Book Review: Finding More

By Allyson Bales

"Our word is lightning."

Dean Roberts is at a never-ending crossroads.

A single dad adjusting to a world where his ex-wife barely tolerates him, and his brother is engaged to his ex-girlfriend.

But . . . he's almost a year sober.

So, at least there's that.

He just needs to keep control.

Enter Amelia James.

The green-eyed beauty has worked tirelessly to bury a haunting past.

As a kid who grew up in foster care, she decided long ago that life was easier alone.

Alone is safe.

She lives a simple life with her cat and that's more than enough for her.

When the two of them unexpectedly meet, the attraction is instant. And Amelia's interest piques when Dean starts a conversation with her in sign language.

Their one night stand becomes a series of chance encounters, something neither one of them can ignore.

But their lives are messy. And when Amelia's past joins the tumultuous winds of Dean's present, it tangles their deepening connection.

Threatening the existence they've each so carefully curated.

This is a story of the beauty in brokenness. Learning to live with our scars.

It's not about forgetting . . . it's about finding more. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

When I first learned about Larissa Moyer, I was getting ready for a road trip and was curating a large bag of books to take along.  I am pretty sure this is why my wife leans heavily in the direction of road trip as our big vacation every year because there is no way I would be able to fit all my books in our suitcase and she knows what a bummer that would be.  I stumbled upon In Our Hands, read the synopsis, and knew IMMEDIATELY that Evelyn and Otis needed to come along on our adventure.  I was in a little coffee shop in NewFoundland when I had the pleasure of meeting them and they have been in my heart ever since.  I also got to meet Dean and when I found out that Larissa was writing another book focusing on him, I knew I needed to read it!

First of all, Is this cover not beautiful?!? Probably one of my favorite covers of all time.  I also love the feel of the cover.  It is smooth and if you know, you know when it comes to the texture of book covers and our book loving hearts.  

Finding More is a companion novel to In Our Hands and wow what a story. While they both can be read as a standalone, I highly suggest you read both.  This is another book that I don’t want to give too much away as its got everything you are going to love and just go in blind!  Trust me!  

But, if you can’t know that I immediately fell in love with Amelia and Dean. Then I had a crazy few days of work…and a wedding where I got to witness two of my most favorite people get married..and reading had to take a back seat… BUT I could not stop thinking about Amelia and Dean!  Similarly to Evelyn and Otis, I had to get back together with them as soon as possible. SO I binged the rest of this story in one day and oh. my.goodness. The spice. The way these two process their trauma while also being a safe place for one another. The ASL representation. The character growth and development. I cannot say enough good things about this book!  

There is so much depth in the story and I love how much I was rooting for a character I once really didn’t like.  Who doesn’t love a character that has that kind of come back story?  

Larissa’s characters are genuine and real and the storyline had me up late into the night feverishly unable to turn the pages fast enough to see what happens.  I loved this book!

“Never let the noise of thunder deter you from the strike of lightning.”

I also need you to meet Larissa.  She is an amazing writer and human.  I joined Bookstagram almost two years ago to meet authors like her and read books like this.  

Read this one!  You are going to love it!

CONTENT WARNING (from Amazon): Finding More contains heavy subject matter that may be triggering to sensitive readers. For a full list of trigger warnings please visit the author's Instagram page.

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Book Review: The Christmas Wish

By Melissa Smoot

Newly single lawyer Gwen Baker needs a family Christmas to bury her woes, with festive films, country walks and a mountain of chocolate.

Her teenage crush Dev is back in their small village as well – and it turns out he’s just as kind, funny and good-looking as she remembers.

But then Gwen wakes up to discover it’s Christmas all over again. She’s trapped in a snowy Groundhog Day. But would repeat meet-cutes with Dev really be so bad for a heart that needs mending? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I love every book that Lindsey Kelk has written, so I knew I would love The Christmas Wish as well. The story takes place in a small town in England, a few hours from London. The main character, Gwen, travels back home with her cousin for a traditional family Christmas. The only problem is Gwen has just been dumped by her long-time boyfriend and she is also in a bit of trouble at the law firm she has worked at for a decade. To say the least, Gwen is not thrilled to go home and face her family, especially her not-so-nice older sister or her father, who both happen to be lawyers as well.

