We're swooning over Lynn Painter's novels...plus a book giveaway

Credit: Heather Hall
Photography

We've been hearing a lot of good buzz about Lynn Painter and her rom-coms, so we're thrilled to have her visiting us today. Her latest novel, Accidentally Amy, is now available. Allyson says it is "absolutely enchanting" over at her Bookstagram. Thanks to Berkley, we have one copy for a lucky reader!

Lynn Painter is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies and Mr. Wrong Number, as well as the co-creator of five obnoxious children who populate the great state of Nebraska. When she isn't reading or writing, she can be found binge-watching rom-coms and obsessing over Spotify playlists.

Visit Lynn online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram * X

Synopsis:
Isabella Shay is usually a very honest person. But when she’s running late for her first day at her dream job and the barista yells for “Amy” three times with no answer, she does the unthinkable.

Izzy takes that PSL.
 
It’s the exact drink she ordered and paid for, only way further ahead in the queue—and she’ll take whatever bad karma is coming for her; she’s desperate and very late. But when she turns around and runs directly into the most attractive man she’s ever seen, spilling the drink all over his made-for-GQ shirt and tie, she ends up having the ultimate meet-cute. Karma who? Sparks fly and things feel beyond promising, until he says to her: “See you tomorrow, Amy.”
 
Izzy reasons she can just straighten things out the next day, no biggie. Only when she gets to her new office and meets the VP of her department, it is none other than Blake Phillips—the hottie from Starbucks. And the man might’ve been charming to “Amy,” but he is an arrogant grump to Izzy, an arrogant grump who does not find her explanation funny at all. But day by day, an attraction simmers between them and they’ll have to find a way to work together without ripping each other’s heads—or clothes—off.

What is a favorite compliment you received on your writing? 
The best compliment is when someone says my books feel like a rom-com movie, because that is absolutely my goal when writing them! 😀

If you could tell the debut novelist version of yourself one thing, what would it be? 
Relax and just write, because you can't control the rest of the EVERYTHING that you worry about.

If Accidentally Amy were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles? 
I'm the worst at this question because I don't follow a lot of celebrities. I'd love for Izzy to be played by someone smart and good at quick-and-ridiculous sarcasm, like Zoey Deutch or Emma Stone, and Blake...hmmmm. That's too hard because I'd want someone ridiculously handsome and sophisticated on the outside, yet hilarious on the inside. The quintessential man-written-by-a-woman, so he might not actually exist!  

What is the last book you read that you would recommend? 
I read Billy Summers by Stephen King a couple years ago and still think about it all the time. Cannot stop recommending it. SO good.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
LAUREN GRAHAM; I would die.

If we were to visit you, what are some places you would take us to see? 
Nebraska gets a bad rap because, well, it's landlocked in the middle of the country and covered by a lot of corn. But Omaha is an amazing city, so I'd take you down to the Old Market so you could see that there is so much more to it than farmland!

Thanks to Lynn 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 January 21st at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Doll's House

By Sara Steven

Naomi is devastated when the sale of the apartment falls through, her dreams of moving to an amazing ‘forever home’ nearby with her family are momentarily dashed.

But then a sweet-natured single mother named Summer appears, announcing her intention to buy Naomi’s old apartment. And all of a sudden, it looks like Naomi might get her new house after all.


At first, it feels like Summer’s saved her life. But as soon as the sale goes through, Summer starts turning up at Naomi’s new house. She’s enrolled her child in Naomi’s daughter’s class. She’s dressing like Naomi. She’s suddenly best friends with all her friends… And then Naomi discovers she’s got a pretty little doll’s house. One that looks just like Naomi’s new home.

Naomi wants to believe she’s just imagining things. What could Summer possibly want? And how far will she go to take everything that Naomi has? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

So many twists and turns to The Doll’s House! Especially in the latter part of the book, when a lot of secrets are revealed and Naomi finally discovers the truth as to what Summer’s agenda has been all along. From the first chapter, we see Naomi at her absolute lowest, and then over time and chapters, the scenario unfolds, from the first time she met Summer, to every moment that feels excruciating as Naomi tries to decipher whether Summer is trying to sabotage her, or maybe it’s in Naomi’s own mind. 

It certainly seems like Summer is on the up and up. Naomi’s friends all think that Summer is a wonderful person. And even when Naomi witnesses something that seems unjust, Summer has a reason behind the choices she’s made, which only serves in making Naomi look even more out of touch. It seemed that Naomi was at risk of losing everything she holds dear in her life: her family. Her friends. The security of the town she lives in. The school system that had always served as a safety net for her children, now a battle zone for not only Naomi, but her children too. I felt just as scared for Naomi as Naomi feels for herself.

