Book Review: White Wedding

By Sara Steven

Take one lavish holiday wedding. Add one evil ex and his bridezilla. And toss in a smoking-hot chef from the past. It’s a recipe for disaster.

Victoria Blackwood has spent years trying to redeem herself after falling victim to a blackmail scheme that cost her father thousands. So, when he insists she coordinate a big Christmas wedding at her family’s winery, she can’t say no. Even if the groom is her ex, and the caterer just quit.

For Rafael Sanchez, a last-minute call to cater a huge society wedding is a golden opportunity. If he can prove he’s up to the challenge, his brothers might entrust him with a larger role in the family catering business. But when he meets Victoria, he can’t believe his eyes. Five years ago, they had a passionate fling that rocked his world. Until she left him with only a fake name to remember her by.

To pull off the perfect wedding, Victoria and Rafael can’t afford to get caught up in the past. But keeping things professional won’t be easy, not when the attraction between them burns hotter than Christmas in July. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

I loved White Wedding! I hadn’t anticipated how quickly I’d finish the book--in one day--but from the get go, I was instantly hooked on Victoria’s story, and I had a really hard time putting it down. I couldn’t believe that Victoria had been forced into being the wedding coordinator for her ex fiancée and his new fiancée. I couldn’t stand her father. But I could also tell that the dynamic between Victoria and her father was one of constant need for approval; she never felt like she measured up in his eyes, and it was obvious she was willing to do whatever it took to make him proud.

When Rafael and Victoria meet up again after not seeing each other for so long, it was a perfectly awkward scene! I loved how Carla Luna set up the moment when they first laid eyes on each other, because it set the stage for everything going forward. Both characters have a lot on the line when it comes to the wedding. Victoria seeks redemption and eventually, freedom. And Rafael seeks approval and eventually, trust. If there are any slip-ups, they could lose a lot. 

While I appreciated the connection between Rafael and Victoria, what I loved the most was the transition Victoria goes through while attempting to mature and get out from under her father’s thumb. There were so many moments where I wanted to yell at her, to tell her to stand up for herself, and not let him get to her or treat her the way he does. And I wanted to yell at her father, too. I felt really emotionally invested in Victoria’s struggles, and I’d hoped to see where things would end up for her and her familial relationships, as well as where things could potentially go with Rafael.

This is my first book in the Blackwood Cellars series, but I want to read the first two, because this one was just so good! A definite five-star experience!

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

Purchase Links:
Carla's website * Books2Read * Amazon US * Amazon UK

Carla Luna writes contemporary romance with a dollop of humor and a pinch of spice. A former archaeologist, she still dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings of her stories. When she’s not writing, she works in a spice emporium where she gets paid to discuss food and share her favorite recipes. Her passions include Broadway musicals, baking, whimsical office supplies, and pop culture podcasts. Though she has roots in Los Angeles and Victoria, B.C., she currently resides in Wisconsin with her family and her feisty Siberian cat.

Visit Carla online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Visit all the stops on Carla's blog tour:

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Spotlight and Giveaway: The Singles Table

Today we are celebrating the publication of Sara Desai's latest rom-com novel, The Singles Table. Thanks to Berkley, we have one copy to give away!

Zara Patel is proud of her track record of helping friends find their happily-ever-afters, and she is done trying to find her own. So even though she’s undeniably attracted to Jay Dayal, who she meets at her cousin’s bachelor-bachelorette party, she accepts the challenge of helping him find his soulmate. In exchange for an introduction to one of the high-profile celebrities he works with.

As a former military security specialist who takes his work very seriously and has no time for dating, Jay accepts Zara’s offer. But the more time they spend together—particularly at every singles table of the wedding season—the more the two start to wonder if they’ve already found their perfect match in each other.

“You won’t feel lonely at the singles table with this book to keep you company. A charming and hilarious rom-com filled with wonderful characters. One of my favorite books of the year.”
—Jackie Lau, author of Donut Fall in Love

"Desai’s latest is the best way to dive into a rom-com if you have yet to make it back into theaters. In fact, it’s even better."
—SheKnows

Credit: Linda Mackie Photography 2020

Sara Desai has been a lawyer, radio DJ, marathon runner, historian, bouncer and librarian. She lives on Vancouver Island with her husband, kids and an assortment of forest creatures who think they are pets. Sara writes sexy romantic comedy and contemporary romance with a multicultural twist. When not laughing at her own jokes, Sara can be found eating nachos.

Visit Sara online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here.

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Giveaway ends November 21st at midnight EST.

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Book Review and Giveaway: My Secret Sister

By Sara Steven

How far would you go to save your child?

