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:

Everything About You by Robby Weber from HarperCollins (NG)

Good Grief by Sara Goodman Confino from Lake Union (NG)

Jilted by Vi Keeland from Tor Publishing (NG)

Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen from St. Martin's Press (NG)

A Twist of Fate by Se-Ah Jang from Ballantine (NG)

Always You and Me by Dani Atkins from Lake Union (NG)

The Second Chance Bus Stop by Ally Zetterberg from Harlequin (NG)

I Become Her by Joe Hart from Thomas & Mercer (NG)

Such Good People by Amy Blumenfeld from BookSparks (NG)

The Last Assignment by Erika Robuck from Sourcebooks (NG)

Tiny Vices by Linda Dahl from Caitlin Hamilton Marketing (NG)

Home by Leanne Treese from Moxie Publishing (NG)

The Girl in the Green Dress by Mariah Fredericks from St. Martin's Press (NG)

The Fault Between Us by Stephanie Landsem from Tyndale House (NG)

Love Sick by Deidra Duncan from The Future of Agency (print)

Gracie Harris Is Under Construction by Kate Hash from Dutton (NG)

Passion Project by London Sperry from Viking (NG)

The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah by Jean Meltzer from Harlequin (NG)

Like Family by Erin O. White from Random House (NG)

What's Mine is Yours by Leah Mercer from Bookouture (NG)

Sara:

Love, Accidentally by Phoebe MacLeod from Rachel's Random Resources (NG)

Not Moving Out by Jon Rance from Rachel's Random Resources (ebook)

The Roommate Experiment by Camilla Isley from Rachel's Random Resources (NG)

The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O'Connor from Gallery (NG)

If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia from Berkley (NG)

The House Sitter by Keri Beevis from Rachel's Random Resources (NG)

Jami:

Bless Your Heart by Leigh Dunlap from MB Communications (NG)

Please Don't Lie by Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt from MB Communications (NG)

Melissa S:

He Falls First by Jill Shalvis from Sourcebooks (print)

Last Seen by J.T. Ellison from Over the River PR (print)

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to these books on Speechify!

Book Review and Giveaway: The Page Turner

By Melissa Amster

Emma Page grew up the black sheep in a bookish household, raised to believe that fine literature is the only worthy type of fiction. Her parents, self-proclaimed “serious” authors who run their own vanity press, The Mighty Pages, mingle in highbrow social circles that look down on anything too popular or mainstream, while her sister, Jess, is a powerful social media influencer whose stylish reviews can make or break a novel.

Hiding her own romance manuscript from her disapproving parents, Emma finds inspiration at the family cottage among the “fluff” they despise: the juicy summer romances that belonged to her late grandmother. But a chance discovery unearthed from her Gigi’s belongings reveals a secret that has the power to ruin her parents’ business and destroy their reputation in the industry—a secret that has already fallen into the hands of an unscrupulous publishing insider with a grudge to settle. Now Emma must decide—as much as she’s dreamed of the day when her parents are forced to confront their own egos, can she really just sit back and watch The Mighty Pages be exposed and their legacy destroyed?

From the wealthy enclaves of the Hamptons to the sparkling shores of Lake Michigan, The Page Turner is a delectable glimpse inside the world of publishing, and Viola Shipman’s most glittering achievement yet! (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I always enjoy Viola Shipman's novels. They are cozy and provide a gorgeous armchair adventure in various parts of Michigan. The Page Turner takes us to a cottage in South Haven, right by the beach, and immerses us in a world of books and writing. 

Emma is a sympathetic and compelling character. Just out of college, she's expected to join her family's publishing business even though she doesn't like the kinds of books they work with. They (the books) are snobby and elitist, compared to the stories she grew up reading with her beloved GiGi. Her parents also have connected with an author Emma completely hates. And she has a good reason to! He reminds me of a certain person who took over a social media outlet and changed its name to a single letter, if you get my drift. I don't want to say anything else as to not spoil what happens next or anything beyond that, but just know that you will be rooting for Emma the entire time!

I could relate to Emma over being different from others in my family. I usually feel like an outlier, but for different reasons. At least I share similar book interests with my mom and sister. I love that this novel had a villain, as it added a whole new layer to the story. I don't remember many of Viola's novels having villains, although I think there was one in The Secret of Snow. I also loved that this wasn't a typical romance, but was instead about family and following one's passion. There's even a mystery aspect that kept me turning the pages, so to speak!