It is a race against time for Naomi, until everything blows up and the spotlight is held directly onto Naomi and everything she has done, making her look like she’s the culprit. Sometimes when I focus in on scenarios that could be my worst nightmare, a situation like this one is high on my list, because even in an idyllic wonderful world where things feel stable, the worst things can happen that shake the core of someone’s life, turning everything upside down and in the worst of ways.

The Doll’s House (and the reader will soon learn the meaning behind this title) was the perfect scary psychological thriller, seemingly so innocent but blossomed into something sinister and raw, making it well worth 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 * Kobo

Natasha Boydell is an internationally bestselling author of psychological fiction, including The Missing Husband and The Woman Next Door. She trained and worked as a journalist for many years before moving into communications in the charity and education sectors. She decided to pursue her lifelong dream of writing a novel in 2019, when she was approaching her 40th birthday and realized it was time to stop procrastinating. Her debut, The Missing Husband, was released in May 2021 and she went on to write three more novels, which are published by Bloodhound Books. Her first novel with Boldwood Books is The Fortune Teller. Natasha lives in North London with her husband, two daughters and two rescue cats.

Visit Natasha online:
Website * Facebook * X * Instagram

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Let's Call a Truce

We're pleased to be celebrating the publication of Amy Buchanan's debut rom-com, Let's Call a Truce. This sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance is sure to heat up a cold month. Thanks to St. Martin's Press, we have FIVE copies up for grabs! 

After Juliana Ryan's husband dies unexpectedly, leaving her with two grieving kids and a stunted career from years as a stay-at-home mom, she has no choice but to make it work all on her own. But her confidence crashes around her when she overhears her condescending but infuriatingly attractive new colleague, Ben Thomas, talking about how her kids and inexperience are a liability the company can’t afford. This sets off a feud between the two, as Juliana vows to prove him wrong.

Two years later, their feud rages on, but it may be charged with something they aren't willing to admit. When they are forced onto a career-making project together, Juliana has no choice but to call a truce. As their lives become more intertwined in and out of the office, Juliana finds it hard to ignore Ben’s perpetual smile and charming determination. What started as a truce grows into more, as boardroom-clearing arguments turn to desk-clearing kisses. Could the man she deemed her nemesis understand her life–her stress and responsibilities–better than anyone?

But just when Juliana decides to open her heart again, Ben’s past threatens their newfound bliss, and she has to figure out whether this second chance at love is worth it after all.

"Amy Buchanan's debut had me chuckling one minute and choked up with emotion the next. With a perfect balance of LOL moments, punchy banter laced with sexual tension, and heartwarming moments of found family, grief, and second chances in love, Let's Call a Truce is an outstanding debut by a fresh voice in contemporary romance." 
--Meredith Schorr, author of Someone Just Like You

"Office rivals to lovers is my kryptonite and this book delivers in every way. I laughed, I swooned, I read the steamy scenes twice! Forever a fan of Amy Buchanan!" 
--Kate Robb, author of This Spells Love

"Touching and swoonworthy, Let's Call A Truce is a truly enjoyable debut that wrings laughter and tears from realistic life situations. A real treat!" 

--Jayne Denker, author of Hedging Your Bets

Credit: Erinn Brown Photography

Amy Buchanan’s affair with romance and books started at three, when she watched Beauty and the Beast and couldn’t decide if she was more obsessed with the prince or the library. (The library. Definitely the library.) After decades of devouring love stories written by others, she decided to share the ones pinging around in her brain. She writes fun and spicy contemporary romances with relatable heroines, swoonworthy heroes, and loving found families. She lives in Central Florida with her three littles, two pups, and one husband. On top of writing, she uses her Masters in Higher Education Administration to run a scholarship foundation for first-generation college students. When not working, she trolls travel sites for luxury rentals outside of her travel budget and–poorly–trains for half-marathons.

Visit Amy online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok * X

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 19th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Wish You Weren't Here

By Sara Steven

Lana has had enough. Her ‘perfect’ sister is getting married. In Australia. On Lana’s 30th birthday and no one seems to have noticed. To make matters worse, she’s been given a list of rules she must follow so she doesn’t upstage the bride. Well, rules are meant to be bent right?

