Book Review: Your Place or Mine?

By Sara Steven

Two reluctant housemates. One question: Is this your place or mine...?

When Serena is kicked out of her flat, an offer from her friend, Taylor, to house sit for her while she and her husband go travelling could not be better timing. But unfortunately for Serena she’s not the only one to have received this offer…

Enter Ziggy: arrogant, messy (and annoyingly handsome) musician, and friend of Taylor’s husband. Living with him is far from ideal, especially when he claims the best room, has loud parties - and the least said about his kitchen manner the better...

There's just one solution for Serena – drive him out of the house by being twice as difficult to live with than he is! But Ziggy knows Serena's game and as war ensues between them, being forced together under one roof may result in some unexpected consequences… (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

The reasons behind Serena’s need to find a new place to live really tugged on my heart. I can’t even imagine finding myself in a similar situation, and I really wanted to rage on a couple of characters who seem intent on making Serena’s life as hard as possible. Serena takes it in stride, and when her friend Taylor offers a lifeline by suggesting Serena move in and house sit, it felt like things were lining up well for her. But the introduction of Ziggy was the definite wrench in all of her plans! 

The bickering, the little pranks, the undercurrent of resentment–it was all very The Odd Couple, and in the best of ways. Both characters are complete opposites from one another, and while Serena seemed content to try to make the best of the situation, Ziggy seems to try to get Serena to leave at every turn. Reading about the various scenarios with Ziggy, how he’d leave messes or invite friends over for parties, or would totally hog the television even when he knew it was her day to have access to it, made my own blood boil. I could see why it drove Serena mad. 

There are two other situations that Serena is having to deal with, too. One being the man she’s been dating, a guy who has a few secrets–and a good friend of hers (Diana) who has potentially changed the course of Serena’s life, should she choose to accept the challenge. It was nice to see how there is a lot of character evolution for Serena, particularly when it comes to doing what she thinks is the “right” thing to do, and potentially going with something that, while it might be less conventional, could be just the right thing and what she needs. That applies to all areas of her life–work, boyfriends, and roommates, notwithstanding.

Your Place or Mine? was such a fun read! It was unexpected and surprising, much like what Serena experiences, and worthy of the five-stars I’ve given it!

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 20 romantic comedy novels. From disastrous dates to destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visiting sunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages.

Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.

Visit Portia online:
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Sophie Sullivan is friendship goals...plus a book giveaway

Photo by Brenda Mallory

We're pleased to have Sophie Sullivan back at CLC today. We're celebrating the publication of her latest novel, A Guide to Being Just Friends. We enjoyed chatting with her about it and the story sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks to St. Martin's Press, we have one copy to give away!

Sophie Sullivan is a Canadian author as well as a cookie-eating, Diet Pepsi-drinking, Disney enthusiast who loves reading and writing romance in almost equal measure. She writes around her day job as a teacher and spends her spare time with her sweet family watching reruns of Friends. She's also had plenty of practice writing happily ever after as her alter ego, Jody Holford. 

Visit Sophie online: 
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram 

Synopsis:

Hailey Sharp has a one-track mind. Get By the Cup salad shop off the ground. Do literally everything possible to make it a success. Repeat. With a head full of entrepreneurial ideas and a bad ex in her rearview, her one and only focus is living life the way she wants to. No distractions.

Wes Jansen never did understand the fuss about relationships. With a string of lackluster first dates and the pain from his parents’ angry divorce following him around, he’d much rather find someone who he likes, but won’t love. Companionship, not passion, is the name of the game.

When Hailey and Wes find each other in a disastrous meet cute that wasn’t even intended for them, they embarrassingly go their separate ways. But when Wes finds Hailey to apologize for his behavior, they strike up a friendship. Because that’s all this can be. Hailey doesn’t want any distractions. Wes doesn’t want to fall in love.

What could possibly go wrong? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"A joyful, swoony romance full of heart and humor!" 

—Sarah Adams, author of The Cheat Sheet

"Sophie Sullivan’s writing feels like a warm hug.” 