Overall, another treat from Viola Shipman and I already can't wait for whatever she writes next.

(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post.)

Movie casting suggestions:
Emma: Jane Widdop
Jess: Olivia Holt
Phillip: Justin Theroux
Piper: Jessalyn Gilsig
Marcus: Christian Bale

Thanks to HarperCollins for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have TWO copies for some lucky 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. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends April 16th at midnight EST. 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

📚

📚

📚

📚

📚

📚

📚

📚

TW: Death of grandparent, emotional abuse, sexual harassment

Spotlight and Giveaway: The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris

Today we are pleased to feature Evie Woods' latest novel, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris. Be sure not to read this on an empty stomach! It sounds like a delicious treat and we know you're going to devour it. Thanks to HarperCollins, we have one copy to share with a lucky reader!

Nestled among the cobblestone streets of Compiègne, there existed a bakery unlike any other.

Rumours were whispered through the town that its pastries offered a taste of magic, chasing away the darkest of sorrows. Just one bite of a croissant might bring luck, unlock a precious memory or reveal hidden longings.

But dark clouds were looming on the horizon…

For Edie Lane, a recipe for disaster doesn’t require that many ingredients. Take an unhealthy amount of wishful thinking and a sprinkle of desperation and that’s how Edie left everything behind in Ireland for her dream job at a bakery in Paris. Except the bakery isn’t in Paris – and neither is Edie.

This might not be where Edie intended to be but she soon realizes it's exactly where she needs to be… (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Evie Woods is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop, the #1 Wall Street Journal and Amazon Kindle bestseller, which has now sold over a million copies.

Living on the West Coast of Ireland, Evie escapes the inclement weather by writing her stories in a converted attic, where she dreams of underfloor heating. Her books tread the intriguing line between the everyday and the otherworldly, revealing the magic that exists in our ordinary lives.

Visit Evie online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok

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 April 15th at midnight EST. 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Book Review: Too Hot to Handle

 

By Sara Steven

Workaholic Molly is buzzing when her best friend tells her she’s getting married. As maid of honour Molly can’t wait for the perfect bachelorette party in Spain. What could be better than a week in a stunning villa? Sun, sea, cocktails and gossiping – and best of all, no boys allowed. But when the hens arrive they discover that they are not alone. The villa has been accidentally double booked by a group of stags who make it very clear they’re not leaving!

It’s a disaster, and no one wants to give up their place in paradise. Attempts at compromising fail instantly, so their only option is to have a winner takes all competition. Battle lines are drawn and it is girls v boys - but will the competition be too hot to handle?

As their rivalry heats up, and Molly finds herself gravitating towards stag Travis, it’s clear that he’s enjoying the attention - but Molly can’t let herself get distracted, and under no circumstances can she fall for the enemy. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Portia MacIntosh does a great job of creating characters and scenarios that are nothing short of fun and breezy, much like the backdrop for Too Hot to Handle. The main character Molly finds herself in paradise for her best friend’s impending wedding, surrounded by sun and fun–until she and the rest of the bachelorette party have to find ways to navigate a huge scheduling mix-up with their villa, with four men who are also in Spain for a wedding!

Unfortunately, the villa they’re all staying at is the only accommodation available–everything else is booked up. And the men feel they have just as much right to the villa as the ladies do. You can only imagine the various scenarios that ensue when they all agree that the best way to determine who has the right to stay in the villa will come down to a competition, where the winner takes all!

It was sweet to see everyone making lemonade from lemons in the best way they see fit, although I couldn’t help but feel for Molly’s best friend, Lou. Lou is already dealing with enough, with trying to make sure everything is ready for her impending nuptials, and I thought it was rough that she had to try to bargain with the men in order to have a place to stay leading up to her wedding. At one point, Molly inwardly reflected on how much she wanted to put some sense into the guys, and I could see how she felt that way!

