Spotlight and Giveaway: Summer's Never Over

We're excited to celebrate the publication of Darby Bozeman's debut thriller, Summer's Never Over! This gripping story set at a summer camp is getting great reviews and we're excited for you to read it. Thanks to Berkley, we have one copy to give away!

Five years ago, Greer left her family’s summer camp in the mountains of Georgia and vowed she’d never return. An idyllic season had turned into a nightmare after a mysterious Phantom began stalking the camp—and ended with Greer’s friend and fellow counselor dead. Losing Steph shattered everything, and Greer’s been fleeing from the grief ever since.

But then Greer’s mother dies, and Greer finds herself back at Dread’s Cove, surrounded by the people she was closest to that intense summer. Two ex-boyfriends—one a childhood sweetheart, the other the guy she's never gotten over—and old friends. Including Margo, Steph's best friend.

Greer and Margo didn’t leave things on the best of terms. But now, Margo needs her. Margo never believed that Steph’s death in that horrific fire was an accident—and she’s on the trail of an explosive secret Steph took to her grave.

Greer has to make a choice: keep the Cove’s secrets and her own, or finally face the truth about that summer. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

"Summer’s Never Over is like the best campfire s’mores: layered, singed by flame around the edges, a little dark, a little sweet, and a whole lot addictive. Thriller lovers will gobble this up."

—Ashley Winstead, USA Today bestselling author of This Book Will Bury Me

“Darby Bozeman skillfully weaves heart-panging romance with a gripping murder mystery. I couldn't read it fast enough.”

—Catherine Walsh, author of Holiday Romance

“Summer's Never Over is a mesmerizing story about friendship and secrets that will keep you riveted until the very last page.”

—Jessica Payne, author of Somebody Worth Killing

 Credit: Red Door Photography

Darby Bozeman grew up in Portland, Oregon, but she’s spent the better part of her adult life in the South. She has a master’s in teaching from the University of Georgia and she taught middle school English for five years. When she’s not reading or writing, she loves acting in community theater and discussing pop culture. She lives in Knoxville with her husband, Bryan, and their cat, Claude.

Visit Darby on Instagram.

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends June 15th at midnight EST.

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Book Review and Giveaway: Off the Record

By Melissa Amster

In 1962, opportunities are typically few for nice Jewish girls clacking away at ninety words per minute in a newspaper typing pool. Except Judy Greenberg isn’t typical. An aspiring reporter in DC, she’s aiming for journalistic greatness—not finding a husband. Just don’t tell her mother.

Then one day she answers her boss’s private line. The message is curiously cryptic. It’s also delivered in a Russian accent. Judy is certain she has stumbled upon a scoop. Charming reporter Jack Fields isn’t one to dismiss Judy’s instincts. Perfect. A seasoned ally she can trust, not to mention pass off as a pretend boyfriend around her relieved parents. Together, they’re following the leads—from a clandestine hotel bar to the dressing room of a slinky Cuban nightclub singer to an exhilarating underground of secrets and spies stretching from Moscow to Havana to Texas.

Now Judy must choose between the safe life expected of her or one hell of a dangerous story that could make her career. She might even fall in love for real. If her ambitions don’t get her killed. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I adore Sara Goodman Confino's novels and will read anything she writes. Her latest, Off the Record, is a fun feminist story with mystery, intrigue, romance, humor, and Jewish joy. 

I loved Judy's wit and moxie throughout the novel. The dialogue and banter is great and never gets stale. Judy's grandma was hilarious and one of the best side characters. The story is full of surprises at every turn and I can't wait for you to experience them the way I did! I also loved that it takes place in DC and that Judy doesn't live all that far from me. There are some mentions of characters from some of Sara's other books, which may be spoilers for those books if you haven't read them yet. (Go read ALL her books!!!)

I can't say too much more as to not give any spoilers, but you'll thank me for that when you read the story and have no idea what to expect from one moment to the next. Just know that you'll enjoy this novel as much as I did and you'll be laughing out loud from Judy's antics! This novel is perfect for fans of The Book Club for Troublesome Women, as it talks a lot about expectations for women vs. men. (Makes me so glad I was born in a different era!)

Movie casting suggestions:

Judy: Iris Apatow

Jack: Fabien Frankel

Patricia: Grace Van Patten

Grandma Sylvia: Renee Taylor

Betty: Maude Apatow

Miss Kelly: Helen Hunt

(Trigger warnings below.)

Thanks to Get Red PR for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have TWO copies to give away!

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends June 14th at midnight EST.

More by Sara Goodman Confino:
For the Love of Friends
Don't Forget to Write
Good Grief

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TW: Pregnancy complications, politicians behaving inappropriately (not too shocking though), sexism

Book Review: Cherry Baby

By Melissa Amster

Everybody knows Cherry’s husband, Tom, is in Hollywood making a movie.