—Rachel Lynn Solomon, bestselling author of The Ex Talk

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

That’s a nice question. I was really, truly happy when people connected so strongly with the representation of anxiety in Ten Rules for Faking It, book one in this series. Knowing that people felt that it was well portrayed and handled was a big compliment. When people tell me they laughed out loud, it’s also really nice. 

What was something you learned from writing your previous novels that you applied to A Guide to Being Just Friends?

I think every book written makes the next book stronger because you get better at the craft. But for this book in particular, I think writing the other books and helped me create a stronger version of Wes because I wanted him to stand out. They’ve all grown up together but they’re unique and I wanted to show that on the page. Clearly defining who Chris and Noah were in books one and two made that easier. 

If A Guide were made into a movie, what songs would be on the soundtrack?

Wow. I love this question. 

"Friends Don’t," Maddie & Tae

"Catch," Brett Young

"Hard to Forget," Sam Hunt

"I Know She Ain’t Ready," Luke Combs

"Marry Me," Thomas Rhett

"Can We Pretend," Pink

"Broken and Beautiful," Kelly Clarkson

"I Don’t Remember Me Before You," Brothers Osborne 

"Some People Do," Old Dominion

"Beautiful People," Ed Sheeran 

"Just the Way You Are," Bruno Mars

"Last Time I Say Sorry," Kane Brown/John Legend

"I Should Probably Go to Bed," Dan & Shay 

Which TV series are you currently binge watching?

We’re currently doing our third re-watch of The Big Bang Theory. It’s one of those comfort shows that you know will always make you laugh. 

If we were to visit you right now, what are some must-see places you would show us?

In the smallish town where I live, the downtown core has been renovated so I’d probably head there for lunch and a little shopping. But, I’m only an hour and a bit outside of Vancouver so there’s a ton of stuff to see like the Seawall, Robson Street, Science World, and Canada Place. 

Tell us about a memorable platonic friendship you have/had.

My best friend and I have known each other since we were thirteen. We met in grade eight drama class where we played a game called "Will You Marry Me." Everyone had to sit in a circle with one person in the middle. The middle person had to propose to each person, trying to make them laugh. If you laughed while declining the proposal, you had to go in the middle. I was the go to for every person because I laugh at everything and could never get through a refusal without laughing. So, we met when I asked her to marry me and she said no. We are still best friends to this day. She lives around the corner from me, calms me down when I freak out (almost a full time job), makes me smile and laugh, thinks I’m cool and makes my life better every single day. 

Thanks to Sophie for visiting with us and to St. Martin's Press 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 January 22nd at midnight EST.

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Spotlight: Daisy Does it Herself

Sometimes, the Last Place You Intended to Go is Exactly Where You Need to Be.

When 26-year-old Daisy's life in London comes crashing down around her, the only thing she can think of is getting away - far away. That's how she found herself stumbling off a train in England's picturesque Peak District - 150 miles from home, with no idea why she'd gone there and even less idea how she intended to get home.

As Daisy explores the gorgeous village of Upper Finlay, she glimpses the possibility of a different life. The Derbyshire Dales offer up new friends, new opportunities, and a distractingly dishy object of attraction in the form of local bookstore owner Alex (and his bumbling Great Dane.) When Daisy discovers Alex’s business is in trouble she steps in to save the day.

But London's Calling - literally. The life Daisy ran away from is calling her back. Why then, is she so reluctant to heed its call?

Daisy's got a decision to make: Will she play it safe, and return to what she knew? Or is she brave enough to take a leap of faith and create a bold, new life for herself in the last place she'd ever expected?

Daisy Does it Herself is a sweet, uplifting romantic comedy about the power of self-confidence, friendship and of course love! Fans of warm and witty romantic comedies with a guaranteed happily-ever-after will be entranced.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Universal 

Gracie Player is the author of the romantic fiction novel Daisy Does it Herself. 

Gracie loves to create strong, quirky heroines and hopes to introduce you to your latest book-boyfriend crush.

She makes her home in the stunning Peak District in Derbyshire. Where she lives with her partner — amid ongoing negotiations over the size of her book collection and whose job it is to take out the bins!

