Jayne Denker had us at hello...plus a book giveaway

Today we're pleased to welcome Jayne Denker back to CLC to celebrate the publication of her latest novel, The Rom-Com Agenda. This one will definitely motivate you to have a cozy 80s and 90s rom-com movie night with a big bowl of popcorn, whether it's with your friends, your crush, or your significant other. (And if you have a VCR, even better...) Melissa gave it five stars, so check out her review. And speaking of the number five, St. Martin's Press is offering FIVE copies to some lucky readers!

Jayne Denker is the author of romantic comedies, including The Rom-Com Agenda and the Welcome to Marsden series. When she's not hard at work on another novel (or, rather, when she should be hard at work on another novel), she can usually be found frittering away stupid amounts of time on social media.

Visit Jayne online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
Leah Keegan is used to being alone, especially after taking care of her sick foster mother for the past year. But now there’s nothing keeping her in the charming town of Willow Cove. So it’s time to move on, again. Eli Masterson thought he and Victoria were meant to be together until she breaks things off with him and jets off to Rome for a year. He's left licking his wounds and taking care of her cat. Eli is determined to win her back. But how?

When his friends are sick of Eli's wallowing, they decide to give him a makeover. If he wants Victoria back, he has to become the type of guy Victoria needs, even if they aren't so sure Victoria is what Eli needs. The makeover ensues, including a haircut, wardrobe overhaul, and a pages-long list of rom-coms Eli needs to watch. Leah is inadvertently drawn into the makeover scheme, and ends up being Eli's guide in the world of meet-cutes and grand gestures. Even though she secretly believes that Eli doesn't need to change a thing. Even though she's almost positive that Victoria doesn't want Eli back. Even though she secretly might be falling for Eli. 

"Filled with charming characters and a heartwarming love story, The Rom-Com Agenda celebrates friendship, self-acceptance, and finding your voice. Denker delivers a joyous ode to the romantic comedy genre that is sure to delight readers!" 

- Kate Bromley, author of Here for the Drama and Talk Bookish to Me

"The Rom-Com Agenda is a funny and heartwarming story with characters you’ll want to meet again. An homage to the romcom movies we grew up with." 

- Sophie Sullivan, author of Ten Rules for Faking It

"In The Rom-Com Agenda, Jayne Denker has crafted the perfect swoony, slow burn, sentimental romantic comedy that we all deserve. I was absolutely swept off my feet by this delightfully witty romance between a complicated heroine and an idealistic hero. Movie references a huge bonus!" 

- New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
I've heard back from some wonderfully kind readers over the years! I'd have to say whenever someone says that one of my books brightened their day, it means the world to me. That's why I started writing romantic comedies--I just wanted to make folks laugh and forget their problems for a little while. Also a lot of my books are set in New York State, and when a fellow New York State resident says, "Yes! My region is exactly like that!" I'm thrilled to bits, because I always want to be as accurate as possible.

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing The Rom-Com Agenda?
It's been a rollercoaster ride, that's for sure. It was a thrill when my agent of ten years, Jordy Albert of the Booker-Albert Literary Agency, told me she'd gotten me a print and audio deal--my first. Working with everyone at St. Martin's has been a joy, from finessing the MS with my editor, Alex Sehulster, to seeing the absolutely adorable cover for the first time. 

The challenges were more personal; I signed the book deal and worked on the edits while my mom was in and out of the hospital repeatedly with a variety of health problems. She passed just about two years ago, a victim of the really bad covid surge in late 2020/early 2021, so it's bittersweet that she isn't here to finally see one of my books in actual bookstores. She was always so supportive of everything I did.

If The Rom-Com Agenda were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Gosh, I'm truly not certain! Sometimes I have an entire cast list in my head when I write, but with RCA that didn't happen. I'd welcome readers to take a stab at it--I'd love to see their suggestions, because I got nothin'! I will say that there is one character that I could envision a particular actor playing. When I got stuck writing, I'd ask myself "how would [the actor] play this scene?" or "what sort of response would [the actor] give here, and how would their delivery sound?" It worked like a charm--hearing their voice in my head or seeing their mannerisms got me unstuck every time.

Which TV series are you currently binge-watching?
I'm not watching anything at the moment because I'm up to my eyeballs in edits for my next book, the follow-up to RCA, but I did take time to blow through the latest season of Emily in Paris, because how could I not? I think, when I'm done with my edits, I'll try Wednesday on Netflix. I've also been meaning to binge White Lotus for a while--maybe I'll finally get to it.

What is your most favorite rom-com of all time?
Haha that's a question that can have me pondering it, answering it, and then changing my mind a million times, but I'd have to say probably one of the OG rom-coms, Bridget Jones's Diary. It was so innovative when it came out, and I remember trying to smother my non-stop laughter when I was reading in bed so I didn't wake up my husband. (I failed.) I reread it often and watch the movie frequently too.