Gwen wakes up Christmas morning in her childhood bedroom and the day is filled with disaster after disaster. Gwen can’t wait to leave and head back to London, but then something strange happens. Gwen wakes up the day after Christmas only to find that she is back in Christmas day. The story takes on a Groundhog Day feel as Gwen must figure out how to get back to the present day and fix whatever it is the universe is throwing at her, or be stuck in a never ending loop of horrible Christmas Days. 

I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book, as I knew I would. The twists and turns as well as the shocking surprises throughout the story make this a very fun holiday read. If you want to believe in the magic of Christmas or the spirit of the Holiday season, this is the book for you. 

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

More by Lindsey Kelk:

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Seressia Glass has her head in the game...plus a book giveaway

Credit: Porsha Antalan of
Femqua Productions

Today we're pleased to welcome Seressia Glass, whose latest rom-com, Game On, released this week. If you've ever enjoyed playing video games, you'll especially want to check this novel out. Thanks to Berkley, we have one copy to give away!

Seressia Glass is an award-winning author of romance and urban fantasy. She lives south of Atlanta with her husband, son, two attack poodles, and a bulldozer of a Cane Corso. When not writing, she likes to collect purple things, jewelry and spends way too much time watching K-dramas and anime.

Visit Seressia online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
Samara Reynolds has built a large following as a gamer under an anonymous screenname, and uses her skills as a DEIA consultant to advocate for equal representation in video games. When she posted a video critiquing the popular game Legendsfall, she knew she’d get a reaction from her fans, but the video leads to hundreds of female gamers critiquing the game and its company, Artemis Games. The only thing more unexpected than starting an online movement is getting a job offer from the handsome CEO of Artemis.

Aron Galanis has been on a mission to get his company certified to create gaming content for people with disabilities. When he sees Artemis trending online for all the wrong reasons, he’s determined to right his wrongs and offers the originator a mea culpa, as well as a job offer to overhaul the character options in Legendsfall.

Working together turns Aron and Samara from adversaries into allies, allies into friends, and after that—something more. But once their relationship goes public, will Aron and Samara be able to weather the storm and fight for their happy ending, or is it game over?

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
“I feel seen, thank you so much!” came from a reader who had read The Love Con. She and her husband’s relationship was similar to Kenya and Cam’s, and she was a cosplayer too. She and readers like her are who I wrote it for.

How is Samara similar to or different from you?
I’m not sure I could be a lightning rod to the extent that Samara is in the book. I’ve done some “seat at the table” threads on the old bird app regarding publishing and writing organizations but that’s the most vocal I’ve been about advocacy.

In Game On, Samara has a cousin who is on the spectrum. I have three nephews who are, and Benjy is loosely based on my youngest nephew.

If Game On were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
Good question! Samara Reynolds and Aron Galanis are loosely based on Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian. I had Gabrielle Union in mind while writing Samara. A long-haired Tom Holland would be great as Aron. Or why not a Tom-Zendaya reunion for Game On?

What is your all-time favorite video game?
This is a hard one for me, since I’m old enough to have played Centipede, Galaga, and Pac Man in actual arcades. Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation is my answer.

If your life were a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
Jennifer Lewis is hilarious and would be a great auntie voice. I wish I could say Cardi B, but my life isn’t exciting enough.

Share a favorite winter holiday memory with us.
For Christmas: when it was just the three oldest siblings, our single mother mom got us everything we’d wanted and we hung out in matching Americana pajamas all day.

For Yule: I attended an all-night Yule party where we strung popcorn and cranberry garland, encrusted pinecones with peanut butter and birdseed, had a candlelight ritual after midnight, then watched movies until dawn.

Thanks to Seressia for chatting with us and to Berkley for sharing her book with our readers.

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

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Giveaway ends December 19th at midnight EST.

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Sara and Melissa...Celebrate Each Other's Holidays!

We've been running a column series (for over three years now!) to get more personal with our readers. This month, we are talking about what we like about each other's holidays. Even if we don't celebrate a certain holiday, we can still appreciate a lot of things about it.

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

Melissa Amster:

When I was reviewing The Wishing Bridge by Viola Shipman, it made me think of when I was growing up, how my family and I would go to our cousins' house every Christmas. They celebrated Christmas and we would join them in their celebration. Every year, we'd first hang out in the living room in front of their big and beautifully decorated tree, noshing on appetizers and talking. Then we'd gather around their ping pong table in the basement, that was set with a tablecloth and their good plates, and we'd indulge in turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and the like (it was very similar to a Thanksgiving meal, which they always had at our house). For dessert, we'd have cherry cheesecake and Frango mint cookies. Between dinner and dessert, we'd open presents. My parents usually gave us our Hanukkah presents during this time. There was Christmas music constantly playing throughout the house that day. When we left, it was quiet outside and the snow would glisten under the streetlights as we made our way home. There was something so peaceful and beautiful about that time of night.