Almost nobody knows he isn’t coming home.

Tom created Thursday, the semi-autobiographical webcomic that became an international phenomenon. Now there’s a character in the movie based on Cherry: Baby. Cherry never wanted to see herself caricatured on the page (or the big screen), but Baby looks so much like her that strangers recognize her in public.

While Tom gets rich and famous in Los Angeles, Cherry is left in Omaha with the dog he always wanted, the house they planned to fill with a family, and the question of who she is without him.

Then, at a concert, someone recognizes her. Russ Sutton knew Cherry before Tom. He likes Cherry.

And best of all, he’s never heard of Thursday.

Tender, funny, and utterly human, Cherry Baby is Rainbow Rowell’s richest, most surprising, and sexiest novel yet. (Synopsis adapted from Amazon.)

I enjoy Rainbow Rowell's novels. They are quirky and genuine at the same time. Cherry Baby is definitely my favorite of her novels though. I just loved everything about it! 

There were lots of heartfelt moments, as well as times when I laughed out loud. It was so cozy and the descriptions brought everything to life. I was surprised by everything that happened and I will miss the characters now that I am done. 

A lot of focus in the story is about body image, especially because Baby is modeled after Cherry and it makes her self-conscious. When she starts dating a friend from her past, Baby's presence makes things awkward for them at times. There's also the factor of Cherry's sister Hope losing a lot of weight and being ostracized from the sibling group as a result. 

I loved how they celebrated the winter holidays in this novel. I wanted to be at their Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. So. Much. Fun! I also loved Stevie the dog. She added an extra essence to the story. 

My only minor concern is that some chapters went to the past and I got thrown off because it wasn't indicated at the top of the chapter. Even just saying the year would be fine. This didn't take away from my enjoyment at all, but I wish there was more time distinction.

Don't miss out on this delightful experience!

Movie casting suggestions:
Cherry: Aidy Bryant
Tom: Sam Reid
Russ: Max Minghella
Hope: Claire Foy

Stacia: Emily Pendergast

(Trigger warnings at the bottom of the post.)

Check out Allyson's review at her Bookstagram! 

Thanks to William Morrow for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Rainbow Rowell:
Attachments
Landline
Slow Dance

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TW: Body shaming, alcoholism (parents of main characters), infidelity, divorce.

Stephanie Mack is having the "time" of her life!

Credit: Blaire Going Photography

We're excited to have Stephanie Mack here today! Her traditional publishing debut, Twenty Something Else (Tyndale), will be available next week and she has another one coming this fall. If you're a fan of time travel, this novel is definitely up your alley. Melissa is excited to add it to her five-book pile soon. We had a lot of fun interviewing Stephanie and we hope you will enjoy her answers as much as we did!

Stephanie Mack is an author with a passion for storytelling—on the page, on the mic, and beyond. Her novels blend women's fiction and romantic elements with meaningful insights for readers navigating the complexities of modern life. Stephanie lives in Orange County, California, with her husband, three daughters, and beloved mini Bernedoodle.

Visit Stephanie online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:

Sutton Layne is almost-forty and fabulous, with a happy marriage, three beautiful children, and a successful interior design business. But there’s plenty of chaos behind the scenes of early midlife. Her preteen son is going off the rails, her husband is bailing on the party he was supposed to throw her, and that thriving business? If she can’t land her next big client, it might all come crashing down. Then a surprise DM from someone in her past sends her spiraling into what-ifs. What if she settled down too young? Walked away from her big break? Never had her great adventure?

Despite her simmering mini-crisis, Sutton can’t wait for the birthday luncheon and pickleball tournament her friends have planned in her honor. But when an accident on the court knocks her out cold, she wakes up somewhere else . . . and is offered the chance to do it all over again. She can revisit her twenties―out of order and on her own terms. And this time around, anything goes: cities, careers, friendships. Even love. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"Asking a question many of us have pondered―What if life took a different turn and sent us in an entirely different direction?―this novel is both distinctive and clever, plucky, and entertaining. A must-read!"
- T. I. Lowe, internationally bestselling author of South of Somewhere

"A hilarious, heartfelt exploration of love, family, and friendship. With sharp humor, clever observations, and deeply human insight, this novel will have you laughing, reflecting, and texting your best friend mid-chapter. Get ready for your next obsession."
- Devon Daniels, author of The Rom Con

"Twenty Something Else is the most beautifully, achingly real story I’ve read in ages. Equal parts comfortingly wholesome and refreshingly frank, this one straight-up knocked my socks off."
- Bethany Turner, award-winning author of Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other

In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like for you?
My road to publishing was winding, crazy, unpredictable, and nothing like I expected—but every step of the six-year journey was worth it.