What is something you hope to accomplish in 2023?
I plan to truly appreciate RCA's release, to really be present and enjoy seeing it in bookstores. And I need to get the next Willow Cove book's edits done! After that I hope to stand still and breathe for a minute. It's been pretty crazy the past couple of years.

Thanks to Jayne 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 16th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: City Under One Roof

By Jami Denison

City Under One Roof is a title that sounds like a metaphor, but it’s an accurate description of the town depicted in Iris Yamashita’s debut novel. In tiny Point Mettier, Alaska (which could be a stand-in for real-life Whittier, Alaska), all the residents live in the same condo building, and during the winter they can barely leave it. When Anchorage detective Cara Kennedy arrives to investigate body parts that have washed ashore, she is trapped when an avalanche closes the only tunnel that connects to the mainland. As she investigates the death, Cara learns that many residents have secrets – and so does Cara herself.

The citizens of Point Mettier seem similar to the quirky-but-harmless folks that populate other fictional Alaskan towns like Cicely (Northern Exposure) or Elmo (Men in Trees). There’s Lonnie, a mentally challenged adult woman with a pet moose. Teenage Amy, who helps her mother run the city’s (terrible) Chinese restaurant in between their battles. Along with Cara, these three are the (third person) point-of-view characters. Amy is dating Spence, whose mother Debra teaches at their high school and is hiding a secret of her own. The town’s police chief has a surprising connection to Lonnie, and his deputy, J.B., teams up with Cara and quickly develops a crush on her. The quirkiness of the characters sometimes leads to an uneven tone between drama and comedy, especially in the first half of the book. 

Yamashita is a screenwriter, and it’s easy to see the influence of the screen in her writing. The book is driven by action and set pieces, and the Alaskan topography would pop on film. At the same time, City Under One Roof seemed a bit too plot-driven to me. I wanted to know more about the characters’ back stories than I was given. With Cara an outsider, Amy a teenager and Lonnie challenged, there was no insider point-of-view that could have given the reader a more detailed description of these characters’ histories. Lonnie was especially compelling, and I wanted to know more about her stay in “the Institute.” 

Similarly, I found it a bit of a let down that the bad guys were gang members from another village (this is revealed early on in the book and in the blurb) who are able to come to town on snowmobiles. Because of this, readers miss that sense of personal betrayal that happens when the author reveals the bad guy was hiding under the protagonist’s nose, and how their machinations worked. Yamashita also leaves a huge plot thread dangling as the book’s final reveal.

There’s enough material with this setting and the Cara and J.B. characters that Yamashita could develop City Under One Roof into a series. The dangling plot thread almost demands at least one more book, and I would certainly read it. From my warm home in Florida. 

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

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Book Review: Killer Story

By Sara Steven

How far will she go to catch the killer—and make her podcast a hit?

Petra Kovach, a talented and idealistic young reporter, is on the brink of being laid off from her third failing newspaper in a row. To save her job, she pitches the launch of a true crime podcast about a sensational, unsolved murder.

Years earlier, an alt-right YouTuber was killed in her Harvard dorm room, and the case went cold. Petra knew the victim—she was once her camp counselor and loved her like a little sister, despite their political differences.

Petra's investigation gets off to a rocky start, as her promising leads quickly shrivel up. In her passionate quest for justice—and clicks—Petra burns sources and breaks laws, ultimately putting her own life on the line. Even as her star rises, she worries it could all come crashing down at any moment if her actions are exposed.

When her machinations start to backfire, there's only one way to fix everything and solve the murder—even though it may cost her everything she loves. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

I seriously had no idea who the killer was until the very end! I love a good crime story that keeps me guessing, and Killer Story did an excellent job of that. As Petra goes above and beyond–and at times, even beyond that–we’re introduced to a line-up of various leads and potential suspects, and just when you think it might be one person, the reader discovers that it really wasn’t that person, and that it might have been someone else all along. 

Initially, it’s personal. Petra had a close relationship with the victim for several years, and although there had been some distance between them in those final months leading up to the murder, her friend’s death had a huge impact. But as the story progresses, it’s obvious that Petra begins to lose herself within the potential fame and recognition that can come from solving the crime. It’s too easy to accept the accolades and television interviews, particularly due to Petra’s rocky past with her career. It feels like her time has come, but what about the ultimate truth for her friend? 

I couldn’t stand Petra’s arch-nemesis, Natalie. Somehow she manages to edge her way into Petra’s business, and there are plenty of scenes that highlight the passive-aggressive behaviors both women have towards one another. While Petra has a personal stake in things, Natalie is all about the glory, willing to do anything it takes to sweep the rug out from Petra. Their boss was also obnoxious–no matter what Petra does, it never seems to be good enough or worthy enough for him. Plus, he continually tried to pair Petra up with Natalie, completely oblivious to the animosity there. But it added some nice friction. 

