Book Review: Message Deleted

By Becky Gulc

‘THE MESSAGE HAS DISAPPEARED.

SO HAS YOUR BEST FRIEND…

You receive a text from your best friend:

Can’t speak… don’t text or call… pls just come

But as you race to her house,

the message is deleted.

She answers the door, insists everything’s fine.

She says she never sent a message.

Something’s not right, but what can you do?

Six hours later, the police call.

There’s blood all over your friend’s house.

She’s missing.

And you were the last person to see her alive . . .’ (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon UK.)

K.L. Slater has written over 20 psychological thrillers, yet Message Deleted was the first one I’ve read. I saw some great reviews online for this one and the synopsis definitely piqued my interest so I quickly got myself a copy.

This is a novel I was immediately gripped by. The story begins strong with Saffy waiting for a job interview when she receives a concerning text message from her best friend Leona asking her to come over. Of course Saffy goes to her, but when the text message disappears and Leona herself denies all knowledge of sending this it’s clear something strange is going on. When Leona and her family subsequently go missing, it seems Saffy is the last person to have seen them and subsequently all eyes are on her. So where is Leona and her family and who is responsible?

The suspense of what happened to Leona and her family was sustained well throughout the novel and there were several twists and turns particularly in the closing chapters. I didn’t predict the outcome or who was involved and that’s always a sign of clever writing. In particular I think it helped that Saffy’s character is written in a way which certainly made me feel she could be an unreliable narrator at times – as readers we are given hints to trauma she and her family have experienced, but without going into much detail until key moments of the story, and this certainly helped the narrative in my opinion.

I wouldn’t particularly say I warmed to the characters as such, I don’t think I was meant to, and this kept me guessing as to who was involved and why. The fact that I didn’t have any strong feelings for any character, I didn’t feel particularly emotionally attached, yet I was still gripped by the story is again testament to the writing, I simply had to find out what had happened! 

Yes I had some frustrations with elements of the story, the fixation of the investigation on Saffy when it didn’t seem apparent why; the convenience of some of the encounters between characters, and the choices some of the characters made, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this novel. 

I read this book within a couple of days, the chapters are short and punchy and it was always tempting to read just one more, and then just one more. This worked for me and I am definitely keen to read further novels by K.L. Slater!

More by K.L. Slater:

Husband and Wife

The Girlfriend

The Silent Ones

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Sarah Damoff looks on the bright side...plus a book giveaway

Credit:  Kaylynn Krieg

We're pleased to welcome Sarah Damoff to CLC and help her celebrate the publication of her debut novel, The Bright Years. Allyson says "you're in for a real treat". Check out her review on her Bookstagram. Thanks to Simon & Schuster, we have one copy to give away!

Sarah Damoff lives in Texas with her husband and children, where she is a social worker. Her work has appeared in Porter House Review, Ruminate Magazine, and Open Global Rights, among other publications. The Bright Years is her debut novel. Visit Sarah at her website and on Instagram. 

Synopsis:
Ryan and Lillian Bright are deeply in love, recently married, and now parents to a baby girl, Georgette. But Lillian has a son she hasn’t told Ryan about, and Ryan has an alcohol addiction he hasn’t told Lillian about, so Georgette comes of age watching their marriage rise and fall.

When a shocking blow scatters their fragile trio, Georgette tries to distance herself from reminders of her parents. Years later, Lillian’s son comes searching for his birth family, so Georgette must return to her roots, unearth her family’s history, and decide whether she can open up to love for them—or herself—while there’s still time.

Told from three intimate points of view, The Bright Years is a tender, true-to-life novel that explores the impact of each generation in a family torn apart by tragedy but, over time, restored by the power of grace and love. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“This novel sparkles in its sentences, its texture, its big heart—THE BRIGHT YEARS is a vivid, forthright, and gorgeously written story of love in its many iterations.” 

—Claire Lombardo, New York Times bestselling author of Same as it Ever Was

"THE BRIGHT YEARS is a moving portrait of inheritance and loss. A heart-breaker and heart-mender at once, this is a story that forces us to confront our vulnerabilities and secrets in order to find our strength and truth. A stunning debut!"

—Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing The Bright Years?
One reward was simply the thrill of discovering the story as I drafted it. The experience was like reading, but better. Every evening I would sit down at the computer not knowing what would happen next, and the process of uncovering the story felt magical. Another reward is when readers share their own stories as they relate to these characters, or tell me that the book helped or comforted them in some way.

The structure of the story was a challenge. It was originally a novel in letters, and it took several revisions to get to its final format. Another challenge was in handling heavier topics. I interviewed people who had personal experiences with alcoholism, and I felt the weight of their trust as I attempted to write in a way that would honestly yet delicately portray the human experience of this particular (but very common) struggle.

Which of your main characters do you identify with the most?
Georgette, though there are parts of me in all three of the main characters.

If The Bright Years was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles? 

The ages might be tricky, but I can see a young Mae Whitman as Georgette. Adam Driver as Ryan. And maybe Rachel McAdams as Lillian.

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?
Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy - On the surface, it’s about a woman befriending a mouse. Beneath the surface, it’s about found family and the experience of aging. A very tender and insightful book.

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

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
I would take you to the Arts District, and then I’d take you an hour down the road to Fort Worth, where we would visit some of the places mentioned in The Bright Years. We would see a musical at Bass Hall, go square dancing at Billy Bob’s, and eat enchiladas at Joe T. Garcia’s.

Thanks to Sarah for chatting with us and to Simon & Schuster 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 April 27th at midnight EST. 

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Book Review: The Greatest Lie of All

By Melissa Amster

Fledgling actress Amelia Grant is at rock bottom when offered the opportunity of a lifetime: to star in a biopic about the world-renowned romance author Gloria Diamond, who used her own tragic love story as inspiration for her bestselling books. To prepare for the role, she’ll spend a week with Gloria at her secluded Washington estate. It’s a chance to get out of LA, away from her cheating ex-boyfriend, and to make her recently deceased mother proud.

Amelia’s excitement is short-lived, however, once she actually meets Gloria, who is cold, verging on rude and mostly unavailable. If not for Gloria’s frustratingly handsome son, Will, the visit might be a complete waste of her time. But when Amelia stumbles upon a secret from Gloria’s past, she realizes Gloria’s life story is more fiction than fact. And as the movie’s filming date draws nearer, Amelia must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to uncover the truth. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I always enjoy when Jillian Cantor has a new novel available. The Greatest Lie of All is different from the historical fiction novels she has written, as the historical part takes place in the 1980s and isn't centered around any specific events from that era. However, it's a really interesting story told from two perspectives in the past and present. I liked seeing how the story would unfold and some aspects weren't what I was expecting at all! I was definitely guessing what would happen, but wasn't sure if I'd be right.

I definitely felt frustrated for Amelia, with Gloria not giving her much to work with. Especially since she needed that information for the role she was going to play. I also felt bad for Mare, as she was stuck in a difficult situation altogether and it eventually led to tragedy. I don't want to say too much more as this is a story that you really just need to experience for yourself. 

The only big concern for me was time, since I didn't know what year it took place in the present. I was guessing the current year, but then the math from the past wasn't adding up. Also a character sounded way older than they were when they were a little kid during flashbacks. These weren't deterrents to my enjoyment and since it was an advanced copy, I'm hoping the timing got ironed out for final publication.

If you're looking for something unputdownable to read, look no further! This novel is addictive, for sure.

(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post.)

Movie casting suggestions:
Amelia: Emma Roberts
Gloria: Diane Lane
Will: James Wolk
Mare: Sarah Catherine Hook
Bess: Saoirse Ronan
George: Jarred Harper
Max: Nicholas Galitzine

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

More by Jillian Cantor:

Beautiful Little Fools

Half Life

The Fiction Writer

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TW: Domestic violence, infidelity, death of parent, house fire

Book Review: Unlikely Story

By Melissa Amster

As a relationship therapist, Nora helps patients explore their feelings honestly. But she’s hiding an embarrassing relationship secret of her own: she’s in love with someone she’s never even met.