Even though it's been ages since I've participated in that family tradition, and since I don't celebrate Christmas with my own family, there's still a lot to appreciate about the holiday. (I may not be as enthusiastic as Rachel from The Matzah Ball, but I can still appreciate Christmas for what it is.) I thought I'd make a small list. 

1. The movies. Whether it's a rom-com about a woman engaged to a man in a coma, or a comedy about a kid playing tricks on burglars, there's always at least one good Christmas movie available every year. Maybe more than that. As you can see here, two of my top favorites are Home Alone and While You Were Sleeping. And I will admit to getting super emotional over the 1990s version of Miracle on 34th Street, starring Mara Wilson. I've been known to indulge in other Christmas movies over the years, as well. "'Tis the season!"

2. The decorations. I love seeing pictures of everyone's Christmas trees, as well as seeing houses lit up in the winter. There's something really comforting about it all. 

Courtesy of Canva

3. The music. Not all of it, but some can be fun. As of yesterday, I have been "Whamageddoned". Funny enough, I didn't mind thanks to the nostalgic feel of the song. And as annoying as some people think "All I Want for Christmas is You" is, I can't help but jam along to it whenever it comes on the radio. 

4. The dessert. I associate some treats with Christmas, such as peppermint bark and Candy Cane Joe-Joe's. I also get peppermint hot cocoa more often at this time of year.

5. The overall feeling of joy that goes along with Christmas. I know it can sometimes be a stressful time of year, but it's also a time to step back a bit, spend time with those you care about, etc. I feel like people make the effort to be nicer to each other and I hope that will happen again this year. We all need that!

Last winter, I participated in a Zoom holiday party from my job. We all live in different parts of the country, so it's the only way to celebrate together. We were doing some holiday trivia games and I got all the Christmas answers right. I was the only one in the group who doesn't celebrate Christmas. So apparently something must have stuck with me. I guess we'll have to see if that happens again this year!

Wishing a very merry Christmas to everyone who will be celebrating soon! 🎄

Sara Steven:

I wasn’t raised in a home that honored any sort of religious holiday traditions. Not having any sort of blueprint made me appreciate hearing about and learning about the various religious customs and traditions that my friends would partake in, especially when it involved what they’d been taught by their own families while growing up and what they planned to pass on to their children, to carry on those traditions.

I’ve asked Melissa about her traditions over the years, interested in learning more about my close friend and her Jewish faith. I appreciate her patience and guidance, and I appreciate that I can share what I like about her holidays.

I remember a time I sang a song about Hanukkah when I was in grade school, hitting the high notes when we belted out about “The Festival of Lights,” but I never really understood the meaning behind it. I think lighting the menorah and reciting blessings is a beautiful tradition. I’ve read up on the various types of menorahs that you can have, whether it is store-bought or homemade, and I respect that it means the tradition can be accessible to anyone who wants to partake in the Hanukkah celebration. I asked Melissa if there are particular songs that she sings with her family during Hanukkah, and she said that while they used to sing after lighting the candles, over the years that has tapered off as her kids got older. They always chant the Hanukkah blessings (Baruch ata…) before lighting, and on the first night they add an additional blessing called the “shehecheyanu,” thanking Hashem, "who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season."

A picture taken on the last night of Hanukkah at Melissa's house, 2022

I love jelly-filled doughnuts. They’re my favorite. Sufganiyot are jelly-filled doughnuts that are eaten during Hanukkah as a means to honor the oil used to light the lamp in the Temple. It burned bright for eight days, even though there was only enough fuel for one day. I wasn’t aware of this tradition. Melissa told me she isn’t big on jelly inside donuts, so she partakes in chocolate-filled ones instead.  Another traditional option are latkes, or potato pancakes–something I haven’t had in years! But I do remember how tasty they are. Another custom I wasn’t aware but can appreciate involves handing out gelt, the Yiddish word for money. Gelt represents Jewish independence and can be real coins or chocolate-covered candies. I’ve seen such coins before, but I’ve never really understood the significance or what they represented.