Petra needs to get back to the reason she started the investigation in the first place, and even though she stumbles quite a few times along the way, in the end, she figures out the truth. What I appreciated most is that there was nothing hunky dory or “happily ever after” for Petra, which made sense. It was realistic. Sometimes it’s a lot better to have that kind of ending than to have one all packed up, with a pretty bow. Overall, I had a tough time putting Killer Story down, just as eager as Petra to find out the truth!

Thanks to Matt Witten for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Token

Today we are pleased to feature Beverley Kendall's latest novel, Token. Thanks to Harlequin, we have THREE copies to give away!

Kennedy Mitchell is brilliant, beautiful and…tired of being the only Black woman in the room.

Two years ago, Kennedy was plucked from the reception desk and placed in the corporate boardroom in the name of diversity. Rather than play along, she and her best friend founded Token, a boutique PR agency that helps “diversity-challenged” companies and celebrities. With corporate America diversifying workplaces and famous people getting into reputation-damaging controversies, Token is in high demand.

With business booming, Kennedy discovers there’s a lot of on the job learning. Some messes are not so easily fixed, a pro hockey player overheard using a racial slur needs his image rehabbed; an executive team requires diversifying and sensitivity training—asap. When Kennedy’s ex shows up needing help repairing his company’s reputation, things get even more complicated. She knows his character is being wrongly maligned, but she’s reluctant to get involved. Soon she finds herself drawn into a PR scandal of her own.

“Both an incisive, wryly funny tale of a strong, smart Black woman carving a place of power for herself in corporate America and a sizzling second-chance love story, Token is the romantic comedy holy grail: full of laughs, sexy as hell, and as thoughtful about its characters’ inner lives as it is our collective social one. I can’t wait to see what Beverley Kendall brings us next.”
—Ashley Winstead, author of Fool Me Once 

“This romance has it all—flirty banter, deep emotion, and a smart, sassy heroine I fell in love with.”
—Jennifer Probst, New York Times bestselling author of the Twist of Fate series

“The heroine’s dialogue and inner thoughts had me chuckling from the first page. Beverley Kendall’s Token is a smart, sexy rom-com with wry social commentary and a satisfying HEA. I loved it.”
—Brenda Jackson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The House on Blueberry Lane

Beverley Kendall published her first novel in 2010, a historical romance with Kensington. She has since published over ten contemporary and historical romances. She also manages the romance review blog, Smitten by Books (smittenbybooks.com). Bev now writes full-time while raising her son as a single mother. Both dual citizens of the U.S and Canada, they currently call Atlanta home. 

Visit Beverley 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 10th at midnight EST.

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Book Review and Giveaway: Just the Nicest Couple

By Melissa Amster

Two couples, two close friends, one missing husband…

Jake Hayes is missing. This much is certain. At first, his wife, Nina, thinks he is blowing off steam at a friend’s house after their heated fight the night before. But then a day goes by. Two days. Five. And Jake is still nowhere to be found.

Lily Scott, Nina’s friend and coworker, thinks she may have been the last to see Jake before he went missing. After Lily confesses everything to her husband, Christian, the two decide that nobody can find out what happened leading up to Jake’s disappearance, especially not Nina. But Nina is out there looking for her husband, and she won’t stop until the truth is discovered. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I have been a fan of Mary Kubica's thrillers ever since I read Pretty Baby in 2015. She has a lot of creative and interesting twists that keep me on my toes. Her latest, Just the Nicest Couple, really delivers! It is such a twisty page-turner. And just when you think you have all the answers, there is so much more in store! 

I liked how we were set up to know what happened while Nina didn't, but there were still all these little mysteries that we were also not clued in on. I was nervous for Christian and Lily, even though they were in the wrong and should have just told Nina in the first place about what was going on, instead of making things worse for themselves. Given that they were seen as protagonists, there was that "Zack Morris effect" where I just wanted to see if they'd be able to get away with their secret. Jake didn't seem like that great of a husband but I still felt bad for Nina and understood her anxiety over not knowing where he was. 

The ending (epilogue) felt a bit anti-climactic after all the build-up, but that didn't take away from the overall effect. 

If you're a Mary Kubica fan, you're in for a treat. If you haven't read her books yet, this is a good one to get you hooked! This one is perfect for fans of Robyn Harding, Kimberly Belle, and Jaime Lynn Hendricks.

Movie casting suggestions:

Nina: Alexandra Daddario

Jake: Corey Sevier

Christian: Tom Hopper

Lily: Lily Collins

Ryan: Austin Stowell

Nina's mom: Melissa Leo

Thanks to Park Row for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have one copy to share with a lucky reader!

