Brooke Lea Foster's darling debut...plus a book giveaway

Today we welcome Brooke Lea Foster, who is celebrating the publication of her debut novel, Summer Darlings. She's here to talk about her novel and share a funny story with us. Thanks to Gallery, we have TWO copies to give away!

Brooke Lea Foster is an award-winning author and journalist who has worked as a writer and editor at The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, The Huffington Post/Aol and the Washingtonian magazine. She’s currently a contributing writer to Psychology Today magazine.

Her articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Parents, PARADE, Scholastic Parent & Child, The Baltimore Sun, The Boston Globe, Psychology Today, among many others. She’s the author of three parenting books: The Way They Were (Crown, 2007), There When He Needs You (Free Press, 2008), and For Goodness Sex (Harper Collins, 2014).

Foster, a three-time finalist for the Livingston Awards for Young Journalists, the highest honor given to writers under the age of 35, is also the recipient of the Robert D. G. Lewis Watchdog Award for Investigative Reporting for her story “Trouble in Coal Country.” Her 2003 story about illegal teenagers in the Latino American community was a finalist for the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism for excellence in reporting on children and families. She’s the recipient of numerous Dateline Awards given by the Washington Society of Professional Journalists. (Bio courtesy of Brooke's website.)

Visit Brooke online:
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Synopsis:
In 1962, coed Heddy Winsome leaves her hardscrabble Irish Brooklyn neighborhood behind and ferries to glamorous Martha’s Vineyard to nanny for one of the wealthiest families on the island. But as she grows enamored with the alluring and seemingly perfect young couple and chases after their two mischievous children, Heddy discovers that her academic scholarship at Wellesley has been revoked, putting her entire future at risk.

Determined to find her place in the couple's wealthy social circles, Heddy nurtures a romance with the hip surfer down the beach while wondering if the better man for her might be a quiet, studious college boy instead. But no one she meets on the summer island—socialite, starlet, or housekeeper—is as picture-perfect as they seem, and she quickly learns that the right last name and a house in a tony zip-code may guarantee privilege, but that rarely equals happiness.

Rich with the sights and sounds of mid-century Martha’s Vineyard, Brooke Lea Foster’s debut novel Summer Darlings promises entrance to a rarefied world, for readers who enjoyed Tigers in Red Weather or The Summer Wives. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

In one sentence, what was your road to publishing like?
It was exhilarating – while I’ve worked as a journalist for twenty years, writing fiction was like flexing an entirely different muscle, and creatively, I hadn’t been that inspired in a long time. I think journalists have an easier time transitioning to fiction because we’re used to being edited and we’re very used to rejection. There were a lot of “No’s” before there is a “yes!”

How are you similar to or different from Heddy?
I can relate to Heddy when she feels like a fish out of water at, say, a country club or a fancy pants women’s luncheon because like her, I grew up very differently. We also both looked to the strong women in our lives for guidance as we made the transition to adulthood – trying to understand why women made the choices they did and whether they were pleased with their lives or resentful of them. But Heddy and I are very different, too. For one, Heddy is a little squeamish to speak her mind sometimes, and I’m not like that at all. I’m more direct.

If Summer Darlings were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
Ooh. This is a fun one, and don’t think I haven’t thought of it before. Heddy has always been a Saoirse Ronan type to me: smart, pretty, emotive but also a little shy. Jean-Rose…who is good at being wicked? Rachel McAdams is very pretty and glamorous, and I bet she could play the self-centered housewife well. Gigi McCabe is the buxom movie star. I bet ScarJo (Scarlett Johansson) would be a fun foe to Rachel McAdams. As for the men, I think Ash Porter is all Jude Law (handsome and smooth), and Sullivan is def a James Franco type, the renaissance man.

What is keeping you entertained the most during the quarantine?
Episodes of My Brilliant Friend on HBO. The writing on the show is incredible, the scenery is dreamy, and the friendship between Lila and Lenu is so complicated. I’m also writing my second novel. I’m halfway through my revision, and this one takes place in the Hamptons in 1957. Going back in time to that summer is keeping me sane during the pandemic.

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?
This didn’t happen to me, but it’s the funniest story I’ve heard in quarantine times where we don’t all get out that much. My friend’s third grader was signed on to a live Zoom meeting with his teacher and his class. Since he was all set up, my friend hopped in the shower. A few minutes later, her son came running into the bathroom holding the computer: “Look, Mom, you have to see what we’re doing!” Of course, my friend, who was naked in the shower, had to calmly tell her son to get out of the bathroom. NOW. That made me laugh!