J edits the advice column Nora’s been writing anonymously for the last seven years. He’s in London, she’s in New York, and they communicate solely through shared files. When he confides that his girlfriend’s out of the picture, and her boss asks her to come to London, Nora takes both as a sign.

But that’s not the only thing on her mind. A client’s ex-boyfriend just moved into her co-op, directly beneath her. Eli blames Nora for his breakup and seems determined to make her life miserable, gleefully planning a noisy renovation.

Yet despite all his bluster, Nora eventually starts to see the softness behind Eli’s brusque, charming exterior…and after a slipup reveals a startling secret, Nora wonders whether someone can be two things at once. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Unlikely Story is the Jewish Joy Book Club April read and I am so glad about that! I really enjoyed this story. It's heartwarming, humorous, romantic, and an armchair adventure to boot. Add in an enemies-to-lovers trope, some forced proximity, and a swoon-worthy British guy to fuel the flames, and this novel has it made! 

This was a sweet story. I loved the banter between the characters, especially Nora and Eli. I also loved the neighbors in the co-op and George the dog (who sounded really cute). The virtual visits to NYC and London were a lot of fun. There was plenty of humor and lightheartedness. It was entertaining and kept me turning the pages. 

What was interesting to me was Nora's situation with her parents. They were more like children and she was absorbing their neediness and impulsive behavior, especially from her mother. I felt bad for Nora being put in that situation, especially since her brother was able to extricate himself from it so easily.

I had a few small concerns, but nothing that kept me from enjoying this novel. First, I wish that Nora's Judaism had been more prevalent. I only knew she was Jewish because she mentioned Shabbat dinner one time. Next, I would have liked for there to be more of a surprise factor, but I still enjoyed seeing how everything unfolded. Especially since it gave off the feel of a certain nineties rom-com movie. There's an irony here with Nora always wanting to know the end of a book before she started it, as it was a comfort to her. While I like being surprised, I can't say I blame her for wanting to know where a story is going sometimes. Finally, I felt that more conflict was needed and was hoping things would be a bit more challenging before reaching the rewarding point. 

Overall, this was a great novel and a nice distraction from everything going on in real life. (Another reason it's appealing for Nora to want to know what happens at the end of a book.) I hope to read more of Ali's novels in the future (and get to her earlier novels). 

(Trigger warning below.)

Movie casting suggestions:

Nora: Victoria Pedretti
Eli: Sean Teale

Ari: Kelly Bishop
Dane: Jeanine Mason

Tina (Nora's mom): Camryn Manheim

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

More by Ali Rosen:

Recipe for Second Chances

Alternate Endings

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TW: Getting locked out of a building while on the roof. (Not sure about you, but that makes me so anxious.)

Book Review: The Royal Runaway

By Sara Steven

Being a princess means living by 1200+ rules—I've counted them all in my leather-bound journal—including Rule #124: "No climbing trees" and Rule #592: "A princess must never leave the palace without security detail." So when I swap my tiara for a goth disguise and escape the palace for a grand adventure as "Amy," I'm breaking every royal protocol imaginable.

Hiding from paparazzi in a costume shop, I meet a gorgeous American stranger who's also on the run. Suddenly I'm making disastrous coffee at a pink café, sharing a lakeside mansion with "Maverick"—aka Hollywood star Ethan Roberts in disguise—and developing feelings that make my heart perform gymnastics. Which was definitely not covered in my princess rule book.

Ethan's gotten into the habit of rescuing me—from online con artists, espresso machine explosions, and even breaking Rule #124 when I climbed a tree right to the top, … and promptly got stuck. But as our friendship blooms into something wonderfully more, our carefully constructed facades begin to crack, and our new relationship hangs in the balance.