Claire is living every mother’s worst nightmare. Her daughter, Jess, has been diagnosed with a rare illness and desperately needs a bone marrow transplant. With no match on the registry, Claire turns to a charismatic geneticist for help and embarks on a Genetic Journey to seek a familial match for her daughter.

On the other side of the country, Marianne suffers her eighth miscarriage. Her perfect life is rotting underneath, but she is determined to do whatever it takes to have a baby.

When DNA test results reveal that Claire and Marianne are half-sisters, Claire must face the dark lies of the past and make impossible choices about the future. Is her secret sister the answer to her prayers, or will she cost her everything? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

My Secret Sister reminded me of the late evening true-life mystery shows you might see on tv; Dateline, or 48 Hours Mystery. The type of story that seems almost too unbelievable to be true, but yet it can happen, and it does happen. Most of my time spent reading about Claire and Marianne was in a constant state of “Whoa.” To discover that you have a half-sister somewhere would be mind blowing enough, yet the way Lauren Westwood depicted it, particularly by bringing in special charm bracelets that at first elicit mainly emotional significance and then later showcases so much more beneath the murky surface of what is really going on, I mean--my mind is still blown by all of it. 

Claire’s story, particularly where her daughters are concerned, was incredibly touching and deeply tragic. Claire would do anything for Jess, absolutely anything, and I could completely identify with that emotion. That’s why Marianne felt like such a lifeline to Claire at certain times, but when more is revealed when it comes to Marianne’s intentions, the end goal becomes blurry. There seems to be a lot of sacrifice from everyone involved, and it’s hard to know what the right or wrong thing is anymore. 

I loved how everyone was flawed and multi-dimensional. I could understand why each character wants what they want, at times seeking out destruction in order to achieve that. No one was the obvious protagonist or antagonist, because those characteristics melded together in every single person, which made for a really deeply involved read. Who do you side with, who do you root for? I think I rooted for or pushed against all of them at some point in time, hopeful there would be some sort of resolution in the end. 

With the ending--I had a feeling it would happen the way it did. I saw it coming, but that didn’t diminish from it. It fit in well with the flow and progression of the story, giving me what I wanted. Who needs television? A true-life mystery was revealed to me right here on the written page, and I more than enjoyed it. A well-written five-star read.

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

Purchase My Secret Sister.

Author Bio by Lauren Westwood:

My books explore the darkness and the light of the human spirit, and take you on an emotional journey. My Sister’s Secret is a tense and emotional drama about a mother’s race against time to save her daughter’s life. My Mother's Silence is a gripping and romantic drama about homecoming and family secrets set in the wild Scottish highlands. It was shortlisted for the Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller Award 2020. The Daughter She Lost is a dark journey of self-discovery and overcoming the secrets of the past. My holiday romance Moonlight on the Thames is a love story to classical music and the healing power of love. It was a bestseller in urban fiction and top 100 Kindle book. My first three novels: Finding Home, Finding Secrets, and Finding Dreams all feature mysterious old houses and intelligent, feisty contemporary heroines who set out to unravel the mysteries of the past. I also write award winning children’s books as Laurel Remington. I am originally from California, and now live in Surrey, UK with my partner and three daughters. 

Visit Lauren online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Giveaway to Win 5 x e-copies of My Secret Sister (Open internationally!)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within seven days, then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  Chick Lit Central is not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

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Giveaway ends November 18th.

Visit all the stops on Lauren's blog tour:

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What's in the mail

Melissa:
Hidden Treasures by Michelle Adams from HarperCollins (won from Goodreads)

The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith from Ballantine (e-book via NetGalley)

Love From Scratch by Kaitlyn Hill from Random House (e-book via NetGalley)

Curfew by Jayne Cowie from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)

Love the Way They Lie by/from Linda Smolkin (e-book)

Out of His League by Caroline Richardson from Wattpad Books  (e-book via NetGalley)

Like a House on Fire by Lauren McBrayer from Putnam  (e-book via NetGalley)

Truth and Other Lies by Maggie Smith from Ten16 Press (e-book via NetGalley)

The Words in My Hands by Asphixia from Annick Press (e-book via NetGalley)

If You Change Your Mind by Robby Weber from Inkyard Press (e-book via NetGalley)

With Love from London by Sarah Jio from Ballantine (e-book via NetGalley)

Housebreaking by Colleen Hubbard from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)

The Fashion Orphans by Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose (e-book via NetGalley)

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)

For the Love of Friends by Sara Goodman Confino from Liza Dawson Associates

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle from Atria (e-book via NetGalley)