What are your favorite things to eat and drink in the summer?
Wolffler’s Summer in a Bottle rose. I love that stuff, especially because I grew up on eastern Long Island where the winery is. It’s one of the prettiest vineyards on the east end. I also love to go pick fresh blueberries and strawberries at local farms when they’re in season, eat as many juicy farm stand tomatoes as I can get my hands on (paired with fresh mozzarella and basil), and go out for lots and lots of ice cream.

Thanks to Brooke for chatting with us and to Gallery 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 May 12th at midnight EST.

Sara and Melissa talk about....Motherhood

We've been running a column series to get more personal with our readers. This month, we're talking about motherhood, with Mother's Day right around the corner. We understand and respect that this topic and holiday may be difficult for some of our readers. Being mothers is something personal to us, but we understand if you do not want to read any further than this sentence. 

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.

Melissa Amster:

I have now been a mother for fourteen and a half years. I never imagined I'd be a mother to boys, let alone to three kids, but here I am. (I only say this because I grew up with one sister.) Today, instead of reflecting on what it is like to be a mother, I just want to share some of my favorite things about each of my kids.

E, my fourteen year-old:
I still can't believe E is a teenager. I see pictures of him from when he was a toddler and he has grown and changed so much during all this time. I've seen him go from Wiggles to Wicked. (I like the latter phase SO much better!) He's become my Broadway buddy. We listen to musicals together all the time, and when we're not listening, we're singing show tunes. We've also watched a bunch of musicals together and I love his enthusiasm for them. I also love how he is so good with little kids (my friend's daughter loves him) and how well he connects with adults. He usually sits in on video chats with my friends and talks with them like they're his friends too. Whenever my best friend visits us, he gives her the biggest hug. He's smart and talented (acting and clarinet, especially). He also makes me laugh with his impressions and his improvisational acts. I sometimes have glimpses of what he'll be like in the future and I like what I am seeing.

Big M, my twelve year-old:
When I was twelve, I didn't want to be seen with my parents. (It was a pre-teen thing back then, but I'm guessing it still is these days.) Big M is the opposite. He loves spending time with us and all he ever wants to do is cuddle. He's the most affectionate twelve year-old I've ever met. He's also very musical, especially when it comes to playing piano. He has taught himself how to play and is better than I ever was even with several years of lessons. It blows my mind to listen to him play. He also has a great sense of humor and likes to tell jokes or play pranks on people. He's really good with coding and video editing, as well. He loves animals and would have a menagerie in his room if I let him. While the usual sibling rivalry happens, he will still spend hours playing with his sister in the basement and laughing over inside jokes with his brother. I still remember a time E was upset about something and Big M said one word in a funny way and it made E forget all about being upset. He and I always joke about what if he wasn't born to me and someone else was. I am thankful that is not the case though.

Little M, my nine year-old:
Little M has the best sense of style. She's always putting together her own outfits and sometimes ends up looking like Punky Brewster. She's passionate about the environment and is always making sure we're not wasting water or electricity. She gets so mad when she sees litter on the ground. Little M also cares about what is going on in the world and likes to engage with me in conversations about it. Like her brothers, she is both funny and caring. She's also musical, even if it's just with a recorder for now. She wants to learn how to play the violin when she's able to join the school orchestra. She sings the songs that E teaches her and it's so cute to listen to her when she does that. She's fun to talk with, even if it means she's going to bed really late because she wants to ask a lot of random questions. Every time I look at her, I tell myself how lucky I am that she's my daughter.

Aside from everything mentioned above, I love, love, LOVE that all three kids are avid readers! When I am able to go to the library again, I'll be bringing home a huge stack for them.

Left to right: Little M, E, Big M

Sara Steven:

My oldest son turns fifteen next week, and while attempting to think about and plan some sort of celebration for him during the age of COVID-19, a truly terrifying fact, a horrifying realization crept in amidst the ice cream cake (mint chocolate, per his request) and gift ideas (Steam gift cards and something called Apex Legend coins) - a fact that I’ve been trying to avoid like the plague for the last few years, at least.

My son is turning fifteen. He can get his driver’s permit. This. Year. How did this happen?

