What's in the mail

Melissa A:
The Poison Garden by A.J. Banner from Kathleen Carter Communications
Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald from Random House (e-book via NetGalley)
All the Flowers in Paris by Sarah Jio from Ballantine (e-book via NetGalley)
Extracurricular by/from Josie Brown (e-book)
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert, won from Reading with Robin

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes from Pamela Dorman Books
The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair from Minotaur Books
A Beach Wish by Shelley Noble from William Morrow
The Nobodies by Liza Palmer from Flatiron (e-book via NetGalley)
Surfside Sisters by Nancy Thayer from Ballantine
Rouge by Richard Kirshenbaum from St. Martin's Press
Friend Zone by/from Camilla Isley (e-book)
The Perfect Date by Evelyn Lozada from St. Martin's Press

Amy:
The Me I Used to Be by Jennifer Ryan from HarperCollins

Jami:
Too Close by Natalie Daniels from HarperCollins (e-book)
Skint Estate by Cash Carraway from Ebury Press

Book Review: To the Stars and Back

By Sara Steven

When Hollywood’s sexiest bachelor meets the girl next door, their relationship doesn’t follow the script…

On-screen, Christian Slade is America’s favorite heartthrob. Off-screen, letting romance into his life isn’t as easy. The women he dates all seem to want a piece of his glamorous life rather than his heart, and trust doesn’t come easy for him.

Then along comes Lana. A beautiful rocket scientist who’s also sweet, smart, sexy, and has absolutely no idea who he is. But what will happen when she finds out?

Will their worlds prove too far apart or could love really be like in the movies? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

The primary characters in To The Stars and Back are refreshing! It’s not everyday the female lead is revered more for her high intelligence, than her beauty. Or, when a male actor hasn’t let the fame of his celebrity go to his head. It was nice to see that dynamic between Lana and Christian, a genuine respect that goes beyond the physical.

I also appreciated the honesty in Lana’s actions, where Christian’s celebrity is concerned. Many of us can only imagine what it would be like to know someone famous, to be thrust out into the limelight when least expected, and those emotions were eloquently portrayed for Lana. To go from a quiet, peaceful existence, to one where paparazzi become the status quo, it can be scary and surreal, at best.

Looking at it from the other perspective, Christian’s famed captivity was captured beautifully. In order to meet up with Lana and attempt to live a somewhat normal life, he has to dress a certain way and wear hats in order to protect his identity, and hers, too. Someone always wants a piece of him, whether in autograph form, or beyond. I could feel the frustration and at times, acceptance of the the way he’s chosen to live, and how hard it was to impose that on Lana. A struggle between doing what’s best for her, and for them, as a couple.

Much of Stars deals with the inner workings of going against the grain and following what the heart wants, but it was also encouraging to see two characters who know who they are and what they want from the very beginning. While Lana did not want to lose Christian, she wasn’t afraid to speak up and let him know how overwhelming the celebrity lifestyle had become for her, and Christian, while taking a much longer route to get to speaking his own true feelings to Lana, he does it, even after the rough experiences he’d had in the past. Two strong leads, within a fun, exciting read!

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

Camilla Isley is an engineer turned writer after she quit her job to follow her husband on an adventure abroad.

She’s a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She’s a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn’t want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.

Visit Camilla online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram
Pinterest * Goodreads * Bookbub

Giveaway to Win a To The Stars and Back Tote Bag 
(Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within seven days, then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for fulfillment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune

Today we're featuring Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim. We've been hearing good things about this novel and we're excited to tell you more about it. Thanks to Berkley, we have one copy to give away!

After her mother’s refusal to support her chosen career as a chef, Natalie Tan leaves behind the limitations of life on her small street in China Town to strike out on her own. After years abroad filled with unwavering estrangement from her mother and the tight-knit community she left behind, Natalie is shaken when she learns of her mother’s sudden death. Reeling in the throes of grief and regret, Natalie must journey back home to get her mother’s affairs in order.

Natalie is shocked to find that over the last seven years, her once vibrant neighborhood has faded, with businesses failing and families forced to move out. But during a mystical encounter with the local tea shop owner who tells Natalie her fortune, her destiny becomes clear: she must revive her family’s closed-down restaurant to save the neighborhood. As Natalie rebuilds her connections with the community, she begins to forgive those she felt wronged by over the years, as well as herself—and she may even find new love along the way.