30 Things I Love About Myself by Radhika Sanghani from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley) 

Something Good by Vanessa Miller from Thomas Nelson (e-book via NetGalley)

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman from Ballantine (e-book via NetGalley)

Donut Fall in Love by Jackie Lau from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)

A Girl During the War by Anita Abriel from Atria (e-book via NetGalley)

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)

The Charmed List by Julie Abe from St. Martin's Press (e-book via NetGalley)

The Woman Who Came Back to Life by Beth Miller from Bookouture (e-book via NetGalley)

Bet on It by Jodie Slaughter from St. Martin's Press (e-book via NetGalley)

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus from Doubleday (e-book via NetGalley)

At Least You Have Your Health by Madi Sinha from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)

Sara:

Anything You Can Do by/from B.R. Maycock (e-book)

Sasha's Redemption by Grayson Avery from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book)

Winging It by Emma Murray from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book via NetGalley)

Jami:

The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey from SparkPoint (e-book)

Melissa, Sara, and Jami:

From Amazon (e-book):
Model Home by J. Courtney Sullivan
If the Fates Allow by Rainbow Rowell
The Marriage Test by Suzanne Redfearn
Oh. What. Fun. by Chandler Baker

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Spotlight: Just Haven't Met You Yet

Hopeless romantic and lifestyle reporter Laura’s business trip to the Channel Islands isn’t off to a great start. After an embarrassing encounter with the most attractive man she’s ever seen in real life, she arrives at her hotel and realizes she’s grabbed the wrong suitcase from the airport. Her only consolation is its irresistible contents, each of which intrigues her more and more. The owner of this suitcase is clearly Laura’s dream man. Now, all she has to do is find him.

Besides, what are the odds that she’d find The One on the same island where her parents first met and fell in love, especially as she sets out to write an article about their romance? Commissioning surly cab driver Ted to ferry her around seems like her best bet in both tracking down the mystery suitcase owner and retracing her parents’ footsteps. But as Laura’s mystery man proves difficult to find—and as she uncovers family secrets—she may have to reimagine the life, and love, she always thought she wanted.

Purchase Just Haven't Met You Yet

“A perfectly charming escape. I laughed, I teared up, and I smiled my way through. Just Haven't Met You Yet hits all the right notes for a great romantic comedy.”
—Helen Hoang, author of The Heart Principle

"Endearing, sparkling, and hilarious."
—Josie Silver, author of One Day in December and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

“Exactly the sort of fun, pacy, beautifully-written romantic story I needed.”
—Lorraine Brown, author of The Paris Connection

“This book is pure, unbridled joy. With a wholly immersive setting and pitch-perfect humor, Just Haven't Met You Yet is sure to leave you smiling long after you've turned the last page."
—Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of The Ex Talk

Courtesy of Sophie's website

Sophie Cousens worked as a TV producer in London for more than twelve years and now lives on the island of Jersey in the UK, balancing her writing career with working for an arts charity and taking care of her two small children. She is the author of This Time Next Year.

Visit Sophie online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

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Spotlight and Giveaway: The Passing Storm

Today we are featuring The Passing Storm by Christine Nolfi. Thanks to SparkPoint Studio, we have one copy to give away!

A gripping, openhearted novel about family, reconciliation, and bringing closure to the secrets of the past.

Early into the tempestuous decade of her thirties, Rae Langdon struggles to work through a grief she never anticipated. With her father, Connor, she tends to their Ohio farm, a forty-acre spread that itself has enjoyed better days. As memories sweep through her, some too precious to bear, Rae gives shelter from a brutal winter to a teenager named Quinn Galecki.

Quinn has been thrown out by his parents, a couple too troubled to help steer the misunderstood boy through his own losses. Now Quinn has found a temporary home with the Langdons―and an unexpected kinship, because Rae, Quinn, and Connor share a past and understand one another’s pain. But its depths―and all its revelations and secrets―have yet to come to light. To finally move forward, Rae must confront them and also fight for Quinn, whose parents have other plans in mind for their son.

With forgiveness, love, and the spring thaw, there might be hope for a new season―a second chance Rae believed in her heart was gone forever.