When he was so much younger, I used to imagine what it would be like when he reached his teen years. I’d picture my sweet, happy boy a lot taller, full of conversation, and while I always suspected he’d be just a little bit snarky given my own personality, I knew he’d also have a sensitive side. I’d picture him doing more grown-up things, like going to high school or (gasp!) dating, and then thoughts turned to my sweet, happy boy behind the wheel of a beater up junker car he’d have purchased with his own money he’d saved up from his first summer job, or maybe he’d drive our 2008 Toyota Camry because we’d made plans to hold onto it for him, and he’d be more than enthusiastic because it would be his very own car, and it would be free, and who could say no to a free car?

Those thoughts felt trivial and silly, considering there were several years ahead of the both of us. More than enough time for me to get used to the idea that there would come a day where he’d become another driver on the road. And now, it’s officially here.

My suspicions have been correct, for the most part. Shorts I’d purchased for him just a few months ago in preparation of our hot Arizona summers are too small on him now, given his penchant for frequent growth spurts. He’s quiet around those he doesn’t know well, but if he knows you, look out. He’ll most likely drive you crazy with his need to banter and argue multiple points incessantly. He’s full of a lot more snark than I ever could have imagined, and the sensitivity is there, hidden away, presenting itself when I least expect it, because much like his mom, he doesn’t like to show it.

He tells me he’s getting his driver’s permit, and then his license, as soon as he’s able to. And there’s no way he’s going to drive our Camry, equating it to a commercial we saw once on TV, where a teen is bequeathed “Beige Betty”, a hideously old station wagon. I don’t think our Camry is all that bad, but apparently my son thinks so. Before COVID-19, he had plans to get his first summer job, and to save money. Those plans have changed, but not where learning to drive is concerned, and I don’t want it.

Picturing him on an Arizona roadway freaks me out. Even with my plans for him, with driver’s education and a defensive driving course. It’s relinquishing the reins, it’s trusting that he’ll be safe and okay, it’s another step closer to losing that little boy and watching this boy morph into a young man. It’s another life skill I have to impart onto him, and I’m a lousy driver. Ask anyone who knows me. But I’ll do my best, and I’ll do my best to hide my fears, because I need him to know that I think he’s capable, and I know he’s more than capable. And let’s be honest- sixteen is right around the corner. I have to get used to the idea now, just as much as he needs to get used to the idea that his first car most likely will be the Camry, our own special version of “Beige Betty”.

Here’s wishing a Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there who have been there, done that when it comes to those tough teen years, and those who are either on the brink or have several years to go until you’re there- I hope you have a wonderful day!

Book Review: Stories We Never Told

By Jami Deise

When I was in college and hung up on an ex-boyfriend, I would occasionally eat lunch at his usual spot, or take the long way home so I’d walk past his dorm. My friends would sometimes casually stalk their crushes or exes as well. With the advent of Facebook, it became that much easier to follow along at a distance. Everyone does it. What’s the harm?

In author Sonja Yoerg’s latest, Stories We Never Told, Washington D.C. psychology professor Jackie Strelitz has a friendly relationship with her ex-lover and colleague, Harlan Crispin. In fact, she sometimes goes to dinner with Harlan and her new husband, Mike. But when Harlan starts dating Jackie’s new postdoc, Nasira, Jackie is thrown for a loop. Soon she finds herself driving past Harlan’s house at all hours and obsessing over the new relationship. As Jackie begins to lose control of her behavior, her marriage and her career could be in jeopardy.

Although the pacing of this novel begins slowly and the language of its third-person narration seems a bit distant, the author throws a curve ball about a quarter of the way in that puts the book in a different territory. At first, I found the narrative voice too slow and the action not to be as compelling as I prefer. But after this curve ball, I was all in. Most of the suspense novels I read feature short chapters, quick timelines, and many cliffhangers. Yoerg offers more of a slow burn, with lots of build-up and nebulous actions that lead characters and readers wondering if anything is really going on at all, a la Gaslight. This variation gave the book a much more realistic feel than other domestic thrillers. After reading the entire novel, my only real complaint is that Yoerg mixes real D.C. locations with a fake college, making this native of the D.C. suburbs a little dizzy.

Despite its slow beginning, readers should stick with Stories We Never Told. Fans of Saran Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks’s An Anonymous Girl and Caroline Kepnes’s You should find the narrative especially enjoyable.

Thanks to Tall Poppy Writers for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Sonja Yoerg:

Spotlight and Giveaway: Summer Longing

Today we're celebrating the publication of Jamie Brenner's latest novel, Summer Longing. The cover looks so inviting and we're excited to see what's inside. Thanks to Little, Brown, we have one copy to give away!