Photo by Shelley Smith

Roselle Lim is a Filipino-Chinese writer who came to Canada from the Phillipines as a young teen and learned English by watching wrestling shows on television. She has a degree in Humanities and History from York University. Visit Roselle at her website and on Twitter and Instagram.





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

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Giveaway ends June 18th at midnight EST.

Spotlight and Giveaway: Mrs. Everything

Jennifer Weiner's latest novel, Mrs. Everything, published yesterday. We're excited to tell you more about this book, which Melissa A loved. "Mrs. Everything is a powerful story that I think women (and possibly even men) of all ages will appreciate." (See her review). Thanks to Atria, we have one copy for a lucky reader!

From Jennifer Weiner, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Who Do You Love and In Her Shoes comes a smart, thoughtful, and timely exploration of two sisters’ lives from the 1950's to the present as they struggle to find their places—and be true to themselves—in a rapidly evolving world. Mrs. Everything is an ambitious, richly textured journey through history—and herstory—as these two sisters navigate a changing America over the course of their lives.

Do we change or does the world change us?

Jo and Bethie Kaufman were born into a world full of promise.

Growing up in 1950s Detroit, they live in a perfect “Dick and Jane” house, where their roles in the family are clearly defined. Jo is the tomboy, the bookish rebel with a passion to make the world more fair; Bethie is the pretty, feminine good girl, a would-be star who enjoys the power her beauty confers and dreams of a traditional life.

But the truth ends up looking different from what the girls imagined. Jo and Bethie survive traumas and tragedies. As their lives unfold against the background of free love and Vietnam, Woodstock and women’s lib, Bethie becomes an adventure-loving wild child who dives headlong into the counterculture and is up for anything (except settling down). Meanwhile, Jo becomes a proper young mother in Connecticut, a witness to the changing world instead of a participant. Neither woman inhabits the world she dreams of, nor has a life that feels authentic or brings her joy. Is it too late for the women to finally stake a claim on happily ever after?

In her most ambitious novel yet, Jennifer Weiner tells a story of two sisters who, with their different dreams and different paths, offer answers to the question: How should a woman be in the world?

Watch Jennifer describe Mrs. Everything in five seconds

Jennifer explains why she wrote Mrs. Everything

Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of sixteen books, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and her memoir, Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing. A graduate of Princeton University and contributor to the New York Times Opinion section, Jennifer lives with her family in Philadelphia.

Visit Jennifer online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * New York Times

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

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Giveaway ends June 17th at midnight EST.

An hour with Amy Mason Doan...plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to welcome Amy Mason Doan back to CLC to celebrate the recent publication of her sophomore novel, Summer Hours. Melissa A really enjoyed this novel and will be reviewing it this summer. Amy has a signed and personalized copy to give away!

Amy Mason Doan grew up in Danville, California and now lives in Portland, Oregon.

She’s written for The Oregonian, San Francisco Chronicle, Wired, Forbes, The Orange County Register and other publications. Amy has an M.A. in Journalism from Stanford University and a B.A. in English from U.C. Berkeley. Her debut novel, The Summer List, published in 2018. Check out Melissa A's review. (Adapted from Amy's website.)

Visit Amy online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Pinterest

Synopsis:
Becc was the good girl. A dedicated student. Aspiring reporter. Always where she was supposed to be. Until a secret affair with the charming Cal one summer in college cost her everything she held dear: her journalism dreams; her relationship with her best friend, Eric; and her carefully imagined future.

Now, Becc’s past is back front and center as she travels up the scenic California coast to a wedding—with a man she hasn’t seen in a decade. As each mile flies by, Becc can’t help but feel the thrilling push and pull of memories, from infinite nights at beach bonfires and lavish boat parties to secret movie sessions. But the man beside her is not so eager to re-create history. And as the events of that heartbreaking summer come into view, Becc must decide if those dazzling hours they once shared are worth fighting for or if they’re lost forever.