Visit Gracie online:
Website * Twitter * Goodreads

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What's in the (e)mail?

Melissa:
Together For Never by Marilyn Kaye from Holiday House (NetGalley)
The Sunset Crowd by Karin Tanabe from St. Martin's Press (NetGalley)

The Do-Over by Suzanne Park from Avon (NetGalley)
Nobody Puts Romcoms In The Corner by Kathryn Freeman from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

The Senator's Wife by Liv Constantine from Ballantine (NetGalley)

No One Knows Us Here by Rebecca Kelley from Lake Union (NetGalley)

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley from Putnam (NetGalley)

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen from St. Martin's Press (NetGalley)

The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye from Ballantine (NetGalley)

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood from Berkley (NetGalley)

Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay from Berkley (NetGalley)

I Didn't Do It by Jaime Lynn Hendricks from Penzler (NetGalley)

Big Gay Wedding by Byron Lane from Henry Holt (NetGalley)

All the Lost Pieces by/from Lara Martin (ebook)

Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison from St. Martin's Press (NetGalley)

The Comeback by Lily Chu from Sourcebooks (NetGalley)

Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale from Harlequin (NetGalley)

Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major from William Morrow (NetGalley)

The Other Side of Infinity by Joan F. Smith from Macmillan (NetGalley)

Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts by Kristyn J. Miller from St. Martin's Press (NetGalley)

The Mother Next Door by Leah Mercer from Bookouture (NetGalley)

Sara:
Anyone but the Billionaire by Sara L. Hudson from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

Alice Alone by Amanda Brookfield from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

Hollyland by Patricia Leavy from BookSparks (NetGalley)

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey from Gallery (NetGalley)

When You See Her by Barbara Boehm Miller from Red Adept (ebook)

Jami:
The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly from BookSparks (NetGalley)
The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor from Berkley (NetGalley)

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Book Review: How to Sell a Haunted House

By Jami Denison

It seems hard to believe, but some states actually require homeowners to disclose whether a house is haunted before selling it. As a real estate agent myself, I’ve had buyers complain when a roof leaked after a sale—it wasn’t on the disclosure. A leaking roof is easy enough to prove. But how does one prove that a house is haunted…. Or that the ghosts didn’t arrive with the new family? How to Sell a Haunted House unfortunately isn’t a how-to guide for Realtors; we are currently haunted by interest rates edging up to seven percent and could use all the help we can get. Rather, southern gothic author Grady Hendrix’s third book shows that everyone is a little haunted, and family secrets are the worst ghosts of all.

When Louise’s elderly parents are killed in a car crash, she leaves her five-year-old daughter with her ex and travels back to her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina to plan the funeral and deal with her family home. The house, which had once been her grandparents’, is stuffed with the dolls and puppets from her mother’s shows, including Mom’s favorite, Pupkin. Compounding Louise’s grief, she’s forced to deal with her younger brother Mark, a drunk who’s been bailed out by her mother his whole life. Even worse, there’s definitely something wrong in the house—the TV keeps turning on; the dolls are never where Louise left them. And what caused her parents to bolt in the middle of the night, leading to their deaths? 

Hendrix begins the story with a sly bit of foreshadowing: a tip of the hat to The Velveteen Rabbit, the children’s book that declares that love makes toys real. Louise hates the book; as a child, it terrified her. The story simmers over the first several chapters, and the author’s voice, closer to southern women’s fiction than horror, also keeps the early action focused on the characters and the drama around the parents’ deaths. When the scary things start to happen, the reader is completely in Louise’s corner, even after Mark reveals something horrible about his older sister.

What is it about dolls, clowns, and puppets that make them such great fodder for horror? The faces that look human, the empty eyes… on the other hand, it’s easy to tip into camp with the description of small cloth toys holding knives or other weapons. And there were a few scenes in Haunted that made me laugh. Overall, though, the book is mesmerizing, with a tantalizing mix of family drama, secrets, and the supernatural that kept me turning pages all night long. The relationship between Louise and Mark is the spine of the book, and any reader who has an older sister or who has been one will recognize those dynamics. And there’s a third act twist that will leave readers gasping.