Melissa's husband's homemade latkes

What I admire the most of all of the traditions is how Hanukkah brings about gatherings, whether it’s with family and/or friends. I’ve often heard about the various people that Melissa has hosted for the holidays, bringing about a sense of community and togetherness during a time when I don’t feel there is enough of that in the world. I know she has so much going on for the holidays, as so many of us do, but she still opens her heart and her home to her neighbors and friends. I’ve also read that there are many organizations that will hold public menorah lightings in cities all over the world, a true show of how proud the Jewish community is when it comes to their faith. And faith is such a monumental and important thing, especially this time of year.  

Tell us what you like about a holiday you don't celebrate.

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Book Review: Technically Yours

By Sara Steven

Pearl Harris has learned the hard way to be careful in work and in love. When she is appointed acting director of OurCode, a nonprofit aimed at inspiring high schoolers to code, she has a chance to make lasting change for the organization, but a scandal has put their reputation at risk. Further complicating matters, Pearl didn’t expect the one man she hasn’t stopped thinking about in seven years to be the newest member of her board of directors.

Cord Matthews fell for Pearl when they met in an elevator seven years ago. She’s just his type: smart, capable, and makes him laugh, but when she broke his heart, he decided love wasn’t for him. After five years with no contact, their connection is immediate despite the many roadblocks in their way and Cord must consider breaking his ban on serious relationships. But going public with a romance between them might derail Pearl’s career and the progress she’s made at OurCode. 

Pearl and Cord both are hesitant to trust their feelings and take a risk as they grow closer, but it becomes impossible to keep ignoring the electricity between them. Cord is a skilled programmer, but a workplace romance might spell disaster for both of them, and love isn’t easily debugged. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I really enjoyed Technically Yours. I thought it was interesting that both characters share the same viewpoint when it comes to love and commitment, even though neither appears to see it that way. This creates a continual push-pull relationship, with Pearl doing everything she can to keep from falling deep into Cord, and Cord doesn’t want to forget the pain Pearl had put him through when she broke his heart years ago. Despite that, it’s hard to steer clear of one another. The fact that they work together makes it all the more difficult.

They decide to pursue a secret relationship–one that fulfills their surface wants and needs, without betraying the initial pact to keep from falling in love. The author provides background by giving the reader a past POV from both characters, while also bringing it back to the present, so we’re able to see the changes Pearl and Cord have made over the course of several years. Pearl notices how refined Cord has become. How much more self-assured and confident he is. Cord appreciates Pearl’s work ethic; it’s what he remembers, but she has grown into her own and appears to know her worth as a valued employee. It’s all the more reason to tread lightly, in order to preserve the jobs they have and all of the hard work they’ve put in to get to where they are in their careers.

I think people can often delude themselves into thinking they can keep their distance from those they care for, by putting up pseudo walls as a means of self-preservation. Pearl and Cord think they can work around their intense feelings and past, but they can’t, and it brings on chaos and potential heartbreak. I felt the scenarios presented here are realistic and are often scenarios that couples face when it comes to choosing between their hearts and their careers. And, should we ever feel like there has to be a choice, anyway? 

Technically Yours offered up a sweet experience between two former lovers who are given the chance to rekindle what they had, as changed characters. Pearl often laments over wanting to focus on her mind, vs. her heart given everything she’s been through in her former relationships, and the same goes for Cord, due to Pearl. Through it all, the reader gets to witness potential growth for both characters as a couple–with plenty of steamy scenes to add some extra spice to the mix! It was a definite five-star experience for me.

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

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Two Christmas Novels

Today we are excited to share two Christmas-themed novels: The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison and A Kentucky Hug for Christmas by Judith Natelli McLaughlin. The covers are adorable and the stories inside sound perfect for getting into the holiday mood. Thanks to Berkley and Judith Natelli McLaughlin, we have THREE sets of both books to give away!

The Ex-Mas Holidays synopsis:
Maya Bashir is dreading her drive home for Christmas and having to explain that she's just left her high-paying job and a long-term relationship, so a brief detour to her friend’s festive party doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Until Maya walks in to find the last person she wants to see: Sam, the boy who broke her heart eight years ago. And he’s serving drinks. Naked.

Sam Holland is working an extra job on the sly to help his friend get by. But little did he expect Maya Bashir to come barreling back into his life, learning about his secret side hustle and taking back her old job alongside him at his daytime role as a ski instructor on the slopes of the Scottish Highlands.

