie face their biggest challenge yet: giving up their old rivalry and learning to work together. But as old sparks fly and new secrets emerge, they set off a chain reaction neither of them could have anticipated — one that proves that sometimes, the greatest hits are the ones yet to be written. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

"Musical rivals must find a way to work together in this winning contemporary... There’s a lot to love here." 
―Publishers Weekly

"Readers will be cheering for Mackenzie and Sam in this fun second-chance romance." 
―Library Journal

Credit: Clinton B. Photography

Emma Lord is a digital media editor and writer living in New York City, where she spends whatever time she isn't writing either running or belting show tunes in community theater. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in psychology and a minor in how to tilt your computer screen so nobody will notice you updating your fan fiction from the back row. Her sun sign is Cancer and her moon sign is whatever Taylor Swift song is about to pop up on shuffle. She is the author of Tweet Cute, You Have a Match, When You Get the Chance, Begin Again, The Getaway List, The Break-Up Pact, and The Rival.

Visit Emma online:

Website * Instagram

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Giveaway ends August 17th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Peculiar Gift of July

By Melissa Smoot

Ebey’s End is a small town on an island off the Pacific coast, reachable only by ferry (assuming the gods are with you and it’s not a Tuesday). It’s a comfortable, familiar (but okay, fine, sometimes lonely) life for its resident grocer Anita Odom. That is, until fourteen-year-old July shows up on her doorstep.

Taking in the recently orphaned daughter of an estranged cousin had not been on Anita’s to-do list. In fact, it’s a terrible idea. Anita is ill-suited, ill-prepared, and absolutely certain the entire enterprise will end in disaster—for both of them.

From the moment she arrives, July seems to “know” what each customer at the Island Grocery needs. They’re small things: a housekeeping magazine slipped into old Mr. Daly’s basket or a coconut cream pie pressed into the hands of Pastor Chet. But one by one, these gifts start to change the lives of nearly everyone in town in ways much larger than they—or July—could have imagined.

It's not long before secrets are exposed and questions emerge, and everyone in Ebey’s End has to open their hearts a little wider to make room for it all. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

What an incredibly interesting and wonderful story! Or I should say “stories”, as the author gave everyone in the entire town a chance to be heard and known. I love a well-rounded book, rich with real feelings and a lot of heart.

The small Island town setting matched the storyline entirely and I often felt that I was there in the Pacific Northwest, with the mist and gray skies above me. The main characters, Anita and July, were perfectly mismatched in a way that made them ideal for one another. I could picture the small grocery store that Anita owned and envision the streets of the little town. 

The story of an orphaned girl ending up on an island of misfit characters was so well written and I adored every minute of it. When I was finished, I felt like I had to say goodbye to an entire cast of new friends. I would love to see a sequel!

Thanks to Dutton for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase The Peculiar Gift of July here.

Also by Ashley Ream:
Losing Clementine
The 100 Year Miracle

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Book Review: Murder on an Italian Island

By Sara Steven

When private investigator, Dan Armstrong, and his girlfriend, Anna, are invited to the gorgeous island of Elba for a much-needed break, he jumps at the chance. The thought of sun-drenched shores makes Dan promise Anna he won't “play detective” for a whole week…

A luxury hotel…

Their luxurious hotel, with its wonderful food and picturesque seaside views, seems the perfect escape, especially with Dan's best friend Virgilio and his wife joining them. But the calm shatters with a sinister encounter and a sudden, suspicious death...

A decades old case…

Virgilio’s past connection to the victim casts a long shadow, pulling Dan into a decades-old case. But beneath Elba’s beauty lie secrets and resentments. The victim was universally hated, but was his death the result of foul play or just a tragic accident?