Despite the rough beginning, the ladies, particularly Molly, thaws a bit where the men are concerned. She also gravitates towards Travis, even though she knows it’s a lot like crossing enemy territory. No one supports it, not on either side, and Molly has to decide on whether it’s a good idea to trust Travis. A subplot that parallels the villa booking blunder is Molly’s excessive need to work through her paradise vacation. She has a tough time unplugging and letting go, so it was nice to see how that transitions for her as time progresses in gorgeous Spain. While reading Too Hot to Handle, I wanted nothing more than to sit on a beach chair in some tropical place, basking in the sun and taking a page from Molly’s experience and let it all go! It was the perfect beach read, making MacIntosh’s latest addition a five-star experience!

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 30 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 * Instagram

Sign up for Portia's newsletter.

Visit all the stops on Portia's blog tour:

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Spotlight and Giveaway: Any Trope But You

We're pleased to feature Victoria Lavine's debut rom-com, Any Trope but You! It's been out a week and is already receiving a lot of great buzz. It will make you wish it was winter again and that you had a cozy fire to snuggle in front of. See why Allyson enjoyed it. Thanks to Atria, we have FIVE copies to give away!

A bestselling romance author flees to Alaska to reinvent herself and write her first murder mystery, but the rugged resort proprietor soon has her fearing she’s living in a rom-com plot instead in this earnestly spectacular debut by a stunning new voice.

Beloved romance author Margot Bradley has a dark secret: she doesn’t believe in Happily Ever Afters. Not for herself, not for her readers, and not even for her characters, for whom she secretly writes Happily Never Afters: alternate endings that swap weddings and babies for divorce papers and the occasional slashed tire. When her Happily Never Afters document is hacked and released to the public, she finds herself canceled and dropped by her publisher.

Desperate to find a way to continue supporting her chronically ill sister, Savannah, Margot decides to trade meet-cutes for murder. The fictional kind. Probably. But when Savannah books Margot a six-week stay in a remote Alaskan resort to pen her murder mystery, Margot finds herself running from a moose and leaping into the arms of the ruggedly handsome proprietor, she fears she’s just landed in a romance novel plot instead.

The last thing Dr. Forrest Wakefield ever expected was to leave his dream job as a cancer researcher to become a glorified bellhop. What he’s really doing at his family’s resort is caring for his stubborn, ailing father, and his puzzle-loving mind is slowly freezing over—until Margot shows up. But Forrest doesn’t have any vacancy in his life for another person he could lose, especially one with a checkout date.

As long snowy nights and one unlikely trope after another draw Margot and Forrest together, they’ll each have to learn to melt the ice around their hearts before Margot leaves—or become a Happily Never After story themselves.

"Victoria Lavine writes the kind of effervescent, whip-smart prose romance readers crave. Starring loveable leads whose chemistry is equal parts electric and tender, Any Trope But You is a perfectly cozy and big-hearted romance that I know I'll return to again and again."
—Ellie Palmer, author of Four Weekends and a Funeral

“If you loved Emily Henry’s Beach Read but wished it was snowier, Any Trope But You is your book! I came for the grumpy lumberjack and stayed for the cast of loveable characters! The only part of this book that isn't hot is the Alaskan setting!”
—Kate Robb, author of This Spells Love

"Any Trope But You is a love letter to the romance genre and to the concept of Happily Ever Afters.  A truly charming debut that had me smiling, blushing, and wishing for my own pet moose."
—Sarah Adler, USA Today bestselling author of Happy Medium

Credit: Kate Strait

Victoria Lavine’s love of romance novels started in high school with a crate of old bodice rippers and a wink from her local librarian. Now, she writes her own Happily Ever Afters when she’s not enjoying the great state of Maine with her husband and daughter, taking orders from her two cats, or coming up with excellent reasons to make her next latte. Visit Victoria at her website and on 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 April 14th at midnight EST. 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Book Review: Passion Project

By Melissa Smoot

If your twenties are supposed to be the best years of your life, Bennet Taylor is failing miserably . . . with a big emphasis on the miserable. Where’s that zest she keeps hearing about? She’s a temp worker in New York City with no direction, no future, and no social life. And at the painful center of this listlessness is grief over the death of her first love.

When Bennet runs into Henry Adams just hours after standing him up for a first date, she makes an alcohol-fueled confession: She’s not ready to date. In fact, it’s been years since she felt passion for something. Not even pottery, or organized sports—not anything. Rather than leaving her to ruminate, Henry jumps at the opportunity for adventure: Bennet needs to find a passion for life, and Henry will help her find it. Every Saturday, they’ll try something new in New York City. As friends, of course.

