Book Review: The Second Chance Year

By Jami Denison

I’m not the kind of person who tells off people when they’ve wronged me. Instead, I hold my tongue, worried about burning bridges and missing opportunities. Sometimes I wonder if this makes me mature or just a pushover.

Not so for Sadie Thatcher, heroine of Melissa Wiesner’s latest novel, The Second Chance Year. It’s New Year’s Eve and she’s on the couch in the NYC apartment of her brother’s best friend Jacob, where she’s been living since she lost her boyfriend and then her job, all due to her big mouth. When a friend drags her to a carnival-themed NYE party, she finds a fortune teller and wishes for a chance to do the year over. Then she goes home and kisses Jacob, the only good thing to happen the entire year. When she wakes up on New Year’s Day, she’s in her old apartment and sleeping next to her ex-boyfriend. Sadie’s wish for a second chance has come true! Will she use it to make the same mistakes that she did last year… or will this be the year that all her dreams come true? And what about Jacob?

Romantic comedies are not my top genre, but I have a soft spot for ones with magic—the body switching, the years-skipping, the ending up in the past. The Second Chance Year really stands out, because it’s not only about what a character does, it’s about who she is, and how that impacts and affects the people around her. Unlike a Sliding Doors type of story, Sadie knows it isn’t about turning right instead of left or catching an earlier train. She decides to keep her mouth shut—changing an essential part of her personality, which had always been about standing up for herself and others—in order to keep the job and the boyfriend. As the year goes on, she has to decide whether it’s worth it to transform herself into something she’s not, and to examine what those choices cost her. While most readers rarely find themselves magically transported back or forward in time (and if you have, please reach out because I’d love to hear all about it), almost all of us have questioned our reactions and choices, and wished for a do-over in certain tricky situations.  

Wiesner also digs into precisely what goads Sadie—injustice, especially when sexism is involved. Her boyfriend Alex is a Wall Street investment banker, and the men he works with are pigs. Sadie works in the restaurant industry, where women are routinely looked over and overlooked. In these situations, does speaking out help, or only make things worse? 

With heavy subject matters and deep questions about what’s right, this romantic comedy is a little light on the humor. Most of the laughs come from the missed opportunities with Jacob, and some pratfalls. But this isn’t a book that needs belly laughs, and structurally, it’s very sound, with strong plot points and reversals. I also appreciated that, unlike other books with similar premises, Sadie doesn’t take chapters to figure out what happened. She wakes up, remembers her wish, realizes it came true, and gets on with her business. With this fast pace and the book’s short chapters, The Second Chance Year is a quick and engaging read. 

Is it better to say what you feel, or keep your mouth shut and hope things get better? The Second Chance Year will make readers ask these questions, while entertaining them with a great story. Maybe next time I’ll tell off that friend who had me show her houses, but used another agent to make the offer. Maybe.   

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

More by Melissa Wiesner:

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

We're just getting started with Lexi Blake...plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to welcome Lexi Blake to CLC today. She has an impressive lineup of romance novels and we're featuring the first book in the Park Avenue Promise series, Start Us Up. The second book, My Royal Showmance, will be available in the summer. Thanks to Get Red PR, we have one copy of Start Us Up to share with a lucky reader!

New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband and three kids. Since starting her publishing journey in 2010, she’s sold over three million copies of her books. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance that she found success. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings. (Bio courtesy of Lexi's website.)

Visit Lexi online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:

Three young women make a pact in high school—

to always be friends and to one day make it big in Manhattan.

She’s a high-tech boss who lost it all…

Ivy Jensen was the darling of the tech world, right up until her company fell apart completely after she trusted the wrong person. Her reputation in tatters, she finds herself back in the tiny apartment she grew up in, living with her mom. When a group of angel investors offer her a meeting, she knows she has to come up with the new big idea or her career is over.

He’s an up and coming coder…

Heath Marino has always been fascinated with writing code. He’s worked on a dozen games and apps and is considered one of the industry’s more eccentric talents. But now he’s back in New York to spend time with his grandmother. She was known as one of the city’s greatest matchmakers, and he wants to know why. Surely there’s some kind of code in his grandmother’s methods, and he’s going to find them.

When Ivy meets Heath it’s instant attraction, but she’s got a career to get back to and he just might be her on-ramp. It could be a perfect partnership or absolute heartbreak. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?