How is Sutton similar to or different from you?
Sutton is similar to me in many ways—we both married young, live in suburbia, have three children, work in creative fields, and turned forty this year! Where we differ is probably in the extent of her ponderings and regrets. I’ve felt many of them myself, but exploring them much more deeply through her character was incredibly meaningful to me as I faced my own milestone birthday. And, unlike Sutton, I don’t have an actor’s bone in my body!

If Twenty Something Else was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
Sutton was distinctly her own creation in my mind, but my dream pick would be Hilary Duff. I’ve always loved her, especially in Younger—and not just as an actress, but for what she represents to millennial women: nostalgia, strength, motherhood, power, and a certain grounded sense of goodness. Holden would be Theo James, Reid would be Ryan Gosling, and I’d love Olivia Munn as Quinn!

What is a favorite memory from your twenties?

One of my favorite memories from my twenties was a road trip I took with two girlfriends up the California coast. It’s my home state, but we explored so much I’d never seen before—from Southern California through Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo all the way up to Monterey. I’ll never forget it. There’s just something about a road trip with people you love. The snacks, the conversations, and the zany moments you end up sharing.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
What a fun question! I’d have to say Christine Lakin from Step by Step because of the way she brought Twenty Something Else to life in the audiobook. I’m in awe of her ability to move from humor to vulnerability and back again with such ease and heart.

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
Please come visit me in Orange County! I’d definitely take you to The Beachcomber—a magical restaurant right on the sand in Crystal Cove State Park—and to Lido Marina Village, the dreamiest seaside enclave and home to my favorite indie bookstore, Lido Village Books. The Beachcomber is written into Twenty Something Else, and I can’t wait to see Twenty Something Else on shelves in Lido soon.

Thanks to Stephanie for chatting with us and Kaye Publicity for coordinating the interview.

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Book Review: Whistler

By Allyson Bales

**Before reading the synopsis, see the note in the review below.**

When Daphne Fuller and her husband Jonathan visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they notice an older, white-haired gentleman following them. The man turns out to be Eddie Triplett, her former stepfather, who had been married to her mother for a little more than a year when Daphne was nine. Now fifty-three, Daphne hasn’t seen Eddie for many years, not since the fateful event that changed the direction of both their lives. Meeting again, time falls away; while their relationship was brief, it had a profound impact on them both, and now that they are reunited, they have no intention of ever being separated again.

Whistler is a story about two adults looking back over the choices they made, and the choices that were made for them. It’s a story about bravery, memory, the often small yet consequential moments that define our lives, and the endless stream of loss that in time comes for us all. Beautiful in its simplicity, it is ultimately about how love endures, and how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

“There is so much randomness to youth.  The person assigned to share your room becomes your friend, the girl you pass on your way out the door becomes your wife, and from these random encounters our entire lives are built."

I devoured this book. Here is another one I went into blind and grabbed purely because I LOVE Ann Patchett and anything she writes sits on my favorites list year after year.  I loved Tom Lake and this story had similar vibes.  

I highly recommend you go into this one blind too. You will be overcome with emotions.  It is a slower moving story with characters that will make you feel a range of emotions and at least one of them will remind you of someone you love deeply.  I just know this is a story I will think of probably at least once a day for a long time to come and stories like that don’t come around too often.  Stories that hold so much power, insight, complex characters, and ones where you are highlighting and tabbing so much.  I will cherish this story.

This story surprised me.  This story made me feel seen.  This story made me laugh and cry and healed me.

I really, really enjoyed the audio of this story too.  Ann reads it and I just loved her delivery and overall presentation. 

I cannot recommend this one enough.  If you are a fan of compelling family sagas you won't be sorry you read it and it will definitely be on your favorites list too.

Five stars.

Thanks to HarperCollins for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase Whistler here.

More by Ann Patchett:
Tom Lake
Commonwealth 
These Precious Days

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Spotlight and Giveaway: The Last Days of Summer

We're excited to feature The Last Days of Summer by Sarra Manning, which is now available in paperback! This steamy rom-com has enemies-to-lovers and fake dating tropes, along with a lot of great reviews. Thanks to Harper Perennial, we have TWO copies to give away!

Sometimes all it takes is one long summer weekend for the person you thought you hated to become something more . . .

After a disastrous first meeting, Cassie and Marc are instant archnemeses. Despite Marc’s frustratingly sharp cheekbones and sexy French accent—and the fact that Cassie's best friends Lucy and Russell think he’s wonderful—Cassie is convinced that Marc’s a terrible person who did a terrible thing, full stop.