With his faithful canine companion, Oscar, Dan must unravel the island's mysteries, a task that soon takes a decidedly personal and unsettling turn. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

Dan and Oscar are at it again! Only this time, it’s personal. Adding that elevated element to Murder on an Italian Island really brought Dan’s experiences to a whole other level. Often, he’s researching possible crimes that while satisfying when the truth has been revealed, it’s something he can walk away from at the end of it all. But when it involves close friends and loved ones, it makes for a truly unique experience. I also appreciated the beginning of it all, with Dan working on his latest novel. For me, it felt a little meta, because I imagined the author within the pages of this particular murder mystery, putting in his own thoughts and feelings into what it takes to research and learn about the inner nuances of crime investigation and potential murder mysteries.

For Dan, he’d made a promise to his partner Anna that he’d have nothing to do with murder. For the entirety of their relationship, she’s witnessed just how engrossing it can be for Dan when he’s out to solve a mystery, and he really wanted nothing more than to give her that time away from his investigations. But when a victim is discovered and Dan’s own good friend Virgilio is considered a suspect, all bets are off. Dan has to get involved–and fast, in order to prove Virgilio’s innocence. It’s in the research and discoveries that Dan finds a lot more than he ever bargained for, ultimately adding to the risk. 

While I’ve read plenty about Anna in the other Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries series, I felt there was more to delve into with the relationship between Dan and Anna in this latest installment. She was often viewed as more of a background character for me, but this time, she is front and center. It was nice to see more development for her–given the type of past Dan has had with his ex where his love of investigation is concerned, it’s nice to see someone like Anna who supports Dan’s passion. 

Can we highlight the star of the show? It’s always Oscar, and it’s always welcome! Who wouldn’t love a sidekick like him? He adds great comedic timing to the pages of this book, while also offering emotional support when someone needs it, and in times of chaos, he’s right there, taking care of business! He’s just too cute for words. I know I also mention the scenic backdrop and the food (my goodness, always the food!) when it comes to a T.A. Williams read, but it will always bear repeating because both subjects are important characters that really bring the scenes to life. Maybe I was more hungry this time around while I read Murder on an Italian Island, but I could not get over the delicious dishes mentioned during Dan’s meal experiences. It made me jealous! As much as I’ve talked about it in the past, I’ve yet to travel to any of the locations mentioned, but one of my kids has traveled to Italy and confirmed for me that the food experience there is like none other. It is truly legit. 

What a fun, five-star read! 

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

T. A. Williams is the bestselling author of the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series. He studied languages at University and lived and worked in Italy for eight years, returning to England with his wife in 1972. T.A. and his wife now live in Devon.

Visit T.A. Williams online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram 

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Book Review: Roll for Romance

By Sara Steven

For years, Sadie Brooks has declined her best friend’s standing invitation to join his Dungeons & Dragons campaign. But when she unexpectedly loses her marketing job and flees New York City to spend the summer with him in small-town Texas, she also runs out of excuses to say no.

In the game, she becomes Jaylie, a powerful and self-assured human cleric blessed by the Goddess of Luck with spells to heal her companions. But in real life, Sadie believes her luck has run out, and she hopes the distraction will give her time to clear her head and plan next steps.

She never expected Noah Walker—the handsome, outgoing bartender roped into joining them—to factor into that plan. Like Sadie, he’s new in town. But with a taste for adventure, Noah never stays in one place for long. He’s something of a traveling bard—just like his character Loren, the charismatic, lute-strumming elf. While Jaylie finds herself succumbing to the bard’s charms over the course of their party’s travels, Sadie also begins to fall under Noah’s spell.

As their relationship progresses in both worlds, Sadie can’t help but wonder if they might last beyond the game. But when a surprising new opportunity opens in New York, she must face the truth about why she lost her job in the first place—and whether she and Noah have found something in Texas worth staying for. Torn between her career dreams in the city and the exciting uncertainty of a new adventure, she will have no choice but to roll the dice. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I recently joined a D&D campaign myself, so Roll for Romance intrigued me. I wanted to see what kind of experience Sadie would have, as well as get more insight into the inner workings of a different campaign and how Sadie would describe the experience. I loved the two different viewpoints that are Sadie's, as well as her D&D character Jaylie. Sadie is more reserved and cautious, having been recently kicked down by some life experiences. Jaylie is outspoken and brave, the parts to Sadie that Jaylie wishes she could be. 