That reading a book of mine inspired someone to write. At least I hope that’s what they mean. It could be this book was so bad I had to write one myself, but I’m going to be optimistic here. Either way, more books get written!

How is Ivy similar to or different from you?

Well, as you can tell from my previous answer, I’ve got her sarcasm down. I think Ivy is an excellent reflection of who I was in my twenties – sans the crazy, amazing up and down career path. She’s guarded and uses sarcasm as a shield. When something good shows up in her life, she questions it. So much of that pessimism comes from her childhood, and that’s where mine comes from as well. Like Ivy, when the right man came along, I had to be convinced. The good news? She and Heath should last a while. My husband and I just celebrated 30 years together.

If Start Us Up were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?

No holds barred, I can cast anyone I like, it would be Zendaya as Ivy. She can play the full range of emotions and go from looking down on her luck to slay the red carpet in a heartbeat. She’s relatable, and I just adore her. Because I love some cute casting, I would go with Tom Holland as Heath. I mean we know they have chemistry. 

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?

I recently tore through the Four Horsemen series by Laura Thalassa. Such high stakes. The world building is impressive, and she handles the romance with a masterful hand. Pestilence is the first book, but you’ll want to read all four. 

If your life were a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 

Amy Poehler. I feel a deep connection to her and I think her calm, no-nonsense even when there is absolutely nonsense tone fits the weirdness of my life. 

What is your favorite winter holiday dessert?

Cranberry bars. They’re made with a sugar cookie dough, some buttercream, and very tart cranberries. I love the sweet/tart combo, and cranberries always make me think of the holidays. 

Thanks to Lexi for chatting with us and to Get Red PR 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. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends December 12th at midnight EST.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Book Review: The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale

By Allyson Bales

Dorothy “Dee” Gale is searching for a place to belong. After their globe-trotting mother’s death, Dee and her sister Toni settled with Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in Kansas, where Dee attends graduate school. But when Dee’s relationship with a faculty member, a bestselling novelist, ends in heartbreak and humiliation, she’s caught in a tornado of negative publicity. Unable to face her colleagues—or her former lover—Dee applies to the writing program at Trinity College Dublin.

Dee’s journey to Ireland leads her to new companions: seemingly brainless Sam Clery—who dropped out of college and now runs a newsagent’s shop—is charming and hot, in a dissolute, Irish poet kind of way; allegedly heartless Tim Woodman—who stiffly refused to take back his ex-fiancée—seems stuck in his past; and fiercely loyal Reeti Kaur, who longs for the courage to tell her parents she wants to teach underprivileged girls rather than work in the family business.

In a year of opportunities and changes, love and loss, Dee is mentored by powerful women in the writing program, challenging her to see herself and her work with new eyes. With her friends, Dee finds the confidence to confront her biggest fears—including her intimidating graduate advisor, who may not be so wicked after all.

Faced with a choice with far-reaching consequences, Dee must apply the lessons she’s learned along the way about making a family, finding a home...and recognizing the power that’s been inside her all along. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

This is my first Virginia Kantra book and I really, really enjoyed this wonderful reimagined modern day tale of The Wizard of Oz!  There are nods to the magical story but if you haven’t read it, watched the movie,or aren’t a fan, The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale is still a story you are going to want to read!  It has so much heart and Kantra’s writing really draws you in and I know you are going to love the character development and the Ireland scenery as much as I did!

This time of year I am always looking for holiday reads and getting myself into the holiday spirit.  While I am a huge lover of romantic stories, I am always looking for books that have a bit more going on than just the romance, and this read was absolutely perfect!  I also look for books that have the holidays in the storyline but need more happening with the plot and the characters.  Dee and her adventures to Ireland and all the characters met that need perfectly!  

One of my favorite festive movies is The Holiday.  This is largely because, like the holiday books I look for, the movie has the holidays in it, but that is not the central plotline.  I also love this movie and watch it every year, because of Kate Winslet’s character, Iris.  Iris is thoughtful and kind but also insecure and vulnerable and not the leading character in her own life and that is exactly like Dee in this book.  Both women have the best hearts and have so many loveable qualities but do not love themselves and I love going along with them on their journey of self discovery and growth!