Can a runaway princess and an actor hiding from fame find their happily-ever-after, or will duty force us back to our separate spotlight lives? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I’ve read all of the books in the Royally Kissed series, and this is my favorite addition so far! I loved Amelia’s personality and her need to push against the rules and guidelines that have been set for her for her entire life. She’s unpredictable and has a giant sense of adventure, which leads her outside of the palace gates and into a world entirely without guards and protection. It was fun to see just how outside her element she becomes, particularly when she interacts with Ethan.

Ethan is a celebrity in need of an escape, too. I thought it was great how both Amelia’s and Ethan’s needs match one another, because they’re both well-known figures trying desperately to break free from the lives they feel owned by, in an effort to gain freedom. When Amelia attempts to wash strawberries with soap (oh my word), I inwardly cringed at the thought of that! But it was the perfect reflection of someone who has no clue how to live beyond the life she’s been used to, and when Ethan does all he can to hide out from giggling fans inside the costume shop, even going so far as to dress in a manner so no one will recognize him, I could feel his desperation with that. I imagine being a celebrity isn’t easy when it comes to privacy.

Neither has let the other in on who they really are. But over time, and with opportunities that draw them together, they begin to learn more and more about each other, making it difficult for Amelia not to let down her guard even more and let Ethan know her secret. The two characters come from completely different worlds, and even though they both have similar hurdles and obstacles to overcome, can any interest survive past running away from reality?

The Royal Runaway was such a fun, engaging experience, from start to finish, making it a definite five-star read!  

Thanks to Kate O'Keeffe for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Check out Sara's reviews of the first two books in this series (standalones):

The Backup Princess

Royally Matched

More by Kate O'Keeffe:

The Rebound Play (Love on Thin Ice series)

One Last First Date (Flirting With Forever series)

Dating Mr Darcy (Love Manor Romantic Comedy series)

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Ellen Meister takes us on an unforgettable ride...plus a book giveaway

 

We're pleased to have Ellen Meister at CLC today. Her latest novel, Joyride, sounds like a fun and interesting story and we're definitely interested in checking it out. Thanks to Ellen, we have THREE signed copies up for grabs!

Ellen Meister is a novelist, book coach, screenwriter, and creative writing instructor who started her career writing advertising copy. Her novels include Divorce Towers, Take My Husband, The Rooftop Party, Love Sold Separately, Dorothy Parker Drank Here, and Farewell, Dorothy Parker, among others. Meister’s essays have been published by the New York Times, Newsday, the Wall Street Journal blog, the Huffington Post (now HuffPost), the Daily Beast, Long Island Woman, Writer’s Digest, and Publishers Weekly. Career highlights include interviews on NPR, being selected for the prestigious Indie Next List by the American Booksellers Association, having her work translated into foreign languages, and receiving a TV series option from HBO.

Meister lives in New York and publicly speaks about her books, fiction writing, and America’s most celebrated literary wit, Dorothy Parker. 

Visit Ellen online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:
In this poignantly quirky ride through Brooklyn, an idealistic young woman shares her earnest joy with her Uber clients, her cranky father, and the Wall Street hotshot who started it all.

Joybird Martin―an Uber driver with cheerfulness to spare―desperately wants to be a life coach.

She’s so sunny about her chances that even her snarky father―a has-been TV writer with a failed third marriage―can’t dim her light. So when he shows up broke on her doorstep, Joybird takes him in with no questions asked, trying to find a balance between her bright optimism and his sarcastic pessimism.

It works, and she continues sharing her earnest wisdom with her Uber riders. After she helps handsome Wall Street exec Devon Cato, he convinces her to become a life coach from the front seat of her Honda.

As Joybird’s dreams take the wheel, she finds direction for her clients…and herself. She’s not sure what to do about her attraction to Devon, but she soon learns exactly what she can do for her father. And a journey into his past might just pave the way for her own bright future. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
Any combination of "funny" and "poignant" makes my heart sing. It's always what I'm going for.