She’s found a killer dress, now she just needs the most inappropriate wedding date she can find. But where to start? All her attempts at online dating are simply disasters, and not in the right way! Too boring/married/easily intimidated! But then her drop dead gorgeous ex Ethan suddenly reappears in her life. With the power to make her dizzy with excitement she reminds herself why they broke up. Together they literally attracted chaos until their relationship imploded. They couldn’t make it work. But could Lana make this work in her favour… just for the wedding?

However, when they arrive in Australia Ethan seems to have forgotten he’s only there to help cause bedlam. Instead he’s off the charts charming, nothing like she remembers and not playing by her rules. She’s here for revenge, not a rekindled holiday romance…but Ethan has other ideas! (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I thought Wish You Weren’t Here was a super cute, fun romcom experience! The premise behind it, with Lana purposely ‘bringing home’ a rough around the edges kind of guy to meet the ‘rentals (a word used by one of the characters in the book) and family was an interesting concept, and exciting to witness as it unfolded. Lana doesn’t want to ruin her sister’s wedding, per say. She just wants a little more respect and appreciation–and unfortunately, no one in her family believes that she’s capable of behaving like a responsible adult. If the assumption is that Lana will act the fool and cause chaos, why not lean into that, if even just a little?

Lana gets a lot more than she bargained for. Initially, she attempts to find the most unpolished character she can find. Someone who just can’t help but be mischievous. But she never expected that the person who fit the job would be none other than her ex, Ethan, a man she had to distance herself from nearly two years back due to the explosions that always seemed to occur when the two of them got together, and not in a good way. Fires. Broken beds. It’s like a nuclear bomb with Ethan. 

Lana is convinced her family will feel the uncomfortable wrath she’s methodically planned out for them, but in turn, it was hilarious to see just how much her family finds Ethan just as irresistible as she does! He’s even making an effort, but it seems no one can look past Ethan’s charm. The plot thickens when Lana feels the familiar pull to Ethan, despite knowing what could potentially happen if they even try to make their relationship official. And it doesn’t help that there are other possible suitors she can look to–if only Ethan wasn’t in the way of that. 

Throughout the book, I felt protective of Lana. Her family isn’t at all supportive and treats her like she doesn’t belong, but I felt that Lana really stood her ground much of the time and clapped back when she was blatantly being mistreated. Even when at times it wouldn’t seem to make a dent in things, as much as Ethan is conflict, he’s also a huge support to her. He helped Lana’s family to see things differently, and there are other secondary characters who aid in that as well. It was most important for Lana to come to terms with the fact that despite what they think and what they try to impose on her, that she can live the life she wants–and be with whoever she wants to be with, because it’s HER choice and no one else’s. For me, it’s another five-star experience from Portia!

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Kobo

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:
Website * Facebook * X * Instagram

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What's in the (e)mail

All (or most) of these books can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Apple, Kobo, etc.

NG = NetGalley

Melissa:
My Friends by Fredrik Backman from Atria (NG)
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang from HarperCollins (print)

One Love by Matt Cain from Kensington (NG)

Alarm Fatigue by/from Barbara Rachel (NG)

Story Island by/from Juliette Sobanet (ebook)

Penitence by Kristin Koval from Celadon (print)

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady from Berkley (NG)

Love and Other Paradoxes by Catriona Silvey from William Morrow (print)

Their Double Lives by Jaime Lynn Hendricks from Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse (NG)

All the Men I've Loved Again by Christine Pride from Atria (NG)

The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye from Atria (NG)

Far and Away by Amy Poeppel from Atria (NG) -- Allyson got this too!

Sara:

The Uninvited Guest by Ruby Speechley from Rachel's Random Resources (NG)

Murder in the Tuscan Hills by T.A. Williams from Rachel's Random Resources (NG)

The Perfect Mother by Claire Allan from Rachel's Random Resources (NG)

Where the Rivers Merge by Mary Alice Monroe from William Morrow (NG)

Melissa S:

Mask of the Deer Woman by Laurie L. Dove from Berkley (print)

Allyson:

Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler from Berkley (NG)

Jami:

The Final Episode by Lori Roy from Kaye Publicity (NG)

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Book Review: Beg, Borrow, or Steal

By Melissa Smoot

Emily Walker hates having her carefully crafted world disrupted by anyone, most of all her legendary nemesis, Jack Bennett. He’s the opposite of the wonderful heroes she dreams up in her double life as a romance writer, which is why Emily was perfectly happy when Jack left Rome, Kentucky, mid-school year with his fiancée. The last thing Emily saw coming was Jack’s return at the start of the summer after calling off the wedding and ending his relationship, but he’s here to stay—as her colleague and her neighbor.