Set in the mid ’90s and 2008, Amy Mason Doan’s Summer Hours is a warmly told novel about the idealism of youth, the seductive power of nostalgia and what happens when you realize you haven’t become the person you’d always promised to be. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

What did you learn from writing The Summer List that you applied to Summer Hours?
I trust myself more now. I don’t need to see the word count climbing to reassure myself that the story has ignited; sometimes I make more progress on the plot by lying in my hammock with my eyes closed, visualizing scenes in my head, than I do by sitting at the keyboard.

For example, as I was drafting SUMMER HOURS, I could suddenly see my main character, Becc, driving up Pacific Coast Highway with this massive wedding present wedged between herself and the man in the passenger seat. It’s like a wall, which works perfectly because at the beginning of the novel they’re barely speaking. That mental image gave me the idea to withhold the identity of Becc’s traveling companion at first. I then worked out the road trip scenes in my head—identifying the funny moments, the tender ones, the sexy ones—for weeks before writing them down.

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
That they Kon-Mari’d their bookshelf and THE SUMMER LIST and SUMMER HOURS were two of 20 books they kept because they want to read them over and over. And it wasn’t even a friend!

I’m also happy when anyone says my books made them feel something—made them laugh or cry, or reminded them of a friend who had drifted. As a reader, I give up on a book after 50 pages if it doesn’t make me feel anything.

If Summer Hours were made into a movie, who would star in the lead roles?
Becc – Kaitlyn Dever (I’m obsessed with the movie Booksmart!)
Eric – Timothy Chalamet
Cal – Armie Hammer
Serra – Cierra Ramirez
Maggie – Cara Delevingne
Mrs. Haggermaker – Frances Sternhagen

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?
Abby Fabiaschi’s I LIKED MY LIFE. It’s heartbreaking but incredibly warm and funny, and the premise—a mother who’s committed suicide watches over her family and helps them heal—is somehow immediately convincing. It’s a beautiful book that I missed when it came out in 2017 because I was in my writing cave.

What is the strangest thing currently residing in your purse/handbag?
A cookbook called His Turn to Cook from 1983. I bought it at Goodwill to include in a giveaway I’m doing for the SUMMER HOURS launch party—a totebag full of prizes related to the novel. In SUMMER HOURS, aspiring journalist Becc gets stuck writing the totally sexist “women’s column” of the newspaper, and has to test recipes like “Igloo Meatloaf” and “Fudgy Lovin’.” I found the most dated, ridiculous cookbook I could. The recipes are for things like “Beef Alamo” and “Venison Stew,” and the pictures feature lots of fishing tackle and boar’s head skewers.

What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?
Kayak in Lost Lake with my family.

Thanks to Amy for visiting 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 June 16th at midnight EST.

Book Review: The Ice Cream Parlour

By Sara Steven

Giovanna Tonioli is a successful stockbroker with a famous sports star boyfriend, but things aren't as sweet as they seem. When life in the city of Bath goes from Vanilla to Rocky Road, she takes herself off to Italy for an 'Eat Pray Love' style tour of all things gelateria. What she doesn't expect to find on her travels is one smooth, hot dollop of temptation that she just can't shake.

How will her spiteful twin sister react when Giovanna returns to open a rival ice cream parlour? Will Natalia get her just desserts? Or will things become even stickier? All's fair in love, war and ice cream. Isn't it? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

In the beginning, it feels as though Giovanna is a modern day Cinderella, trying to make her way in spite of her family. The noted black sheep, there’s constant struggle within her to do her very best for her family, yet distant herself. Thrown into the scenario is her lothario boyfriend, a man she is madly in love with, but doesn’t give her the respect she deserves. With so much discord, it’s no wonder she chooses to leave behind the mess and chaos and embark on a soul-searching, taste testing journey in Italy, a place where she attempts to find herself.

I’m a self-professed lover of all things ice cream, but I was blown away by the wide range of flavors and creations that Giovanna indulges in. I’d never heard of so many of the flavors and textures and even the colors that are presented, an important vein that pumps life blood into The Ice Cream Parlour. With a background for delectables, there is obvious passion, and it shows in every bite that Giovanna takes. Her reputation and pride are on the line, in opening up her own parlour, but where the lines blur are in the motivations behind it. Are those motives pure, or is it a way to stick it to those who have hurt her?