It’s the start of the summer season in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and boisterous vacationers descend on the idyllic Cape Cod community known for its bustling shops, vibrant nightlife, and breathtaking beauty. Fresh off the ferry is Ruth Cooperman, who has just left her Philadelphia life and beloved business behind in hopes of relocating permanently. Having sold the business, navigated a difficult divorce years earlier, and managed a strained relationship with her adult daughter, Ruth is ready for a carefree summer of solitude.

It seems Provincetown has other plans. Ruth discovers a newborn on the porch of her summer rental home, with no note or information about where she came from. The tight-knit community quickly comes to her aid, accepting both the baby and Ruth as their own. The presence of a new life has a profound emotional impact on a particular group of women: local tea-shop owners who gave up their dreams of having children of their own; the matriarchal owner of an inn who lost her own child years earlier; a local teen who yearns to break free from her small-town life; and Ruth’s own daughter, who has spent years struggling with feelings of abandonment. As the summer unfolds, it seems that the unexpected arrival of the baby might have been exactly what this community needed in order to heal wounds of its own.

“Jamie Brenner’s latest glittering read is her best summer book yet, a combination of page-turning plot and heartfelt human connection that will stay with readers long after the last sunset of the season. With Summer Longing, Jamie Brenner draws a world of hope and second chances that will leave readers wondering, with newfound optimism, what the next chapter might hold for their own lives.” 
—Kristy Woodson Harvey, author of Feels Like Falling

Photo by Kathleen O'Donnell

Jamie Brenner is the author of the USA Today bestseller The Forever Summer, Drawing Home, and The Wedding Sisters. She lives in New York City and spends her summers visiting the beach towns that inspire her books.

Visit Jamie 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 May 10th at midnight EST.

Book Review: Dreaming of Italy

By Sara Steven

Up for a dream promotion, Emma won’t let anything get in her way – not even love.

Working for a major Hollywood film company isn’t all glitz and glam. But when Emma gets sent to tour around Italy to scout the perfect location for a new blockbuster movie, she’s not going to complain. Especially when it could make or break her career…

Historical adviser for the project Mark is a distraction that Emma does not need. As they explore the beauty of Italy, Emma starts to fall for the mysterious Mark, and soon finds herself torn between her job and her heart.

From the wild, northern mountains of Piedmont, down the vibrant coast of Cinque Terre and through the rolling hills of Tuscany, Emma’s journey becomes one of self-discovery as she questions her priorities in life. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

Reading a T.A. Williams novel is like sinking your toes in warm sand, gazing off into the distance while ocean waters crash along the perimeter. It’s comforting, relaxing, yet riddled with exciting moments, it’s largest player the scenery the characters find themselves within. Every single novel by Williams contains the loveliest landscapes and scenery, and Dreaming of Italy felt like the accumulation of the best of all of his locales, and more.

Emma has the job we all wish we had. She earns a living by seeking out the best locations, determining where movies should be filmed. The latest movie endeavor sends her to Italy, but we’re not given a minimal look inside. Each locale is written in perfected detail, so much so that I felt as though I was another character along for the adventure, could almost imagine the fresh air breeze along my skin. There are secondary characters who are along for the ride, too, and who round out Emma’s experiences along the way, yet her major focus is on Mark, a man who has caught her eye, even if she’s totally against the attraction.

I thought this budding potential romance was a sweet one, with a slow burn that left the reader unsure of whether they’d hit it off or not. The expression, “right time, right place” had come to mind frequently, because it never felt as though it would come to fruition for Emma or Mark. Given they live thousands of miles apart from one another, and Emma has her heart set on doing the very best and reaching as far as she can in her career, it seems in order for anything to occur, someone will have to give something up. Neither person wants to do that.

With everything going on right now, Dreaming of Italy felt like the perfect mini-escape from reality, a whimsical experience that made me feel like I was living vicariously, and traveling vicariously, through the characters. A definite five-star read!

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

About T.A. Williams

I’m a man. And a pretty old man as well. I did languages at university a long time ago and then lived and worked in France and Switzerland before going to Italy for seven years as a teacher of English. My Italian wife and I then came back to the UK with our little daughter (now long-since grown up) where I ran a big English language school for many years. We now live in a sleepy little village in Devonshire. I’ve been writing almost all my life but it was only seven years ago that I finally managed to find a publisher who liked my work enough to offer me my first contract.