Meeting Noah is an unexpected surprise for Sadie. He seems the polar opposite of what she’d ever imagined for a D&D campaign. Her character and his in the game forge a strong bond, with those sentiments leaking into reality. But Noah is a self-professed wanderer who has no plans to settle in one place for very long, and Sadie feels like she has to get her life together and figure out the best course of action to being successful again, and she’s not sure that includes handsome newcomers or the small town she’s found refuge in. 

In many ways, the D&D games help to boost Sadie’s confidence in herself. From one chapter to the next, there is real growth and maturation. For so long she’s focused more on someone else’s expectations and not on her own, and the campaign is a means to discovering more about her inner self and what truly will make her happy, conventional or not. Her best friend Liam was the perfect dungeon master. The game experience was described well and was well researched and thought out for the reading experience. The brewing romance between Sadie and Noah was exciting, but I also thought it was sweet how Sadie forges new friendships in and out of the campaign; it was a nice touch and added more dimension between the characters. Roll for Romance is a great read even if the person reading it doesn’t know much about D&D, and might even spark interest in pursuing and learning more about the game experience. It was a fun book!  

Thanks to Random House for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Once Upon a Time in Dollywood

Today we are pleased to feature Ashley Jordan's debut romance, Once Upon a Time in Dollywood. It is receiving great reviews and we're really excited for you to check it out! It's also the Reese's Book Club Pick for this month! Thanks to Berkley, we have one copy for a lucky reader!  

Eve Ambroise may be a rising star playwright, but her personal life is falling part. Desperate for a fresh start, she breaks up with her fiancé, cuts off her parents, and heads to the Tennessee mountains. But keeping up the lie that she’s just on a writing retreat becomes near impossible when faced with the well-meaning townspeople and a neighbor who has just as much baggage as she has.

Coming off a contentious custody battle, Jamie Gallagher is restructuring what his life looks like as a single dad, and spending more days at his cabin makes his new “free time” a little less empty. Especially when he meets the beautiful—and prickly—woman next door. The last thing he needs is a new romance to shake up his family dynamics even more, but there’s something about Eve.

What starts out as a fling quickly becomes more serious, and it’s not long before Eve is running scared once again. She’s loved and lost in every possible way, and risking it one more time could finally break her. But like the fireflies that fill the mountains around them, Jamie's and Eve’s lives keep falling into sync. A fairy-tale ending could be in the cards, but only if the new couple can get out of their heads and put their hearts first. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

"Once Upon a Time in Dollywood is a moving, captivating, beautiful debut! Ashley Jordan is a star in the making. This book and these characters will stick in your head for a long time. I can’t wait for the whole world to read it."
—Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of Flirting Lessons

“Ashley Jordan’s debut is a richly emotional romance between two people with guarded hearts who find solace in each other. Once Upon a Time in Dollywood is the perfect reminder that sometimes new beginnings require a change of perspective and the courage to let someone in.”

—Regina Black, author of The Art of Scandal

“[A] masterfully wrought and tender romance about rediscovering joy after heartache.”

—Noué Kirwan, author of Frequent Fliers and Long Past Summer

Ashley Jordan (she/her) is a millennial from Atlanta by way of Brooklyn. She attended Spelman College, obtaining a degree in Psychology and a lifelong love and appreciation for women’s stories. While she currently works in public health, she has embraced writing as a hobby since penning her first short story in second grade. When Ashley isn't at the day job or writing, she is either at a Beyoncé concert, rewatching Mad Men, or arguing about basketball with anyone who will listen. In 2023, she became a Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow. Visit Ashley at her website and on Instagram.

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Giveaway ends August 12th at midnight EST.

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