But, years later, when their friends are hit with bad news, Cassie and Marc decide to put aside their differences and give Lucy and Russell the best weekend ever. While they can’t change the past, they can help their friends make new memories with all of their favorite people. Which means convincing everyone that Cassie and Marc are head over heels in love, since their best friends have always thought they would be perfect together, and badly wish each would find an ideal partner.

After years of loathing Marc, it only takes four bittersweet days for Cassie to reconsider whether she got the man completely wrong all these years. But can the two let go of their troubled past, and together, face whatever the future will throw at them? Or is this doomed to be just another steamy vacation fling, never again to be acknowledged or repeated? (Synopsis courtesy of HarperCollins.)

“One of my favorite writers . . . It's about friendship, it's about life, it's about how people change . . . I loved it very much.”
—Marian Keyes

“By turns fun, sexy, bittersweet and utterly romantic, I fell head over heels for Cassie and Marc (cheekbones, accent and all) and their captivating, page-turning love story.”
 —Lindsey Kelk

“The Last Days of Summer is funny, filled with emotion and very, very sexy!” 
—Beth O'Leary

Credit: Ellie Smith

Sarra Manning has been a voracious reader for over forty years and a prolific author and journalist for thirty. She has written over twenty-five novels, both YA and adult. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, the Telegraph, Elle, Grazia, Stylist, You Magazine, and Harper’s Bazaar. She lives in London surrounded by piles and piles of books. Visit Sarra at her website and on Instagram.

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends June 7th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Wild Italian Nights

By Sara Steven

Good girl Juno Darlington-Hume has always pursued excellence in every field—now she’s determined to master the art of sexual pleasure. Gorgeous, notorious, and utterly irresistible, Italian playboy Alessandro Ricci has the experience, the charm, and the expertise to give her exactly what she’s craving.

From the magical streets of Florence to the golden hills of the Tuscan countryside, Alessandro leads Juno on a journey of desire, teaching her every delicious lesson with a wicked smile.

But there’s one thing Alessandro refuses to her heart. And as Juno surrenders to temptation, she discovers that passion isn’t the only lesson in store—because some pleasures run deeper than the body, and falling for Alessandro might be the most intoxicating—and dangerous—experience of all. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Having read In Too Deep, another book by this author (reviewed here), I anticipated some steam–but in Wild Italian Nights, the steam factor has been kicked into overdrive, and in the best ways! There were a lot of hot moments between Juno and Sandro, while Sandro attempts to teach Juno everything he knows when it comes to sex. Juno is a willing pupil. They have boundaries and limits that have been set by both characters, not wanting to go too far or delve into anything that might create attachment and feelings. Juno is merely in this for the lessons, and Sandro is in it because his father thinks it’s important for the two young lovebirds to be seen together in public, aiding Sandro’s image. But Juno doesn’t know that. 

Juno has enlisted Sandro’s help so she can catch the eye and attention of someone else, and secretly, it’s killing Sandro. Spending so much time together has unavoidably created more between them than just sexual tension, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to him or anyone else. There is so much more to a person than what can happen between the sheets, and Sandro is slowly falling for Juno and the person she is–her kindness, her generosity, and the fact that she seems to accept Sandro for who he is, not focusing on what she can gain from him. He’s not used to that. 

Juno feels the same way about Sandro. Initially, having him around has been a means to build up her confidence, yet she can see that there is a genuine vulnerability to him–a lot more than meets the eye. The plan was to not catch feelings and to take the skills Sandro has given her so she can utilize them in the future, but plans change and life can change in an instant. Maybe Sandro could see her as more than just his pupil. Given the confidence she’s gained through being with him, it could potentially happen, or so she begins to hope. 

But when Juno discovers that Sandro has some ulterior motives behind assisting her, she isn’t sure what to think or what (or who) to believe. Has Sandro been using her? And ultimately, wasn’t she doing the same thing? Or is there more between them? The spice was nice in Wild Italian Nights, but it was also nice to see some evolvement for both characters, while they try to figure out if there can be more beyond their arrangement, potentially turning into something real.

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Apple

Christy McKellen is a best selling, award-nominated British writer of spicy, pacy, emotionally charged contemporary romances and rom-coms, featuring strong, determined heroines and irresistible alpha heroes. 

Best known for her enemies to lovers, opposites attract, holiday and workplace romances, Christy sets her books in the glamorous worlds of film, media, and the arts, where forced proximity and undeniable chemistry lead to steamy love stories full of passion, tension, and emotional depth.

Formerly a Video and Radio Producer, Christy now spends her time (when she’s not writing) walking for pleasure and researching other people's deepest secrets and desires.

Visit Christy online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok

Visit all the stops on Christy's blog tour:

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