As their “passion project” continues, the pair tackle everything from carpentry to tattooing to rappelling off skyscrapers, and Bennet feels her guarded exterior ebbing away. But as secrets surface, Bennet has to decide what she wants, and if she’s truly ready to move on. With emotional resonance and sparkling banter, Passion Project is a fun, flirty, thoughtful story of finding a spark—and igniting happiness. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I felt a strong connection to this story. It resonated with me how after certain traumas or grief, you feel a wall go up and have a hard time fully opening yourself up to others. I loved how the main character, Bennet, got to a point that she could recognize her pain and the part she played in her own relationships. The setting in New York, as well as the bright cast of characters made this book feel nostalgic for me. The author’s writing style is easy to relate to and it felt familiar to me. 

The storyline explored many different themes, such as friendship, love, family, loss, grief, trauma, and healing. While some of the content was delicate, I felt that Sperry did an excellent job of handling it with care and tenderness. I devoured this book and couldn’t wait to see if Bennet would do the personal work to heal and if she and Henry (another main character) would stay friends, be torn apart, or eventually find love.

I really enjoyed reading this story and would recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet, funny, and emotion packed story that they can devour in one sitting.

Thanks to Viking for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase Passion Project here.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Book Review: Heartwood

By Jami Denison

When I was six years old, I got lost in the woods near my house with a few friends. It was dark and rainy and it felt like hours passed before we finally stumbled out onto the sidewalk. I have been deeply suspicious of nature ever since.

Still, kudos to those who want to tackle the outdoors. I tip my hat to the rock climbers and mountain climbers and hikers who think the best vacation requires boots, rope, and a special bag to poop in. Books about these adventurers aren’t my usual go-to, but Heartwood, the latest book by Amity Gaige, was blurbed by Jennifer Egan (note to publishers: Blurbs mean something to serious readers!) so I decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did. Although much of the book takes place on the Appalachian Trail, it’s more of a man versus self than a man versus nature conflict. What does it take, mentally, to endure hardship? 

When 42-year-old Valerie Gillis becomes lost on the Maine portion of the Appalachian Trail, Maine State Game Warden Beverly is put in charge of the search. As Valerie composes letters to her mother in her journal and later in her head, Beverly’s team interviews everyone who came in contact with the missing woman—including her husband Gregory and hiking partner Santos. But no one realizes that a retired Connecticut woman, conversing on the internet with a man she believes is a fellow nature lover, holds the real key in discovering what happened to Valerie. Will Beverly put the pieces together before it’s too late?

Heartwood is a much more cerebral book than I was expecting, and Gaige’s voice is more literary and poetic than most adventure thrillers. In her journal, Valerie explains exactly how she got lost, which lessens the suspense around Gregory and Santos. But she also contributes descriptions of the woods and her relationships. As she weakens from hunger, it’s not clear whether she’s describing reality or starvation-prompted hallucinations. Beverly is consumed with the search, but she also spends a lot of time thinking about the hardships she endured as one of the tallest children in her grade, and later as one of the only female game wardens in Maine. And Lena, the Connecticut retiree, introverted from her community and in a wheelchair, spends most of her time in her own head. 

Another thread that links the three women together is mother/daughter relationships. Valerie adores her mother, who shows up at the search site and is so caring toward Beverly that Beverly wishes the woman could have been her own mother. As the oldest daughter, Beverly took over parenting of her younger sisters from a mother who struggled with addiction; now that her mother is in hospice, Beverly would rather help out in the search for Valerie than receive updates from her sisters. And Lena is estranged from her own adult daughter for reasons that are never quite explained.

Although there are multiple points of view, Beverly really stands out as the heart of the book and most compelling character. Giving up food and sleep to oversee the search, Beverly is determined to find Valerie alive. As the days pass and Valerie’s chances for survival dwindle, Beverly becomes even more committed to the mission. She is easy to root for in all aspects of her life. 

As I cheered on Beverly, I wondered about her real-life counterparts, working in national parks and on the Appalachian Trail to keep hikers safe. What will happen to real-life Valeries now that Elon Musk is firing people like Beverly?  What will happen to the Beverlys who have devoted their lives to these parks and the people who love them? What will happen to all of us? 

Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Amity Gaige:

O My Darling

Sea Wife

The Folded World

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!