Hendrix uses foreshadowing, symbolism, set-ups, repeating motifs and other literary devices to transcend genre and create a book that is a master class for other writers.  How to Sell a Haunted House might not be a handbook for Realtors, but it would be a great conversation piece at an open house!  

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

More by Grady Hendrix:

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Exes and O's

We're pleased to feature the latest rom-com by Amy Lea. We shared her debut, Set on You, last year. She's back today with Exes & O's (book two in the Influencer Series, but it can be read as a standalone). The cover gives off Valentine's Day vibes and the story sounds swoon-worthy! Thanks to Berkley, we have one copy to give away!

A romance novel-obsessed social media influencer revisits her exes on her hunt for true love in this romantic comedy from the author of Set On You.

Romance book connoisseur Tara Chen has had her heart broken ten times by ten different men—all of whom dumped her because of her “stage-five clinger” tendencies. Nevertheless, Tara is determined to find The One. The only problem? Classic meet-cutes are dead, thanks to modern dating apps. So Tara decides to revisit her exes in hopes of securing her very own trope-worthy second-chance romance.

Boston firefighter Trevor Metcalfe will be the first to rush into a burning building but the last to rush into a relationship. Love just isn’t his thing. When his new roommate Tara enlists him to help her reconnect with her exes, he reluctantly agrees. But Tara’s journey is leading him to discover his own new chapter.

The more time they spend together, the more Tara realizes Trevor seems to be the only one who appreciates her authentic, dramatic self. To claim their happily ever after, can Tara and Trevor read between the lines of their growing connection? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

"Unapologetically romantic, wonderfully sexy, always brilliant. I adored Set On You, but Exes and O’s is the stuff bookish dreams are made of. With this stunning sophomore novel, Amy Lea has officially rocketed her way into my heart as a must read author!"
—Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author

“Amy Lea’s Exes and O’s is for anyone who’s ever dreamed their book boyfriend could exist in real life. It’s a charming and funny friends-to-lovers romance that sparkles with Amy’s signature sweetness and steam.”
—Carley Fortune, New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After

“A gorgeous friends-to-lovers slow-burn, Exes and O’s is filled with fun, charm and an appealing hero who sees and loves the protagonist for exactly who she is. A perfect mix of relatable characters, hilarious banter, and steam, Exes and O’s is for everyone who has wondered about past relationships and future loves.”

—Lily Chu, author of The Stand-In

Photo by Amy Lea

Amy Lea is a Canadian bureaucrat by day and contemporary romance author by night (and weekends). She writes laugh-out-loud romantic comedies featuring strong heroines, witty banter, mid-2000s pop culture references, and happily-ever-afters. When Amy is not writing, she can be found fangirling over other romance books via social media, eating potato chips with reckless abandon, and snuggling with her husband and golden doodle. 

Visit Amy online:
Website * Facebook * 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 January 17th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Queen of Hearts

Queen Charlotte of Malquar has a talent. She’s already helped two of her children find mates, and now she’s convinced her daughter’s new secretary would be a perfect partner for her remaining single son.

Agnes Dupuis has a plan. She’s going to work for the royal family for a couple of years before opening her own upscale employment agency. When she starts her job with Princess Aubrey, she knows everything is on track. After a short time, she gets transferred to the crown prince’s staff, and she couldn’t be more ecstatic.

At thirty-five, Prince Andrew knows it’s past time for him to find a bride. Unfortunately, it’s a nearly impossible task. While he would like to marry for love, it doesn’t look like that will be an option. His future wife will be queen one day and she must have all the necessary skill sets to thrive in that role.

Sparks fly when Agnes and Drew start to work together. Drew fights his attraction for his new secretary as hard as he can. Meanwhile, Agnes doesn’t know what she’s doing wrong. She can’t seem to do anything to make the prince happy.

Will Queen Charlotte be responsible for another match? Or are Agnes and Drew destined to forever butt heads.