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 9th at midnight EST.

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Spotlight: Loathe to Love You

Today we are celebrating the publication of Ali Hazelwood's novella collection, Loathe to Love You!

This set is tied together with a never-before-seen bonus chapter. As always, Ali offers the steamiest, STEMinist romances with three kick-a** protagonists.

Ali Hazelwood’s novellas featured in LOATHE TO LOVE YOU:

Under One Roof: An environmental engineer discovers that scientists should never cohabitate when she finds herself stuck with the roommate from hell—a detestable big-oil lawyer who won’t leave the thermostat alone.

Stuck with You: A civil engineer and her nemesis take their rivalry—and love—to the next level when they get stuck in a New York elevator.

Below Zero: A NASA aerospace engineer's frozen heart melts as she lies injured and stranded at a remote Arctic research station and the only person willing to undertake the dangerous rescue mission is her longtime rival.

“Hazelwood is an absolute romance powerhouse.”
—New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren

“Hazelwood proves that she is the perfect writer to show that science is sexy as hell.”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult

Courtesy of Ali's website

Ali Hazelwood is the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, as well as a writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the US to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. She recently became a professor, which absolutely terrifies her. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her two feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband). (Bio courtesy of Amazon.)

Visit Ali online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

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Book Review: Regrets Only

By Jami Denison

I have a confession to make: You know those awful PTA moms in the wealthy suburbs? The ones featured in books like Big Little Lies and so many others, the catty ones who are always backstabbing each other, cheating with each other’s husbands and sometimes killing each other? I was one of those moms. And no, nobody died or even attempted a coup in order to dethrone the PTA president. We were all nice women who had given up careers and loved volunteering at our kids’ schools and cheering on the sidelines at their soccer games. I did the newsletter and helped out with the book fair.  (Okay, there was this one mom…)

In any case, I still love these books, even though the plots and settings are starting to feel a bit cliched. In her latest book, Regrets Only, Kieran Scott has given the “PTA moms gone wild” subgenre a unique heroine that keeps her novel from feeling cookie-cutter. The result is a fun, if slightly uneven, murder mystery to help kick off the winter semester and give basketball moms something to read on the bleachers.

Disgraced TV writer Paige Lancaster has left LA with her daughter Izzy and moved back in with her mother after losing her job on one of TV’s most popular female detective series. Having grown up firmly middle class—her father was the police chief in their Connecticut town—Paige is stunned to learn her high school boyfriend, John, is now a wealthy hedge fund owner living in one of the mansions on the hill. Even worse, he’s married to the feared and loved PBA (Parent Booster Association) president, the beautiful Ainsley. Paige’s klutzy parenting quickly earns her the side-eye around town. Then, when Ainsley misinterprets a hug between John and Paige, the night ends with Ainsley dead at the bottom of an outdoor staircase. Did she fall, or was she murdered? A cute cop asks Paige to help investigate, but what if he decides she pushed Ainsley? 

Regrets Only vacillates between comedy and suspense, but Scott keeps her tone consistent. I loved Paige as a protagonist—she’s funny, a bit of a mess, and trying to do her best for her daughter. When Scott finally reveals the incident that made Paige leave LA in disgrace, her actions are completely understandable (and it’s not surprising she was humiliated). At the same time, she has a propensity to physically react that makes her believable as a murder suspect.

Paige isn’t the only point-of-view character, though. Lanie, who was in line to become PBA president after Ainsley stepped down, and Nina, who suspects the PBA treasurer is embezzling funds, get their own chapters as well. All points-of-view are third person, told so closely that it feels like first person. Lanie’s marriage is in trouble, and she’s worried her husband Michael is having an affair with Ainsley. Nina is nearly obsessed with the PBA’s bank account, and her motivation never becomes clear. But when she challenges Lanie for the PBA presidency after Ainsley’s death, and asks Paige to become her campaign manager, the character becomes more dimensional.

Throughout most of the book Paige’s character is so much more engaging and developed than the other two women that their points of view seemed a bit forced, as if the author was trying to follow a Big Little Lies model that didn’t necessarily work best for the book. Paige has so much going for her—her relationship with her mother and daughter, the sparks with the high-school boyfriend, more sparks with the cute cop, her detective skills, etc. – that she could easily be the lead in a series had Scott decided to end the book on a different note. 

The ending, however, reveals much about Lanie, Nina, and even Ainsley. While I found the ultimate revelation about the murder and Ainsley’s back story to be a bit hollow, I also found myself wishing I had gotten to know Ainsley better. A book about a PTA mom who had led the life she had before she died would have been a nice addition to the subgenre. 

There is no shortage of “PTA Moms Gone Murderous” books these days, and as long as publishers keep putting them out, I’ll keep reading them. And as for that one mom? She knows who she is. She knows what she did. 

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

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