“The Passing Storm is a touching tale of healing, hope, and belonging. The characters were richly layered, and the satisfying ending hit a perfect note. You don’t want to miss this unforgettable novel.” 
—Karen McQuestion, bestselling author of The Moonlight Child

“Christine Nolfi proves yet again that she knows exactly how to deliver an emotional, compassionate tale about real people and the complexity of their feelings as they work through grief and loss. It is a triumphant story, and once you dive into it, you won’t want to emerge from its beautiful depths until you reach the satisfying, uplifting conclusion.” 
—USA Today bestselling author Julianne MacLean

“Christine Nolfi’s The Passing Storm is a poignant and clear-eyed story about second chances, reawakening the heart, and having the courage to reclaim the life you were meant to live. Nolfi dives deep into the well of human emotions as her characters fight to right their journeys after life’s storms have blown them off course, showing us that sometimes the bravest thing of all is facing our own truth.” 
—Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Last of the Moon Girls

“Christine Nolfi’s The Passing Storm may be her best novel yet. There is no storyteller better at navigating the complexities of human relationships, from the tragic depths to the uplifting heights. Hold onto your heart because you’re in for a wild—and satisfying—ride.” 
—Grace Greene, USA Today bestselling author of A Barefoot Tide

Christine Nolfi is the proud mother of six adult children. She is the author of The Road She Left Behind, a top book-club pick by Working Mother and Parade magazines; the award-winning Sweet Lake series, which includes Sweet Lake, The Comfort of Secrets, and The Season of Silver Linings; and the Liberty series and the Heavenscribe trilogy. A native of Ohio, Christine now resides in South Carolina with her husband and their crazy wheaten terrier, Lucy. For the latest information about her releases and future books, visit her website.

Visit Christine online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here.

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Giveaway ends November 16th at midnight EST.

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Book Review and Giveaway: Wish You Were Here

By Melissa Amster

Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. She’s an associate specialist at Sotheby’s now, but her boss has hinted at a promotion if she can close a deal with a high-profile client. She’s not engaged just yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos—days before her thirtieth birthday. Right on time.

But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn breaks the news: It’s all hands on deck at the hospital. He has to stay behind. "You should still go," he assures her, since it would be a shame for all of their nonrefundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.

Almost immediately, Diana’s dream vacation goes awry. Her luggage is lost, the Wi-Fi is nearly nonexistent, and the hotel they’d booked is shut down due to the pandemic. In fact, the whole island is now under quarantine, and she is stranded until the borders reopen. Completely isolated, she must venture beyond her comfort zone. Slowly, she carves out a connection with a local family when a teenager with a secret opens up to Diana, despite her father’s suspicion of outsiders.

In the Galápagos Islands, where Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was formed, Diana finds herself examining her relationships, her choices, and herself—and wondering if when she goes home, she too will have evolved into someone completely different. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors and I have read almost everything she has written (with the exception of seeing Plain Truth as a movie instead). I have my share of favorites from her books, and am pleased to say that Wish You Were Here has made it onto that list.

Diana was easily relatable, even though there's 15 years between us. She was an interesting and sympathetic character and I could easily see becoming friends with her if we had met in real life. Her job even reminds me of my previous job, as we both had to research obituaries for somewhat similar reasons. So we could definitely commiserate about that together!

I really liked the setting of the Galápagos Islands, and not just because an important character went there on Schitt's Creek. (Given the timeline of the show and when Diana went, they should have met up if a crossover had been allowed.) The descriptions really brought it to life and the settings sounded amazing. I liked the life Diana made for herself there, while she had nowhere else to be.

I think I had my head buried in the sand during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic because I had no idea that it was as horrible as Finn recounts in his letters to Diana while she's away. I knew it was bad, but what Finn was describing was beyond nightmarish! 

Overall, it was a really compelling and well-told story that I had a hard time putting down to get back to real life. 

**I'll be posting spoilers below the giveaway, in case you've read it already or want to come back and read later after you've finished the book. Just scroll down quickly to the comments section if you are participating in the giveaway and haven't read the book yet.***

Movie casting suggestions:

Diana: Elizabeth Olsen
Beatriz: Kyndra Sanchez (she recently played Dawn in The Babysitter's Club, which I was watching while reading this novel.)
Gabriel: Jencarlos Caneda
Finn: Matt Lanter
Rodney: Dyllon Burnside

Thanks to Ballantine for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have one copy for a lucky reader!

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 November 15th at midnight EST.

SPOILERS:

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I did not see that twist coming in the middle. At all! It had me questioning everything I knew to be real about the story and kept wishing that was actually a dream and that her real life was in the Galápagos. I applaud Jodi for doing this with the story, as it was a total game changer!

I also didn't know that one's body could atrophy so much while being in bed on a ventilator for a certain period of time. It almost seemed like Diana had been paralyzed. 

I found it so interesting how people could be living these full lives in their dreams during a short time period, like the guy whose spanned several years before he came back to reality. 

More by Jodi Picoult:

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