Find out in the deliciously fun sixth installment of the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers Series. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Melissa Amster:

I have read all the books from the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers series, even though Sara has mainly been doing the reviews. It has been fun to see the stories evolve from a glamping site in the Willamette Valley to the fictional town of Malquar, home of King Alfred, Queen Charlotte, and their many kids. This transition started with It's My Party, where we first met Geoffrey, who was working as a chef at the glamping lodge. Now that Geoffrey, Alistair, and Bree have met their true loves, thanks to the help of some meddling mothers (including the Queen), it's Andrew's turn. 

In Queen of Hearts, Andrew (Drew) is next in line to be king and he takes that very seriously. So seriously that he won't even consider dating someone outside of his "station." And that includes Agnes, his new secretary whom he finds very attractive. This causes him to act in a way he doesn't normally act toward his staff, and his mom knows it. 

I enjoyed the Queen's machinations for trying to get Drew to admit he wants to be with Agnes, regardless of her "station." Some things didn't even need to be manipulated by her since they fell into place so easily on their own. However, Chantelle is an extra complication, as she thought she had a chance at being Drew's intended and she can't handle the "competition" for his interest. (Think Princess Diaries meets Mean Girls here.) I don't blame Agnes for being angry at Drew so often throughout the novel. This story had a sizzling enemies-to-lovers appeal, as a result!

This was a fun and sweet story, overall. There were many moments where I found myself laughing and smiling. I got frustrated with the Queen not just telling Andrew that he could marry whomever he wants, regardless of their status in society. However, we wouldn't have a story if that had happened. (Kind of like Glinda telling Dorothy she could go home just by clicking her heels, when she first meets her.) And Drew seemed set in his ways no matter what anyone told him otherwise. 

Add this to your Valentine's Day reading list, as it's the perfect fit! (And not just because of the title.) Be sure to check out At Last, which will be available in early February. There is even some foreshadowing in this novel for At Last...

Movie casting suggestions:

Agnes: Yael Grobglas 
Drew: Henry Cavill
Queen Charlotte: Emma Thompson
Chantelle: India de Beaufort
Amelia: Janet McTeer

Felicity: Andrea Riseborough

Jones: Martin Compston

Jacqui: Helen McCrory

Sara Steven:

I’ve read the majority of the books within the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers series, and I really love the addition of Queen of Hearts! The two main characters, Agnes and Andrew, provided a lot of romantic angst, given they see things so differently when it comes to matters of the heart. Agnes wants to marry for love, while Andrew feels he must marry for responsibility. Given the past and what he’s seen within his own family, he’s convinced he needs to marry someone who will understand the royal lifestyle, which means marrying someone who is of royal background, like him. 

I love how Agnes goes against the grain and won’t put up with Andrew’s crap. Andrew doesn’t mean to come off as an elitist, but I could totally understand why Agnes feels as though she could never be good enough for him, or measure up. He’s set the standards so high, and the way Agnes has been written and portrayed, she’s a wonderful character! At times, I felt she might be too good for him. She makes him question his archaic rules at every turn, which I really appreciated. She is a strong, tough character. 

The meddling mothers are back again, with Queen Charlotte leading the way in attempting to make a match between Andrew and Agnes. It was nice to see the similarities between Queen Charlotte and Agnes, given the Queen’s background. But even with that, Agnes is really great about setting some boundaries when she begins to feel as though the Queen is becoming too involved. There were times when I felt annoyed by it, too, considering Agnes is put into some uncomfortable and awkward situations, all in the name of matchmaking. I wouldn’t have put up with half of what she went through, and when Agnes takes a stand, it was impossible not to champion her.

Ultimately, Andrew needs to figure out for himself if the responsibility to the crown is worth losing love, and Agnes needs to determine if Andrew is worth the wait. Will he ever see her as more than just her station in life, or will Agnes move on? I really enjoyed the fire between them, and the "will they, won’t they?" foundation that provided a lot of entertainment. A definite five-star read for me!

Thanks to Whitney Dineen for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Whitney Dineen:

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