Dee is from Kansas, and an aspiring writer, and she gets herself into a bit of a mess with a college professor.  She finds herself in a pretty bad place with negative publicity and heartache and decides to move to Emerald Isle Ireland.  There she meets a cast of characters that will steal your heart, and help her along on her journey.  You also get to meet her sister, and I loved how their dynamic is explored.  There is so much these characters have been through and I love how they grow and support each other.  I also loved getting a glimpse into Dee’s writing process.  The story within a story is one of my favorite themes!

I also really enjoyed the setting of this story so much!  I have always wanted to go to Ireland and Kantra’s descriptions really make you feel like you are right alongside Dee while she goes to bookstores and the Trinity college campus and cozy coffee shops. I really recommend you read the Author’s Note to hear more about Kantra’s thoughts about the book's location.

This book was the perfect read to kick off December! I also really recommend the audio.  Rachel L. Jacobs, Damian Gildea, and Christian Coulson really bring the story to life and I love all the different accents!

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

More by Virginia Kantra:

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Spotlight and Giveaway: When We Were Enemies

Today we are pleased to feature When We Were Enemies by Emily Bleeker. The story sounds captivating and we are in love with the cover. Thanks to Kaye Publicity, we have one copy to give away!

Two women, generations apart, in the spotlight. A powerful novel about family secrets, devastating choices, and hope for the future.

Camera-shy Elise Branson is different from the other women in her matriline. Her mother is an award-winning actress. Her late grandmother, Vivian Snow, is a beloved Hollywood icon. But when Elise’s upcoming wedding coincides with a documentary being made about Vivian, Elise can’t escape the camera’s gaze. And even in death, neither can her grandmother.

It’s 1943 when Vivian, a small-town Indiana girl, lends her home front support to the war effort. As a translator in the nearby Italian POW camp, she’s invaluable. As a celebrated singer for the USO, she lifts men’s spirits and falls in love with a soldier. But behind this all-American love story is a shocking secret—one vital to keep buried if Vivian is to achieve the fame and fortune she covets.

For Elise and Vivian, what’s hidden—and what’s exposed—threatens to unravel their lives. The heart-wrenching choices they must make will change them both forever.

“As a novelist, Emily Bleeker has a genuinely impressive, narrative driven, and distinctive storytelling style that fully engages her readers from first page to last. Her latest novel, When We Were Enemies will have a special appeal to readers with an interest in comparative generational historical fiction at its very best. A memorable read throughout, When We Were Enemies is a highly recommended pick…” 
—Midwest Book Review

Emily Bleeker is the bestselling author of six novels. Combined, her books have reached more than two million readers. She is a two-time Whitney Award finalist as well as being on the Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. 

Emily lives in the northern suburbs of Chicago with her husband, their kids, and her kitten-muse, Hazel. Along with writing and being a mom, she performs with a local improv troupe, sings karaoke like no one is watching, and embraces her newfound addiction to running. 

Visit Emily online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

She is available to chat virtually with book clubs!

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. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends December 10th at midnight EST.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Book Review: The Other Mothers

By Jami Denison

What are the most dangerous places in the world? A glance through the media would imply inner cities, foreign countries, deserted parks. But readers of domestic thrillers would point to the wealthy suburbs of world-class cities. And the most dangerous people in the world are the rich mummies who populate them. 

In her terrific follow-up to her debut, Greenwich Park, Katherine Faulkner has again placed readers in a world where motherhood and money clash. The Other Mothers are women at a playgroup in a wealthy part of London. When they feel threatened, the leather gloves come off.

Freelance reporter and new mom Tash is struggling. No longer affiliated with a newspaper, sources don’t take her seriously and clients balk at paying her. Her young son, Finn, hates his new playgroup. And her husband, Tom, an NHS doctor, works nights, causing a strain in their relationship. When Tash learns of a young nanny whose mysterious death was ruled an accident, she thinks the case can help her career if she can prove the girl was murdered. But it turns out that Sophie was a nanny for one of the playgroup mothers, Claire. As Tash gets close to the women in the group, she can’t believe that any of her new friends could have hurt Sophie. In fact, the danger might be much closer to home.

