Namrata Patel speaks candidly with us

Today we are pleased to welcome Namrata Patel to CLC. Her debut novel, The Candid Life of Meena Dave published recently and she's here to talk about it and share some other fun things about herself.  

Namrata Patel is an Indian American writer who resides in Boston. Her writing examines diaspora and dual-cultural identity among Indian Americans and explores this dynamic while also touching on the families we’re born with and those we choose. Namrata has lived in India, New Jersey, Spokane, London, and New York City and has been writing most of her adult life. 

Visit Namrata online:
Website * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
Meena Dave is a photojournalist and a nomad. She has no family, no permanent address, and no long-term attachments, preferring to observe the world at a distance through the lens of her camera. But Meena’s solitary life is turned upside down when she unexpectedly inherits an apartment in a Victorian brownstone in historic Back Bay, Boston.

Though Meena’s impulse is to sell it and keep moving, she decides to use her journalistic instinct to follow the story that landed her in the home of a stranger. It’s a mystery that comes with a series of hidden clues, a trio of meddling Indian aunties, and a handsome next-door neighbor. For Meena it’s a chance for newfound friendships, community, and culture she never thought possible. And a window into her past she never expected.

Now as everything unknown to Meena comes into focus, she must reconcile who she wants to be with who she really is. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“Namrata Patel’s debut is a delightful exploration of identity, community, and growth. I was drawn into Meena Dave’s captivating journey from the first pages and was rooting for her until the end. This poignant and witty story is perfect for book clubs!” 

—Saumya Dave, author of Well-Behaved Indian Women

In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like for you? 
A testament to practice, patience, and perseverance.
 
How is Meena similar to or different from you? 
There are notes of me in Meena particularly around how she keeps distance between her and others. She also has wanderlust, which is something that's been central to me from a very young age. The differences are stark though. Whereas Meena is alone, I am privileged to have a strong community around me filled with family and friends. 
 
If The Candid Life of Meena Dave were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles? 

Sujata Day from Definition Please! She's incredible. 
 
What is your favorite thing to have for dessert?
I don't have a sweet tooth and am not very adventurous in desserts but I do love ice cream. My favorite Indian dessert is Ras Malai, which when done well is just an incredible sensory experience. 
 
What is the strangest dream you remember having recently? 
I have very vivid dreams and recently I dreamed that I couldn't see, my contacts were torn, and my vision was blurred so nothing could come into focus. I don't think I need the Dream Dictionary to tell me what that's about. 
 
What TV series are you currently binge watching? 

New Girl. 

Thanks to Namrata for chatting with us and to Kaye Publicity for coordinating the interview.

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Book Review: The Chase

By Sara Steven

When stable girl, Farah Ash, is sacked from her job, her only concern is the beloved horses she cares for. Farah suspects foul play and is determined to expose the secrets and lies she’s uncovered - no matter what.

Self-made millionaire, Isaac Fernandez witnesses Farah’s shocking dismissal and senses immediately that she has uncovered something dangerous – perhaps even deadly. And his fears are confirmed when Farah is almost killed.

And as more threats come Farah’s way, it’s clear someone is out to silence her for good. Unless Farah and Isaac can uncover the truth and put a stop to the deadly chase – before it’s too late. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

When I received my first e-reader, a Nook, from my husband, I’d noticed he’d put an Evie Hunter book on it for me. That was a few years ago, and it was my first foray into Hunter’s unique genre. I appreciate the intrigue and undertones of danger I’ve experienced in every Hunter book I’ve read so far, with The Chase being the latest and the greatest to date! 

The plot was really unique. I’m not familiar with the inner workings of the horse industry, so finding out that Farah might be privy to some underhanded schemes going on within a lifestyle she’s been part of for many years of her life–well, it kept me going. I wanted to see what would happen next, and who she could ultimately trust. Isaac might be that kind of person for her, but she feels betrayed by people she’s always relied on and depended on. If that can happen, what would make her think she can let her guard down with Isaac?

The threats Farah experienced kept raising the stakes. And the closer they get to the truth, the more invested Isaac becomes. Farah is unlike any woman he’s ever experienced, while Farah tries desperately to tamp down the attraction she feels towards a man who lives a lifestyle that is so beyond the world she lives in. There’s nothing better than an opposites attract situation. 

I appreciated the different points of view that we get to see from various characters. I felt it gave more depth and insight into what’s going on and more importantly, the why of the matter. And The Chase was told in customary Hunter fashion–with mystery and drama, and loaded with that special opposing romance that would keep any reader on the hook!   

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

Evie Hunter has written a great many successful regency romances as Wendy Soliman and is now redirecting her talents to produce dark gritty thrillers for Boldwood. For the past twenty years she has lived the life of a nomad, roaming the world on interesting forms of transport, but has now settled back in the UK.

Visit Evie online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter 

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Double Feature Spotlight and Giveaway

Today we are celebrating the pub day of two new rom coms by debut authors: The Lifestyle by Taylor Hahn and A Proposal They Can't Refuse by Natalie Caña. Thanks to BookSparks and Harlequin, we have TWO copies of each novel for some lucky readers!

Georgina Wagman has it all—a great marriage, a great job at a prestigious law firm, and great friends. She’s living the life she always wanted, and everything is perfect. Until, that is, she walks in on her husband Nathan in a compromising position with a junior associate. Georgina has a moment of crisis. But divorce is not a part of the five-year plan, so she comes up with an idea to save her marriage and recapture the spark. She and Nathan are going to become swingers.

Georgina isn’t going to embark on this adventure alone, though. Her friends Felix and Norah and their respective partners decide to tag along for the ride. They’ve got relationship woes of their own that swinging just might fix. Georgina, convinced Felix and Norah belong together, is thrilled. What better place to reignite romance between two people destined to be together than a swingers’ party? Her plan is foolproof, until she runs into a college ex at the first party. When they reconnect, Georgina will find herself torn between her head and her heart, with her very happiness hanging in the balance. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Weiner and Sophie Kinsella, The Lifestyle is a playful homage to Jane Austen's Emma Woodhouse and an outrageously fun summer read. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

“Sexy and insightful, THE LIFESTYLE is both a playful and intimate exploration of marriage, commitment, so-called perfection and getting the happily ever after you never anticipated.”
—Allison Winn Scotch, bestselling author of Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing

“This book is fun as hell. Hilarious, addictive, moving, and sexy. I lost track of time reading it, and I couldn’t get enough!” 
—Jasmine Guillory, bestselling author of While We Were Dating

Taylor Hahn is a writer and lawyer based in Los Angeles. She is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University and Fordham University School of Law. THE LIFESTYLE is her first novel. 

Visit Taylor online:
Website * Twitter * Instagram

Kamilah Vega is desperate to convince her family to update their Puerto Rican restaurant and enter it into the Fall Foodie Tour. With the gentrification of their Chicago neighborhood, it's the only way to save the place. The fly in her mofongo—her blackmailing abuelo says if she wants to change anything in his restaurant, she'll have to marry the one man she can't stand: his best friend’s grandson.

Liam Kane spent a decade working to turn his family’s distillery into a contender. But just as he and his grandfather are on the verge of winning a national competition, Granda hits him with a one-two punch: he has cancer and has his heart set on seeing Liam married before it’s too late. And Granda knows just the girl…Kamilah Vega.

If they refuse, their grandfathers will sell the building that houses both their businesses. With their futures on the line, Kamilah and Liam plan to outfox the devious duo, faking an engagement until they both get what they want. But soon, they find themselves tangled up in more than either of them bargained for. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

“An utterly charming romance that pays homage to the importance of culture, family, and friendship, A Proposal They Can’t Refuse is a surefire winner!” 
—Mia Sosa, USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man

“This book bursts with humor, heat, love, and family! Caña’s characters leap off the page and into your heart. A Proposal They Can’t Refuse delivers a happily ever after where familia, food, and finding what was under our nose the whole time are at the core of the story. Natalie Caña’s debut will leave you smiling, hungry, and eager to read her next book!” 
—Denise Williams, bestselling author of How to Fail at Flirting

Natalie Caña writes contemporary romances that allow her to incorporate her witty sense of humor and her love for her culture (Puertominican whoop whoop!) for heroines and heroes like her. A PROPOSAL THEY CAN'T REFUSE is her debut novel.

Visit Natalie online:
Website * 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 June 12th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: It's a Widow Thing

By Sara Steven

When cosmetics entrepreneur Sabrina Kelly waited until she was thirty-eight to marry, she never thought she’d be widowed by forty. Now, two years later, she’s ready for a dip in the dating pool. And Michael, the merciless flirt who lives down the hall, seems like a fun way to get wet. He has “player” written all over him, but Sabrina’s not looking for a love connection. Her heart can’t take more than a fling.

Wall Street mogul Michael Wright has ignored his mom’s pressure to marry for years. But it’s not until he has a health scare that he finally takes stock of his life. If he’s going to settle down, only one woman comes to mind… his gorgeous, whip-smart neighbor, Sabrina. Their chemistry is off the charts. The banter? So. Hot. But while he’s working overtime to woo her, she’s holding back. Can two people running at different speeds get to happily-ever-after together? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

This is the third book in the Never Too Late series–and it was another great addition! Sabrina has been widowed for two years, and while she knows she might be ready to step back into dating, she’s hesitant, given the circumstances. I think the author did a really great job relaying that type of emotion and hesitancy. Allowing yourself to develop feelings and fall into someone again could be difficult after losing your spouse, and the addition of a widow’s support group for Sabrina was a nice way to convey how she’s working through those emotions. It was relatable and believable. 

Adding Michael into the mix was perfection. Not only has Sabrina felt the immense chemistry the two of them have together, which is mind-blowingly amazing, but a chink in his armor (and one that he has no control over) is an underlying health condition that could easily make a widower take pause. The underlying tone to It’s a Widow Thing is trust; trust in allowing oneself to believe in falling in love again, even if it’s always felt impossible. Trust in believing that there can be a happily-ever-after, even if the future and what’s in store is completely out of our hands. I could really feel that for Sabrina, and for Michael, too, who has never been in a serious relationship before. 

And oh my goodness, was there a lot of heat between Sabrina and Michael! The snippets of flirtatious banter in the elevator was a precursor to what is in store for the two of them, which made the experiences all the more exciting. It’s hard not to appreciate that, not to mention that through it all, there is a foundation of friendship. I’m all for the type of relationships that start out with that kind of support, because I feel they’re the type of relationships that go the distance. I really felt that for this couple. 

I haven’t read the first book in this series, but I read the second, Brooklyn Monroe Wants it All (reviewed here). It was nice to see some of the characters from that book make an appearance in this one, and it’s also great to see a book series that features women in their 40s who are doing all they can to live their best lives. It’s inspiring to this 40s-something reader, making this a definite five-star read!

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

Karen Booth is a midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on '80s music and repeated readings of Forever by Judy Blume. Karen writes contemporary romance and women's fiction, almost always about the dreamy guy you never thought you'd get. Her stories are full of breathless kisses, tearjerker moments, family dynamics, and more than a few things she's glad her grandmother never read.

Visit Karen online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram 

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Book Review: The Lobotomist's Wife

By Cindy Roesel

I picked up the novel, THE LOBOTOMIST'S WIFE (Lake Union), by debut author Samantha Greene Woodruff initially with some trepidation, but once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. Yes, it's about that - lobotomies - the pick in the eye thing, but it's so much more. Greene Woodruff weaves together a historically accurate narrative about Dr. Walter Freeman's introduction of the lobotomy, which became the "ice pick" through the eye socket technique. He performed it on hundreds of patients suffering from migraines to depression, and more than half women. At that time in history, women were basically kept silent, unable to speak for themselves. 

Taken from this shocking chapter in medical history, 1936-1950s, THE LOBOTOMIST'S WIFE tells the story of a courageous woman, the doctor's wife, who is at first in awe of Freeman but realizes he's nothing more than an egotistical madman. THE LOBOTOMIST'S WIFE is a compelling story which highlights how the medical establishment's goal to make a "treatment" faster, more efficient miracle, if not monitored, can turn out to be a curse and how the best of intentions, can result in horror. 

The takeaway for me from THE LOBOTOMIST'S WIFE is the struggle that women in particular go through to be true to themselves; to fit in despite society's oppressive norms. The novel is certainly timely considering what women are facing legally today in healthcare, a majority of older white men deciding the fate of women's bodies. The more the way things supposedly change, highlights how they seem to remain the same.

Thanks to Wunderkind PR for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Spotlight and Giveaway: The Setup

We are now three for three with featuring novels that have orange covers (see our spotlight posts from last week, if you don't believe us). Today, we are celebrating the upcoming publication of The Setup by Lizzy Dent, which releases on June 7th! We love the premise of this romcom and are excited to share it with you. Thanks to Putnam, we have TWO copies to give away!

The last place very average thirty-one-year-old Mara Williams thought she’d be is on a solo vacation impersonating her fortune teller when she finally meets the one. Josef, a gorgeous Austrian cellist, sits down for a reading and before she knows it, she’s telling him his destiny will be sitting in a pub in the English seaside town of Broadgate on the last Friday of August. And her name is Mara.

Enter Project Mara: three months to turn herself into the stylish, confident woman she’s always hoped to be. Meanwhile, the crumbling, formerly glamorous beachside pool club where she works is under threat and her eccentric colleagues enlist her help to save it, just as a handsome new housemate casts doubts on her ideas about “the one.” Can Mara pull off the transformation of a lifetime? And by summer’s end, will she know who is her destiny?

“I fell in love with Lizzy Dent's writing with The Summer Job and have been waiting with bated breath to see what she does next. This book is everything I wanted and then some. With Dent's usual humor, wit, and warmth and a spectacularly charming cast of weirdos, The Setup is exactly the kind of summer read I'm constantly on the hunt for. I love astrology-obsessed hot-mess Mara, I love the crumbling little Broadgate lido she's out to save, and I love-love-love Lizzy Dent.” 
—Emily Henry, author of People We Meet on Vacation and Book Lovers

“An adorable rom com packed full of nostalgia and Dent’s trademark wit.” 
—Sophie Cousens, author of This Time Next Year

Photo by Kerstin Weidinger, 2021

Lizzy Dent (mis)spent her early twenties working in Scotland in hospitality. After years travelling the world making Music TV for MTV and Channel 4, and creating digital content for Cartoon Network, the BBC and ITV, she wrote three Young Adult novels as Rebecca Denton published in the UK. The Summer Job was her debut adult novel. Now in her late thirties she lives among London, Austria, and New Zealand with her young family.

Visit Lizzy 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 June 7th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: On Gin Lane

By Cindy Roesel

As a youngster growing up on Long Island, during spring and summer months my family would drive the hour and a half out east to visit The Hamptons – particularly Southampton. We’d drive around town, maybe take a walk and then get some ice-cream. But we knew behind those tall hedges, keeping us from peaking, were grand mansions dating back to when the Pilgrims landed in the New Land. 

Southampton has always been the summer destination for wealthy New York City WASPs (White Anglo Saxton Protestants).  In her new novel, ON GIN LANE (Gallery Books), Brooke Lea Foster whisks readers off to those sparkling beaches and behind those tall hedges.

It’s the summer of 1957 and Everleigh “Lee” Farrows thinks she has everything a girl could want. She has a handsome fiancé, a trust, a home in exclusive Bronxville for when she gets married and her Nikon S2. Roland gives Lee a surprise - a brand new hotel in her name, but not all of Southampton, including Lee is thrilled. For Lee it brings up unpleasant memories of growing up at another hotel, the Plaza and her mother’s mental illness. On the opening night of the hotel, there’s a fire which burns everything down. Roland thinks he will automatically get insurance money, but there are questions surrounding the cause.

ON GIN LANE takes readers to a beautiful location. We can smell the ocean, we are poolside for Bellinis and luncheons, and on the courts for daily tennis matches. But behind the aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, there are cracks and lies in the façade. Is Roland who he presents to be? Who or what is behind the fire? Does Lee really want to settle down and get married or have a career? What other lies, misleading untruths and fraud are behind all the glamour? It’s a perfect summer read for the pool or beach. 

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

More by Brooke Lea Foster:

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