As both Sam and Maya realize that the reason for their heartbreak so many years ago wasn’t entirely as it seemed, they must learn to stand up for what they want the most . . . or else miss their second chance at love.

“The Ex-Mas Holidays has all the Christmas trimmings: snowy ski slopes, sparkling lights, and family drama, not to mention all the hot cocoa you can drink!”

—Amy E. Reichert, author of Once Upon a December

Credit: Zoe Allison

Zoe Allison is a graduate of the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme. Alongside her day jobs as a doctor and a writer, she started a TikTok account in 2021 where she regularly shares comedic sketches based on writing, and the romance genre in particular.

Visit Zoe online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

A Kentucky Hug for Christmas synopsis:
After dumping her dead-end boyfriend, Madeline Jane Simcox leaves Nashville and an unsuccessful songwriting career to move back home. She vows to give up both men and music forever. Life in Crowns Grove, Connecticut with her mother and sister Jane will be quieter. Simpler. 
 
But she can’t escape the music. Not when she’s hired as a substitute music teacher at the local elementary school, and not when a radio station announces a contest to find a new Christmas song. Even better, it’s organized by handsome Kentucky transplant and fellow teacher Travis Montgomery, whose twang is warm enough to melt the winter snow. But Maddy didn’t move home to meet a man, especially one tied to her old nemesis. Her head tells her to stay away, but her heart speaks a different language. 
 
After an unexpected burst of creative energy, Maddy writes a catchy Christmas song. Against her better judgement, she enters it in the contest, forcing her to risk it all. 
 
Can she handle the spotlight one more time?

"A festively spun warm, sweet love story that emits Hallmark holiday movie feels! Your heart will sing with holiday cheer." 

—Kristina Rienzi, Bestselling and Award-Winning Author, 5 Happy Choices

Judith Natelli McLaughlin has been writing for as long as she can remember. The first book she ever wrote she bound with masking tape and for six-year-old Judy that was exactly how a "real" book was supposed to look. 

She still loves to write and illustrate books but she no longer uses masking tape to bind them. She publishes across genres, including children's chapter books, poetry books, middle grade, women's fiction and romance.

A native of New Jersey, Judy and her husband, Brian, call the sandy beaches of the Jersey Shore home. She has three grown, city-dwelling daughters, Katie, Lindsay, and Maggie, as well as her faithful writing companion, a West Highland White Terrier named Duke.

Visit Judith 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 December 17th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Bad Men

By Becky Gulc

Bad Men is the first ‘feminist thriller’ by Julie Mae Cohen – you may be familiar with Julie’s other fabulous books including Where Love Lies, Dear Thing, and Summer People which are also definitely worth a read. So what is Bad Men about?

‘When it comes to bad men, there's only ever one choice...

Saffy has a secret. A secret that she is deeply ashamed of. It's not the fact that she's only killing the bad men. She is making the world a better place.

No, her secret is far worse than that. Saffy has a messy, inexplicable, uncontrollable crush. So while she's busy plotting her next murder, she also has the much harder task of figuring out how to get a boyfriend.

But if there's one thing Saffy knows, it's how to get her man...’ (Courtesy of Julie Mae Cohen's website.)

This book is hands down in my top three reads of the year and I can’t sing its praises enough! I do enjoy a thriller and this book just delivered on all counts. It is unputdownable from the opening disturbing chapter where Saffy is a child, right through to the unnerving conclusion at the end of the novel. This is a book that gripped me, surprised me, and even though it’s about a serial killer, it’s not dark in an off-putting way. 

We know early on (and from the synopsis) that Saffy thinks she is only killing those who basically deserve their fate and particularly in the opening chapter, you’d have a heart of steel to think what she did was wrong. So you do end up feeling for Saffy at least some of the time, but definitely not all! (I’m just going to say ‘dog’ here.)

When heiress Saffy starts pursuing a crush of hers (Jon, a true crime podcaster whose marriage has fallen apart due to being a workaholic) we start to see what lengths Saffy will go to get her man – with the narrative revealing just the right amount of detail to keep the reader guessing throughout about what is down to her, and what may not be. There were certainly twists and turns aplenty. It was tense, and I wanted Jon to run a mile but yet also wanted to see how it would pan out if the pair got together!

What Julie manages to do so well is keep the book so balanced – yes it’s dark in places but it’s also light-hearted and emotional too. It’s also very witty throughout! Julie, can we have a sequel please?!? Thoroughly recommended and I’m not sure this review can ever do justice to how great I found this book!

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