The Other Mothers is a murder mystery, but it’s so much more than a who-dun-it. Told from Tash’s first-person point-of-view in the present and Sophie’s first-person POV in the past, the novel touches upon so many modern and timeless issues: The tension between mothers and nannies, between married and single mothers, between working and stay-at-home moms. The feeling of worthlessness that comes from not bringing in a regular paycheck. The stress that children put on a marriage. The struggle of keeping up with friends who have more money. The isolation of new parenthood, and the desperation to be understood. 

Faulkner does a masterful job of developing her characters. Sophie, at first, comes across as a sweet, helpful young woman who only wants to take care of Claire’s stepson while Claire negotiates a difficult pregnancy. As the book progresses, and her relationship with Claire and Claire’s husband Jez gets more complicated, Sophie seems more calculating, although her actions are always understandable. I found Tash a bit harder to understand. She’s suspicious of the women from the start, and yet she craves spending time with them, so much so that she puts herself in debt. As she gets closer to the truth about Sophie and warned away via anonymous text messages, she continues to hang out with the women. Even when Finn suffers an accident while being watched by the group, she doesn’t turn her back on them. 

Throughout the book, Faulkner leaves a juicy trail of breadcrumbs for the reader to follow to solve the mystery. Who is the runner that captivates Sophie at the beginning of the book? Why did Tom never tell Tash that he worked with Laura, another mother at the playgroup? Faulkner knows her readership, and the genuine clues are hard to distinguish from the red herrings.

The final reveal feels completely earned. Faulkner unmasks the killer, but keeps things open-ended and unresolved, the consequence of Tash’s actions. The only note I found unbelievable was the fecundity of a supporting character, which made the book more of a soap opera than a suspense novel. 

With her second book, Faulkner establishes herself as a writer to watch in the domestic suspense genre. Her complicated characters and novel twists make her “unputdownable.” 

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

Also by Katherine Faulkner: Greenwich Park

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

What's in the (e)mail...plus a book giveaway

Melissa:
The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle from Harlequin (NetGalley)
Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun from Atria (NetGalley)

When I'm Her by Sarah Zachrich Jeng from Berkley (NetGalley)

The Romanov Brides by Clare McHugh from William Morrow (NetGalley)

The Spice Maker's Secret by Renita D'Silva from Bookouture (NetGalley)

It Could Be Worse by Dara Levan from Regalo Press (NetGalley)

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles from Atria (NetGalley)

Plot Twist by/from Erin La Rosa (print--won in a giveaway)

In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer from Erin La Rosa (print--won in a giveaway)

Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur from Avon (NetGalley)

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose from Ballantine (NetGalley)

The Hanukkah Hook-Up by/from Jessica Topper (ebook)

When We Were Enemies by Emily Bleeker from Lake Union (NetGalley)

The Dreidel Do-Over by/from Amanda Usen (ebook)

Sara:

The Screenwriter by Amanda Reynolds from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

Melissa S:
Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon from Dell (print)

What Have You Done For Mia Lately? by/from Julia Flynn (print)

What could be in YOUR (e)mail:

The Hanukkah Hook-Up by Jessica Topper and The Dreidel Do-Over by Amanda Usen

Meet the OG Matzo Ballers: Eight friends who became a found family, living and loving their best lives on a yearly Hanukkah harbor cruise around Manhattan…

The first two books in this holiday romance series are spoiler-free, take place simultaneously, and can be read in either order!

Thanks to Amanda and Jessica, we have TWO sets of ebooks to give away!

Synopsis of The Hanukkah Hook-Up:

It was only supposed to last for one night.

Work-obsessed Nora Ruben is tired of playing by all the rules. Especially when no one else seems to be. When her boss delivers grim news – at the company “holiday” party, of all places – she’s done being the model employee. At least for one night – the night of the Matzo Baller, her friend’s famed Hanukkah harbor cruise around Manhattan. And if the cute co-worker from the suburban office is along for the ride? All the better.

She has just one condition: no work talk, from sundown to sunrise.

Alex Beckman has never quite found where he fits in his family’s business. And he never wanted to take the lead on a major acquisition, especially of a company he knows nothing about. But when he’s sent to reduce the staff by half – and finds sexy, whip-smart Nora Ruben at the top of the list – he’s determined to dig deeper. It helps that she assumes he’s just a fellow comrade in the cubicles. When Nora invites him to ditch the party for the cruise, this nice Midwestern Jewish boy jumps at the chance…

But when eight hours on a boat turns into an amazing weekend together…firing Nora is the last thing on Alex’s mind. Will their Hanukkah hook-up confirm his worst fears about the future of his family business – or be the beginning of something miraculous? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

Synopsis of The Dreidel Do-Over:

Instead of partying with her crew on her favorite night of the year, Talia Katz is stuck pinch hitting for the flaky chef her even flakier brother hired for the glitzy event.