There’s a large part of the novel that feels a little like the French movie He Loves Me… He Loves Me Not. Initially, the story is shown from only one perspective, like in the case of Giovanna. This enables us to side completely with her. Yet midway through, there’s a unique rewind into the past, now showcasing the perspective from a completely new vantage point, turning the reader’s ideas and opinions completely on its head. Who’s side are we on, now? It got me thinking on how past hurts, even when they’re from long ago and deep seeded, can often have a larger influence on the choices made today and how ultimately, there really isn’t a clear-cut wrong or right answer when family is involved.

The backdrop is steeped in Italian landscape, an almost cinematographic view through internal dialogue. While I’ve never been, I felt like I was right there with Giovanna while she traveled to Tuscany, Lake Como, Milan, and more. Even the experiences she has in Bath made me want to venture out to the UK. An undercurrent plot to all of this is an interesting twist to the story, the kind of dealings her family has been involved in since she was a child, always lurking in the dark, coming to fruition when she least expects it, but more than expects it. With so many distinctive events going on, The Ice Cream Parlour proved to be a delightful read!

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

Isabella May lives in (mostly) sunny Andalusia, Spain with her husband, daughter and son, creatively inspired by the sea and the mountains. Having grown up on Glastonbury's ley lines however, she's unable to completely shake off her spiritual inner child, and is a Law of Attraction fanatic.

Cake, cocktail, gelato, and travel obsessed, she also loves nothing more than to (quietly) break life's 'rules'. The Ice Cream Parlour is her fourth novel.

Visit Isabella online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

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Book Review: Dying to Meet You

By Sara Steven


Liz Parker doesn’t like surprises, but winning the lottery isn’t something she would complain about. Before she has time to think about how to spend her new fortune, she’s hit with an even bigger shock than unexpected wealth. She has three months to live unless she finds a one-in-a-million bone marrow donor.

While her medical team scrambles to locate her miracle, Liz throws together a bucket list, charters a private jet, and takes off to see the world. The journey of a lifetime holds even more surprises, including the hunky pilot she’s falling for at the most inconvenient time.

Will Liz die before she can realize her happily-ever-after, or will the universe come through for her one more time? Find out in this humorous tale of true love and adventure! (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I really appreciated the unique story line to Dying to Meet You; it’s not often you find novels referencing what life might be like for someone who wins the lottery, or what it would be like to find out shortly afterward that there isn’t much time to enjoy it, given a three months to live life sentence. Liz is the antithesis of her windfall, a humble, down to earth personality, so the reader feels even more for the circumstances Liz finds herself in. I wanted her to succeed and survive.

The hunky pilot (Adam) has his own baggage. He’s had a lot thrown at him in recent years, which plays nicely with who Liz is as a person, and often the two bring out the best and the worst in one another, providing the perfect blend of push and pull, a much-desired experience for two potential romantic characters. While we’re thrust into the time of our lives, living vicariously through Liz’s experiences, we’re also given a look into a budding romance that has a lot of unintended strings attached, and it was the perfect paralleling situation to Liz’s health concerns.

I’m a big fan of character development and evolvement. How have they changed? There is major transformation for Liz and Adam, a slow development that takes place gradually, which neither could fathom or expect. Who they were at the start of Dying is not who they are at the end of it, and it makes perfect sense considering what both have gone through, on personal levels as well as together.

I’ve read another Amooi novel (There’s Something About A Cowboy, reviewed here), and much like with Cowboy, I appreciate that his characters don’t have to be millennials in order to find romance and fall in love. Liz and Adam are older, and are still desirable. They don’t have it all together, which is something most of us at any age can relate to. There were a lot of motivational messages, too, in living life now, vs. waiting for a better time to do it, because ultimately, there really isn’t a better time. The best time is NOW. Given the unique story, the well-written characters and the inspiring missive, Dying to Meet You is a clear-cut five star read!

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon CA * Amazon AU

Fun, Quirky Romantic Comedies from a Guy's Perspective. Rich Amooi is a former radio personality who now writes romantic comedies full-time. He is happily married to a kiss monster imported from Spain. Rich believes in public displays of affection, silliness, infinite possibilities, donuts, gratitude, laughter, and happily ever after.

Visit Rich online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads


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