Jack is glad to be back, eager to renovate his house and work on the next mystery novel under his bestselling pen name. But when he realizes he’s now neighbors with the one woman who has always pushed his buttons, he discovers something he’s even more excited about—thwarting Emily and her petty plans to sabotage his return.

With their chemistry-fueled animosity at an all-time high, Emily accidentally sends an email to their school’s principal that could reveal her secret literary side hustle. She needs to steal back her manuscript, and Jack—she hates to admit—is just the man to help her. Surprisingly, he agrees. Will their unlikely alliance put an end to their rivalry? Or could it lead to a steamy plot twist they never saw coming? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I have read several books by Sarah Adams and each time I think “THIS is my favorite one”, and then the next one is even better (if that is possible). This story was no exception. I laughed out loud many times while reading this story, but also truly felt the deep emotions of the two main characters, Jack and Emily. 

I feel like I connected so much with this book, and not just for the obvious reasons, but for the things that we keep hidden away, so as not to rock the boat. A few of the relationships between the characters also really resonated with me. I love that I got to read another book that heavily featured the incredible bonds of sisters, and I could not put this one down. I loved every single character, from the town gossips to the woman in the supermarket to the owner of the local honky-tonk. 

Sarah Adams writes relationships, no matter the subjects of them, with so much heart and truth. This was an adorable, emotional, loving, tender, witty story and I would a thousand percent suggest you run out and grab it ASAP!

Thanks to Random House for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase Beg, Borrow, or Steal here.

More by Sarah Adams:
The Rule Book
The Match (It Happened in Charleston series)

The Off-Limits Rule (It Happened in Nashville series)

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Work in Progress

Today we are pleased to feature Kat Mackenzie's debut rom-com, Work in Progress, which will be available next week. The story sounds delightful; a romantic armchair adventure. Thanks to HarperCollins, we have FIVE copies to give away!

A warm, sexy, laugh-out-loud rom-com about a woman who, desperate for a fresh start, books a literary bus tour across the UK that consists of a lively group of elderly ladies plus one infuriatingly handsome Scottish driver.

UK Bus Trip Goals:

1.       Crawl out of pajamas.

2.       Get over cheating bastard and his stupid ironed jeans. 

3.       Have my first real adventure!

4.       Achieve stability, strength, and growth.

5.       Definitely do NOT kiss any British men.

Alice loves a good list. But careful planning didn’t stop her from losing her job and her fiance in one fell swoop. With her dreaded 30th birthday looming on the horizon, Alice makes the first impulsive decision of her life - booking a flight to the UK for a three-week, all-female, literary bus tour. What could possibly go wrong?

Turns out - everything.

Alice arrives to discover that this tour isn’t what she expected. At all. Instead of cool, globe-trotting thirtysomethings with meaningful tattoos, she finds a rickety, antique bus full of fluffy-haired octogenarians. And to make matters infinitely worse, the tour guide makes her blood boil! And that devilish grin of his tells her he’s dead set on making her trip a misery. 

But as they travel from castle ruins to cozy pubs, Alice may just find that she’s got it all wrong. The ladies are vivacious. The book club chat is on fire. And damn if that mischievous smile doesn't threaten to turn her world upside down - and her beloved list right along with it!

"Mackenzie's outstanding, sweet debut will find many fans with its broad appeal... Readers will enjoy the abundant gentle humor, intergenerational friendships, and armchair travel—as well as the slow burn of a tasteful romance." — Booklist (starred review)

"If I could invent my perfect romcom, it would be this: Books, buses and a sexy Scotsman are already a great start. Add to that the pitch-perfect, snarky hero-heroine interactions and the ending which is genuinely heartwarming and satisfying. The lashings of cake and hilariously observed Anglican-American cultural incompatibilities are a bonus. This book is an absolute delight." 

— Poppy Alexander, author of Storybook Ending

"A laugh out loud, delight of a book. Kat Mackenzie made me feel like a tourist in my own country." 

— Elliot Fletcher, author of Whisky Business

Kat Mackenzie is an American who just happened to find herself living abroad for ten years and accidentally traveling to over forty countries in an attempt to taste all the food. She holds degrees from the University of Edinburgh and the University of Oxford but has discovered that they serve her best collecting dust on the shelf while she pens comedy-forward stories about women who travel. Work in Progress is her first novel.

Visit Kat 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. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends January 14th at midnight EST.

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