The fact that I am now writing romantic comedy is something I still find hard to explain. My early books were thrillers and historical novels. Maybe it’s because there are so many horrible things happening in the world today that I feel I need to do my best to provide something to cheer my readers up. My books provide escapism to some gorgeous locations and, as a writer, I obviously have to go there in person and check them out first. I love my job…

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

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What's in the mail

Melissa A:
Older by Pamela Redmond from Gallery (e-book via Edelweiss)
The Safe Place by Anna Downes from Minotaur
Anxious People by Fredrick Backman from Atria (e-book via NetGalley)
The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan from Grand Central (e-book via NetGalley)
Crushing It by Lorelei Parker from Kensington (e-book via NetGalley)

The Sister-in-Law by Sue Watson from Bookouture (e-book via NetGalley)
Roommaid by Sariah Wilson from Montlake Romance (e-book via NetGalley)

Amy:
Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey from Goodreads (e-book)

Jami:
Barbarians at the PTA by Dr. Stephanie Newman from Saichek Publicity (e-book)
All the Right Mistakes by Laura Jamison from SparkPoint Studio
Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell from Atria (e-book)
The Girlfriend Mom by Dani Alpert from Books Forward (e-book)

Sara:
The Summer of Falling In Love by Liz Davies from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book)
Just Another Silly Love Song by Rich Amooi from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book)
The Plus One Pact by Portia MacIntosh from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book via NetGalley)
Dreaming of Italy by T.A. Williams from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book)
Growing Up for Beginners by Claire Calman from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book via NetGalley)

Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan from Harlequin (e-book)
If She Had Stayed by Diane Byington from Red Adept Publishing (e-book)
Meet Me at Pebble Beach by Bella Osborne from HarperCollins UK (e-book via NetGalley)

Book Review: Off the Market

By Sara Steven

Can the man who saved the day win her heart?

Quinn LaFayette is in her inaugural year as library special programs director of Last Stand, but when the kickoff performance for the children’s summer program goes terribly wrong, she has to save face as well as her job. She has a surprise advocate in Cole, whom she did her best to ignore in school. Seven years has only made Cole more appealing, but Quinn is determined to resist the sparks that fly between them because they are too different.

Restaurant owner Cole Hutchinson is no bookworm, but thanks to his fast-thinking antics, he ends up saving the day at the library and earning Quinn’s praise in the process. He’s tempted to seek more, but he’s juggling plenty of female attention from gracing the June edition of Modern Texas magazine featuring barbeque. Cole’s not interested in revisiting a woman from his past, but there’s something about Quinn that he can’t quite ignore.

Can Cole prove that opposites really do attract? (synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

Given my love of all things books, I could very much relate to Quinn and the type of character she is. Her comfort zone involves the bookshelves in her public library, and obviously she has chosen the best profession for her as the library specials program director. But what isn’t so obvious are the subtleties that surround the power dynamics in a small town. In the midst of trying to pull off a successful summer reading program for the town of Last Stand, she’s dealing with one catastrophe on top of another while trying hard to appease upper management and Board members who could be a potential threat to her livelihood.

Running concurrent with all of this are her budding feelings for Cole, a man who she has always placed into the pseudo friend zone. She’s known him since elementary school and has witnessed many a female swoon over his charms. Up until now, she’s been immune to them. But it’s in seeing him reach out and attempt to help that she begins to see him in a different light, and by the same token, Cole begins to see himself differently, too. This means really seeing Quinn for who she is, opening himself up to the possibility of something more.

Last Stand is representative of small-town life. While we learn more about Quinn and Cole, we’re also learning more about a community that at times grate on one another, due to the close proximity of everyone, and in other moments do all they can to support one another, because everyone knows everyone else, and because in some respects, this small community is a family. There is something sweet and beautiful in that concept, even within the moments of chaos that Quinn experiences under the hands of those who she ultimately works to support. A town like Last Stand makes me want to move to a smaller place myself, in order to potentially grasp onto that sort of lifestyle.

This is the second book in the Texas BBQ Brothers series, and while I haven’t read the first one, On the Market, Off the Market could easily be a standalone. I never felt lost or like I didn’t understand the town or the characters within it, but there are plenty of scenes with the two main characters from the first book (Hutch and Valerie) that propel me into wanting to learn more about them, and their backstory. It’s those sweet, idyllic moments that really hooked me, earning a much-deserved five stars!

Thanks to Audrey Wick for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Audrey Wick: