What's in the (e)mail

Melissa:
Not That Kind of Ever After by Luci Adams from St. Martin's Press (NetGalley)

Chick Magnet by Emma Barry from Kaye Publicity (print)

The New Person by Loretta Nyhan from Lake Union (NetGalley)

Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner from St. Martin's Press (NetGalley)

The Rom-Com Agenda by Jayne Denker from St. Martin's Press (print)

Never Meant to Meet You by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans from Over the River PR (NetGalley)

Pets of Park Avenue by Stefanie London from Harlequin (NetGalley)

Typecast by Andrea J. Stein from Girl Friday Productions (print)

The Second You're Single by Cara Tanamachi from St. Martin's Press (print)

Suffer! by A.C. Sloan from BooksGoSocial (NetGalley)

Miranda Writes by Gail Ward Olmsted from Black Rose Writing (NetGalley)

Speechless by Lindsey Lanza from Victory Editing (NetGalley)

Autumn Sky by/from Jenna Starly (ebook)

Always the Almost by Edward Underhill from St. Martin's Press (NetGalley)

The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel from Atria (NetGalley)

No More Secrets by Kerry Lonsdale from Lake Union (NetGalley)

The Circus Train by Amita Parikh from Putnam (NetGalley)

A Wish for Winter by Viola Shipman from Harlequin (NetGalley)

Sara:

The Girl I Used To Be by Debbie Howells by/from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

It Could Happen by Melissa Baldwin from Rachel's Random Resources (ebook)

How I'll Kill You by Ren DeStefano from Berkley (NetGalley)

The Sporty One by Melanie Chisholm from Grand Central Publishing (print)

Marisa:

Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz from Emi Battaglia PR (ebook)

Jami:

The Woman with the Cure by Lynn Cullen from Berkley (NetGalley)

City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita from Berkley (NetGalley)

The Last Russian Doll by Kristen Loesch from Berkley (NetGalley)

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Book Review: This is Us

 

By Sara Steven

Stella fell in love with Simon hard and fast. He was everything she wanted in a husband, and he seemed to feel the same way about her. More than a decade of marriage later, life is sweet. They have three much-wanted children, a successful business, and a comfortable London home. What more could Stella possibly want?

But then, out of the blue, Simon is gone. Vanished. No one knows where he’s gone or why.

Now Stella, with the help of her friends and family, has to pick up the pieces of her and her children’s life, all the while wondering what she missed. Was her husband who he said he was, and can she trust her own memories of their life together? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

What do you do when someone you love walks away and never returns? I couldn’t even fathom that scenario. The heart wrenching emotion and deep struggle while Stella tries to put the pieces together not only for herself but for her children, too, had been perfectly portrayed. And the even bigger question– Why– loomed over my head just as much as it hung over Stella’s. There are so many unanswered questions, and the only person who has the answers is Simon.

The string unravels bit by bit. Abandoning your family can be an unforgivable thing, but the author raises the stakes a little at a time, adding even more layers to Simon’s indiscretions. It allowed for Stella’s optimism to shine through, ever sure that holding onto hope would mean something. I think what I loved the most about Stella’s character and This Is Us in general was the fact that yes, hope is an amazing thing. But it can also be a fluid thing. Where hope comes from and the capacity in which it’s used can change depending on how it’s needed, and Stella opens her eyes to that. For her, hope is found within survival and resilience. 

There is a major scene towards the end of the book that felt like Stella’s last stand. I loved it! It was a moment I had been yearning for, and it did not disappoint. The moments leading up to that and the arsenal Stella ends up with could only be described as genius. As much as Simon tried not to leave any sort of footprint in his own life, it was inevitable and it was a scenario that paid off for both Stella and those involved. Central to everything had been the incredible friendships Stella had forged over the years, relationships that end up becoming serious lifelines for her during the most chaotic time in her life. It was its own special foundation.

This Is Us highlighted one woman’s journey into finding a way towards familial peace, in whatever capacity that might be– a worthy five-star experience for me. 

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

Purchase Links: 
Amazon US * Amazon UK

Helen McGinn is a much-loved wine expert on TV and in print and an international wine judge. She spent ten years as a supermarket buyer sourcing wines around the world before setting up her award-winning blog (and now best-selling wine book) The Knackered Mother’s Wine Club. She is the drinks writer for the Daily Mail and regularly appears on TV’s Saturday Kitchen and This Morning. Helen lives in the New Forest.

Visit Helen online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Sign up for Helen's newsletter.

Visit all the stops on Helen's blog tour:

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Book Review: A Chance in a Million

By Sara Steven

Having left the army to recover from a traumatic experience, Captain Jane Reed is on her way to Venice to assist Lady Veronica Cooper, a world-famous writer who has lost her mojo. Plagued by grief and sleepless nights, Jane soon finds a kindred spirit in Veronica, coping with her own loss after the death of her husband.

When the two relocate to Veronica’s villa in the countryside to escape the summer tourists, Jane meets the rest of the Cooper family – including Veronica’s brooding son, David. With his own tragic past, David has resigned himself to a life of solitude. Jane finds herself determined to bring joy back into his life, even if it means finally spilling her secrets.

Can Jane and David help each other heal, and find love in the process, or are some scars too deep to treat? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon)

I think A Chance in a Million is one of T.A. Williams’s most engaging reads! A large part of that for me involved the characters. It’s true that every single one of Williams’s books always includes fantastic nature scenes and backdrops that feel like a secondary character, which I always appreciate, but this time I felt closer to Jane and David. It was interesting how they mirror one another with similar pasts and tragedies, creating a protective barrier that strives to keep potential relationships at bay. Given the traumas, it was hard to blame either one of them for that. They were perfectly flawed in a way that was endearing.

I also enjoyed the fact that Jane becomes an assistant to Lady Veronica Cooper, yet another character who has suffered great loss and is working through that. I wonder if other readers found themselves living vicariously through Jane–she gets to live in an exotic location, assisting someone she looks up to, while also potentially branching out and finding new avenues of creativity for herself in the process. I kept thinking, “I’d love to live a life like that!” I appreciated the friendship that begins to grow between the two characters, too. Lady Veronica starts out a bit like a surly character, and it was nice to see the changes that are brought out through Jane’s affection. 

Even though Jane begins to heal, the one thing she has a tough time with is opening her heart to love. There is the fear of letting anyone get close to her again, along with layers of guilt that don’t really belong there, but that emotion is there all the same. It very much humanized who she is. And while Jane wasn’t really feeling David’s bushy beard that he wears as armor, and I know the beard symbolized a means of distancing himself even more from the man he feels he used to be, I like beards, so I totally dug it. And I totally got it. 

A Chance in a Million is a classic T.A. Williams experience, but it felt elevated for me. There were the classic telltale signs–gorgeous backdrops, an adorable Labrador that at times stole the show, with two characters who try hard to find their way to one another, but it was so much more. It was inspiring, and an obvious five-star experience!

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

Purchase Link:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

Author Bio (in his own words):

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 escapist romance 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, even if travel to them is currently difficult.

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

More by T.A. Williams:

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Sara and Melissa Talk About...Facing Our Fears

We've been running a column series (for over two years now!) to get more personal with our readers. This month, we're talking about facing our fears. Lots of characters have to rise to this challenge and we have to do this in real life too. 

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

Sara Steven:

Thirteen months ago, my husband purchased a food sensitivity kit for me, for my birthday. It was a really nice gesture, considering I’d expressed interest in the kit for quite some time. I can still recall the excitement I’d felt while slipping the lid from the rectangular-shaped box, eager to start my journey into figuring out why certain foods lead to what I call “flare ups,” potentially contributing to my recently-diagnosed EoE (Eosinophilic Esophagitis). But after reading through the instructions and eyeing the tiny white and blue lancets, I immediately placed the lid back on the box and walked away. 

Courtesy of InnerBody

I walked away for over a year. 

The box sat on my kitchen island for a couple of months at first, sometimes covered by other things that my kids or husband would set aside–which I was fine with. No one noticed. But then my husband did notice, and asked me when I planned on taking the test. Which prompted me to remove the box from the island, finding a better home for it on my desk in my bedroom. 

I repurposed it as a coaster for my tea mugs. Or a placeholder for documents or various writing projects. I saw it every day, the food sensitivity kit, but I left it there, knowing full well I’d get to it later. Or the next day. Maybe next week. Sometime soon.

It wasn’t until last month when my stepmom had come to visit and had heard the story of the infamous sensitivity test and that I had yet to use it, that I had to revisit actually going through with it, and using the damn test. But it was just so hard. Imagining the lancet poking through my finger, drawing blood, made me sick to my stomach. It took me back to those painful memories of my youth when I was forced to have a finger poked in order to test my blood for this, that or the other–memories that did nothing but only increase the unease I felt. I knew I needed to “suck it up” and go through with it, or I’d never get results, but knowing that didn’t make the fear go away. It only increased the anxiety I felt. 

My stepmom encouraged me to take the test–she might have badgered me just a bit, but I knew the time had come to just do it. I stuck my hands under warm running water, one of the tips offered within the instructions, shaking them at my sides to get the blood flowing downward. After a few minutes, I sat in a chair while she held my hand, my husband drawing my attention to him and not to the lancets. I won’t lie and say I didn’t feel the poke on the right side of my ring finger. I won’t lie and say that I wasn’t freaking out. You have to let the blood from your finger drip down onto the paper they provide that collects the sample, and knowing it was MY blood made me queasy. I tried hard to focus on what the end result would be, which would be potentially discovering food sensitivities that bug me. And I kept my eyes closed the entire time.

Afterward, my finger throbbed a bit. The kit provides a bandage, so I wore my badge of courage for the rest of the day. You know it’s a big deal when your eleven year-old pats you on the back and commends you for your bravery–he’d been one of the most vocal about trying to get me to take the test over the last several months. I’m glad I eventually took the test. I’m glad I received my results. I’m glad I did it. 

I don’t know if I want to use a lancet again, though. They still kind of creep me out. 

Melissa Amster:

A couple months ago, I wrote about my older son learning how to drive. Last month, we went on a road trip from DC to Chicago and he did most of the driving. I was really impressed with how well he took to the highways and expressways, as I could have never done that at his age...

When I took Driver's Ed in high school, there was this really mean instructor who used to intimidate me every time it was my turn in the seat. I somehow got stuck being the only one in the car with him for learning how to drive on expressways. It was the most frustrating and upsetting experience and I came back to school in tears from it. After that time, I was terrified to get on any highway or expressway and took back roads whenever possible. (When I got my license, I was thrilled to flaunt it in front of him...)

When I was turning twenty-one, I wanted to go to The Neo-Futurarium in Chicago for my birthday, to see my favorite show, Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. A friend had driven me there a few weeks prior and I paid extra attention to the roads he was taking (we didn't have Google Maps at the time). He was supposed to take me again for my birthday, but something came up on his end and it didn't work out for him to go at the last minute. So I decided that if I really wanted to get there, I would drive myself. I went out of my way to go to the highway entrance that he showed me and managed to find my way to the theater and then back again. It was exhilarating driving on the expressway and it somehow felt totally natural. After that time, I was no longer scared to drive on expressways or highways and that served me well for driving to and from college that fall. If only I had been that motivated a few years earlier, my life would have been a lot easier. 

Back to the present, it was definitely scary giving up control of the car to my son for his first time driving on the highways and there was one or two times where I was gripping the side of the car. However, he did an amazing job and I'm glad he feels comfortable driving on highways and expressways now, instead of feeling like he has to wait a few years.

Tell us about a time that you faced your fears.

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Spotlight and Giveaway: The Ways We Hide

Kristina McMorris's latest novel, The Ways We Hide, published last week and has already been listed as a historical fiction bestseller at The Globe and Mail! Melissa says this fascinating and engaging story is perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff. Check out her review. Thanks to Kristina, we have one copy to give away, so don't miss out on a chance to win!

As a little girl raised amid the hardships of Michigan's Copper Country, Fenna Vos learned to focus on her own survival. That ability sustains her even now as the Second World War rages in faraway countries. Though she performs onstage as the assistant to an unruly escape artist, behind the curtain she's the mastermind of their act. Ultimately, controlling her surroundings and eluding traps of every kind helps her keep a lingering trauma at bay.

Yet for all her planning, Fenna doesn't foresee being called upon by British military intelligence. Tasked with designing escape aids to thwart the Germans, MI9 seeks those with specialized skills for a war nearing its breaking point. Fenna reluctantly joins the unconventional team as an inventor. But when a test of her loyalty draws her deep into the fray, she discovers no mission is more treacherous than escaping one's past. 

Inspired by stunning true accounts, The Ways We Hide is a gripping story of love and loss, the wars we fight—on the battlefields and within ourselves—and the courage found in unexpected places. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

"Just like her heroine, Kristina McMorris works magic in this twisting tale of James Bond's Q meets World War II. I love this book!" 

― Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code and The Diamond Eye

"The Queen's Gambit meets The Alice Network in this epic, action-packed novel of family, loss, and one woman's journey to save all she holds dear―including freedom itself." 

― Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars

"A riveting tale of intrigue and illusion, danger and historical mystery, but at its heart the story of one woman's struggle to escape her own past. While using her remarkable skills to help captured soldiers, Fenna finds herself face-to-face with what she loves most and what she fears most, trapped in a place where each decision she makes could unlock the paths to freedom and a future... or death." 

― Lisa Wingate #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours 

From Kristina's website

Kristina McMorris is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of two novellas and seven historical novels, including the million-copy bestseller Sold on a Monday and her fall 2022 releases, The Ways We Hide and the collaborative When We Had Wings. The recipient of more than twenty national literary awards, she previously hosted weekly TV shows for Warner Bros. and an ABC affiliate, beginning at age nine with an Emmy Award-winning program, and owned a wedding-and-event-planning company until she had far surpassed her limit of "Y.M.C.A." and chicken dances. She lives near Portland, Oregon, where she's the proud mom of two teenage (going-on-forty) boys who keep her on the run and make her laugh daily. (Bio courtesy of Kristina's website.)

Visit Kristina 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 September 20th at midnight EST.

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Andrea J. Stein is just our type...plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to welcome Andrea J. Stein to CLC today. Her debut novel, Typecast, sounds like so much fun. Melissa is excited to read it soon. Andrea has TWO copies to share with some lucky readers!

Born in Brooklyn, Andrea was raised in New Jersey before attending a small, quirky liberal arts college and a large, preppy university, both in New York State. A book publicist by profession, she lives with her husband and sons in suburban New Jersey. 

Andrea spends an inordinate amount of time taking pretty photos of books. Things that make her happy include strong tea, turtles, sunshine, sheep, and the ocean. (Bio adapted from Andrea's website.)

Visit Andrea online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
Callie Dressler thought she’d put her past where it belonged—behind her. But when her ex-boyfriend brings their breakup to the big screen, she can no longer deny that their history has been looming over her all along. 

At thirty-one, Callie Dressler is finally comfortable in her own skin. She loves her job as a preschool teacher, and although living in her vacant childhood home isn’t necessarily what dreams are made of, the space is something she never could have afforded if she’d stayed in New York City. She knows her well-ordered life will be upended when her type A, pregnant sister, Nina; adorable four-year-old niece; and workaholic brother-in-law move in, but how could she say no when they needed a place to crash during their remodel? As Nina pointed out, it’s still their parents’ house, even if their mom and dad have relocated. 

As if adjusting to this new living situation isn’t enough, the universe sends Callie another wrinkle: her college boyfriend—who Callie dumped ten years earlier for reasons known only to her—has a film coming out, and the screenplay is based on their real-life breakup. While the movie consumes her thoughts, Callie can’t help wondering if Nina and her friends are right that she hasn’t moved on. When a complication with Nina’s pregnancy brings Callie in close contact with Nina’s smart and funny architect, Callie realizes she’d better figure out whether she wants to open the door to the past—or risk missing out on her future. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“A smart, endearing heroine; an enjoyable, entertaining story; and a hopeful, satisfying ending. Callie revisits the past with her ex to make sense of her present love life, making Typecast a fun mix of rom-com and women’s fiction. Full of heartfelt charm, humor, and truth, Stein’s debut is exactly the book I’d been craving. Perfect for fans of Marian Keyes and Josie Silver. A very delightful read!”
— Angela Terry, award-winning author of The Trials of Adeline Turner

“With patience and realism, Andrea J. Stein explores the complexities of first love, family dynamics, and adulting. A relatable journey fraught with growing pains, Typecast reminds us that in order to truly evolve—and find new, lasting love—we must first accept the past and ourselves.”

— Nora Zelevansky, author of Competitive Grieving

“Insightful and bighearted and oh-so-deliciously page-turning, Typecast is like a road trip with friends, complete with detours and surprises and wildly satisfying moments. A perfect next read for fans of Camille Pagán and Kristy Woodson Harvey, Stein’s Typecast is a don’t-miss debut!”

— Amy Impellizzeri, award-winning author of In Her Defense

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing Typecast?
I’m happiest when I’m writing.  The feeling of being immersed in my story, writing scenes in my head in bed before I go to sleep at night, is incredibly rewarding.  It’s also been so rewarding to have people enjoy reading the book and tell me how relatable the characters are.  I’m a perfectionist, so one of the biggest challenges was to make every sentence work in a way that felt “right” to me.  

How are you similar to or different from Callie?
We definitely have some similarities – same sense of humor, same love of reading, same taste in music, same experience of not feeling that we “fit” in the suburbs in which we grew up and of finding “our people” in college.  But Callie’s quirky sense of style is very different from mine!  She also knew from a very young age what she wanted to do – to be a teacher.  I don’t think of myself as having had that kind of vision for my career – though I did always want to be an author, so I guess perhaps I did, after all!

If Typecast were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Daisy Ridley would make a great Callie if she can do an American accent!  Richard Madden would be a perfect Ben, with the same caveat.  I’d like Scarlett Johansson as Nina, Zendaya as Tess, Lucas Till as Ethan, and Sebastian Stan as Michael.  Bette Midler would be a fun Lorraine!  And just a small role, but how about Jason Statham as Brett?  (I clearly have a leaning toward Brits!)

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
We just re-watched the Lord of The Rings trilogy, and I would totally recommend them.  Not exactly a recent release, though!

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
We’d absolutely have to take a ride to the Jersey shore.  We could walk the boardwalk in Spring Lake and stop at Thunder Road Books, and then get a bite to eat and browse the shops in Ocean Grove.  It’s also the perfect season to go to Loantaka Brook Reservation for a walk or bike ride – the kind of place Callie would go to sketch or take a stroll.  

What is your favorite thing to do in the fall?
Fall is my favorite season – the crispness in the air and the changing leaves.  Oddly, even though I guess technically things are dying, it always feels like renewal to me.  Maybe tied to the new school year.  My absolute favorite fall activity is pumpkin picking – which of course requires the purchase of cider doughnuts!

Thanks to Andrea for visiting with us and sharing her book with our readers. Thanks also to Girl Friday Productions for introducing us to Andrea.

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 September 19th at midnight EST.

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Book Review and Giveaway: A Secret in the Family

By Melissa Amster

The call came on a seemingly ordinary day. But as soon as Rachel heard the pain in her sister’s voice, she had to face the fact that life as she knew it was about to be shattered: “It’s mum. She’s not well. She doesn’t have much time.”

Though her heart breaks to leave her husband and children behind, Rachel knows the right thing is to return home to care for her mother Janet. Their relationship has been strained for years. This may be the last chance for them both to heal.

Walking up to the front gate of her childhood home, Rachel is overwhelmed with memories: of hazy summers playing with her sister, of laughter ringing through the house, of the accident which cost their father his life. After that day, Rachel’s relationship with her mother changed forever.

Rachel has never forgiven herself for what happened and it is clear Janet hasn’t either. Determined to make amends, Rachel begins to get her mother’s house in order. But hidden in the cellar, Rachel unearths a devastating secret. A faded photograph and a tarnished necklace are the only clues to unravelling a secret that should have remained hidden.

Can Rachel unravel the mystery when it has the power to destroy her family? And when she finally discovers the truth, will it destroy everything she has ever known? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

When I first started reading Leah Mercer's novels, they were heartbreaking family dramas. She has since moved seamlessly over to writing mystery thrillers, as indicated from her three most recent novels, the latest one being A Secret in the Family.

This gripping and compelling story was a quick read and hard to put down. It was well orchestrated the entire time. I liked the dual narrative and timeline, as they worked well for this novel. I could guess at some elements of the mystery, but other parts were definitely a surprise to me. I was in suspense, wondering what really happened. It was easy to visualize people and places throughout the story, thanks to Leah's strong use of detail. I felt bad for Rachel and Sam in different ways, given what their circumstances were.

My only little issue was that Rachel seemed too sappy a lot of the time, especially in regards to her mother and sister. I got annoyed with her always pandering to her mother due to her guilt over her father's death when her mother didn't really do much to make Rachel feel valued to begin with. 

Overall, another enjoyable novel by Leah Mercer. I look forward to many more!

Movie casting suggestions:
Rachel: Charlie Murphy
Mo: Rahul Kohli
Rachel's mother: Lesley Manville
Lucas: Freddie Stroma
Sam: Georgie Henley
Will: Jonathan Bailey
Sean: Leo Suter
Jean: Julie Walters
Alex: Tom Hughes

Victoria: Sophie Rundle

Thanks to Leah Mercer for the book in exchange for an honest review. She has TWO copies to give away!

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 September 18th at midnight EST.

More by Leah Mercer:

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