Happy freaking Hanukkah.

To make matters worse, her brother forgot to order fryer oil. How is she supposed to make Hanukkah happen without enough oil to fry the latkes? It’s going to take a miracle…

Asher Stein hates Hanukkah—and with good reason. But when the Matzo Baller’s bartender gets sick at the last minute, he agrees to step in, even though he usually avoids all things blue and gold like the plague. Now he’s stuck on a cruise for eight hours with a twelve-foot tall sparkling menorah and enough gelt to sink the boat.

Oy vey.

Hanukkah starts looking a little bit brighter—and hotter—when Asher discovers the cute chef he’s been eyeing on the boat is his long-lost BFF from Jewish day camp.

Both Asher and Talia have secrets. If they want to give their friendship—or more—a second chance these two opposites will have to share more than a sizzling spin in the sheets after a smoking-hot game of strip dreidel…although that’s a very good start. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

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. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends December 6th at midnight EST.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to these books on Speechify!

Book Review: Can't Take My Eyes Off You

By Sara Steven

Berkley Kaine was lucky enough to meet her perfect man at a young age.

Blissfully in love, she's about to graduate college, take on her dream job, and has never been more optimistic for the future.

Will Adler has been in love with Berkley Kaine since the moment he laid eyes on her.

But ever since they became a couple, Will and Berkley have had to contend with his influential, richer-than-rich socialite family who have never thought Berkley is good enough. Determined to drive the young lovers apart, Will's family reveal the secret he's yet to find a way to tell her – he's signed on with his brother to be a part of a reality TV show called PDX Royals, as apparently, money is all it takes to be 'royalty' in America.

Can Berkley forgive Will for lying?

Can the couple survive the pressure of Will's crazy family, his constant bad decisions, and a TV show they never expected to blow up the way it did?

Can first love ever become forever love? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

It’s not often I read a story that revolves around two people who have been in a long-term relationship since their youth. I thought that premise was really refreshing and added a lovely aspect to who Berkley (Berx) and Will are as a couple. It sets the foundation for why they are so close, right down to the special tattoo that Berkley has for Will. By all appearances, theirs is a love that is destined to survive anything–until the Adlers threaten to ruin everything.

Will comes from a prestigious family, while Berkley does not. The Adlers have never felt that Berkley measures up, coming up with all sorts of scenarios in an attempt to get her out of Will’s life. It’s never worked before, but when Will signs on to do a reality TV series that will feature him, his brother, as well as other young socialite royals, Berkley realizes that Will’s parents have finally come up with the one plan to be rid of her, considering her extreme dislike for anything related to reality television. She has no intention of allowing herself to be part of the chaos, which is why she decides it would be best for them to call it quits. 

The reader gets to see where Will and Berkley are as a pseudo separated couple and then individually, spanning years’ worth of experiences. Will goes through a tumultuous time, pining for Berkley, feeling as though he’s made a terrible mistake and feeling trapped due to signing his name on a dotted line. I appreciated that the story wasn’t all sweetness and light and highlighted some very real issues that can and often will happen to people when they feel stuck beneath the limelight. Berkley does all she can as best she can for the man she feels chose fame over her, and it made me wonder if there would be any hope for this couple, and if young love can survive through a lifetime. 

The idea behind a reality show focused on young socialites felt realistic, the type of thing I might see on E! (as mentioned in the book), or MTV or Bravo. Waiting to see what would happen for and to Will and Berkley and their messily sweet relationship definitely kept me on the hook.

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Apple

Aimee Brown is the bestselling romantic comedy author of several books including The Lucky Dress. She’s an Oregon native, now living in a tiny town in cold Montana and sets her books in Portland. Previously published by Aria, her new series for Boldwood is full of love and laughter and real-life issues. The first book was published in January 2023.

Visit Aimee online:

Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Sign up for Aimee's newsletter.

Visit all the stops on Aimee's blog tour:

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!