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing Joyride?
I'll start with the challenges, which sometimes seemed insurmountable. First, there was the issue of POV. I always knew it was Joybird's story, but I didn't think I could trust her to tell it. I had convinced myself a narrator needs a sarcastic edge, and Joybird is so earnest and optimistic I worried that she wouldn't be entertaining enough to carry a whole book. So I wrote the entire novel from her father's point of view. Unfortunately, his sarcastic edge was so sharp it seemed to leave my beta readers bloody. So I tried telling the story through the eyes of a minor character, which is unusual, but has been done effectively by a few writers I admire. I soon discovered it simply didn't work for this novel. Finally, I rose to the challenge of letting Joybird narrate her own story—interspersed with chapters from her crusty father—and finally the book found its voice.

The other big challenge was striking the right balance in the character of Joybird's irascible father. In early drafts, he was simply too mean-spirited for readers to accept. I had to find a way to make his dyspepsia a little easier to digest, and that took a number of drafts.

The rewarding part came after I finally wrangled the manuscript into shape. It got an offer from a publisher faster than any book I had ever written. And the team was so enthusiastic it was rushed into production with breathtaking speed. I'd never seen anything like it!

If Joyride was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
Bryan Cranston would be great as Sid Marcus, the bitter comedy writer who has fallen from grace. (But of course, Bryan Cranston could play anything.)

Joybird is a little trickier. In terms of appearance, she looks a bit like a young Zooey Deschanel. (At least she does in my head. Readers may see her differently.) But I think Kristen Schaal is the actress who could best embody her spirit.

For Devon Cato, I'm going with the smoking hot and very talented Regé-Jean Page. (And yes, he can do an American accent.)

I think Jamie Lee Curtis would be a gas as the aging hippie, Betty Simon.

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
I'm a few years late to the party, but I recently saw Lion starring Dev Patel, and it knocked me out.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
What an interesting question! I'd have to go with Natasha Lyonne. I think she'd put a quirky spin on my pretty mundane life.

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
I'm on Long Island, so I'd load you into the car and drive straight to Jones Beach, which has the world's most glorious light. There, we'd stroll to the end of the boardwalk and back, breathing the clean, crisp, briny air. (Wear comfortable shoes!)

After that, we'd be hungry, so I'd take you out for pizza or bagels. (Both are sublime on Long Island.) I'll let you choose!

Thanks to Ellen for chatting with us and 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 April 22nd at midnight EST. 

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Spotlight: The Seven O'Clock Club

Four strangers are brought together to participate in an experimental treatment designed to heal broken hearts in this surprising and heartfelt debut novel from author Amelia Ireland.

Freya, Callum, Mischa, and Victoria have nothing in common--well, except for one thing: they’ve each experienced a deep personal loss that has led them to an unconventional group meeting, every Tuesday night at seven.  A meeting they’ve been particularly selected for that will help them finally move on. At least, that's the claim.

As they warily eye one another and their unnervingly observant group leader, one question hangs over them: why were they chosen? To get the answer, they are going to have to share a whole lot of themselves first. Getting Freya, Callum, Mischa, and Victoria to trust each other is vital--because the real reason they’re connected will shift the ground beneath their feet.

Riveting and wise, The Seven O’Clock Club shows us the courage needed to face your past and the joy that can be found in stepping into your future.

Visit Allyson's Bookstagram to see a review!

“The divine Amelia Ireland has written a surprising and glorious debut novel. Ireland has created a world where broken hearts are mended and grief can only be released in mutual understanding. When Freya, Mischa, Callum and Victoria meet Genevieve Dempsey, they are lost and broken. As the novel unspools, they find their way to back to truth and ultimately—love.”
—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Left Undone

“Finished in one sitting. Had no idea where it was going but knew there was something lurking. Incredible twist. Ends with a final lap of the ride when you think it is all over. Different. Clever. Genuine. Sad. Reminded me in parts of the Outlaws show. I will be recommending this to friends.”
—Ericka Waller, author of Goodbye Birdie Greenwing

Amelia Ireland lives in London but travels extensively to far flung places. She likes to rock climb, kite surf, and ride horses. She is also a mother to two very dramatic children. 

Visit Amelia on Instagram.

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