Make room for Sariah Wilson...plus a book giveaway

We are pleased to welcome Sariah Wilson to CLC today. Her latest novel, Roommaid, publishes tomorrow. The cover is so enticing and the story sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks to Kaye Publicity, we have one copy to give away!

Sariah will be celebrating the launch of Roommaid with a virtual launch party on Thursday, October 1st at 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time (8:00pm Eastern, 7:00pm Central, 5:00pm Pacific). She'll be in conversation with fellow romance author Teri Wilson. The online party is free and open to the public and attendees can register here.

Sariah Wilson's passionate belief in true love and happily-ever-afters has also inspired several bestselling romance series, including End of the Line (THE FRIEND ZONE, JUST A BOYFRIEND); Lovestruck (#STARSTRUCK, #MOONSTRUCK, #AWESTRUCK); Ugly Stepsisters (THE UGLY STEPSISTER STRIKES BACK; PROMPOSAL), Royals of Monterra (ROYAL DATE, ROYAL CHASE, ROYAL GAMES, ROYAL DESIGN), and many standalone novels. 

Visit Sariah online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
Madison Huntington is determined to live her dreams. That means getting out from under her family’s wealth and influence by saying no to the family business, her allowance, and her home. But on a teacher’s salary, the real world comes as a rude awakening—especially when she wakes up every morning on a colleague’s couch. To get a place of her own (without cockroaches, mold, or crime scene tape), Madison accepts a position as a roommaid. In exchange for free room and board, all she needs to do is keep her busy roommate’s penthouse clean and his dog company. So what if she’s never washed a dish in her life. She can figure this out, right?

Madison is pretty confident she can fake it well enough that Tyler Roth will never know the difference. The finance whiz is rich and privileged and navigates the same social circles as her parents—but to him she’s just a teacher in need of an apartment. He’s everything Madison has run from, but his kindhearted nature, stomach-fluttering smile, and unexpected insecurities only make her want to get closer. And Tyler is warming to the move.

Rewarding job. Perfect guy. Great future. With everything so right, what could go wrong? Madison is about to find out. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
There are so many compliments authors love, but I think my favorite ever was from a woman who had just lost her mother and she thanked me for writing a book that let her forget everything and eased her pain for a few hours. That’s always my hope—to write a fun, escapist book that makes all the crazy things happening around us a little easier to deal with. 
 
How are you similar to or different from Madison?
I’m very bad at crafts, just like Madison. I also have a thing for tall blue-eyed guys who are tech geniuses (like my husband). There was a time in my life that I considered becoming a teacher, but I’m not sure I would have had the patience, like she does. I’ve also had to deal with controlling, wealthy people in my life, and my reaction to them was very similar to hers. 
 
If Roommaid were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
This question is so hard for me and I don’t know why. Other authors choose actors or models before they even begin writing, but not me! And I love movies so much that the idea I might choose badly usually keeps me from settling on anyone specific. But if I have to give an answer, I’m going to choose Chris Evans as Tyler and Candice King as Madison (but like, slightly younger versions of them).
 
What is your least favorite household chore?
Can I choose all of the above? I’m not kidding. I HATE cleaning with a fiery passion of a thousand suns going supernova. I never make my bed. Laundry piles up. My personal workspace is a total disaster with papers and articles and books. I only ever clean if 1) we’re approaching a Board of Health violation or 2) somebody is coming over (so please tell me if you’re stopping by. It’s best for both of us).
 
What is your guilty pleasure TV series?
Siesta Key. I don’t know why I like this series so much or why I watch it but I still tune in for every episode and wish that I had someone in real life that I could talk to about it! I’m also a big “Bachelor in Paradise” fan – to the point that I’ve met my favorites Ashley Iaconetti-Haibon and Jared Haibon in real life and we’re friendly. (I have her phone number and we occasionally text. Which is the coolest thing ever.)
 
What is something you've learned about yourself during the pandemic?
I’m a huge introvert and I’ve always joked that I could easily go into solitary confinement in prison as long as I had some books and pen and paper. The pandemic has proved this to be true. My poor extrovert husband has been champing at the bit to get outside the house and I’m totally fine. I could happily stay in my very messy home forever and never see the rest of the world again. I also learned that I could never, ever homeschool my kids. Boy, am I bad at it. Looks like I made the right choice in not becoming a teacher! 

Thanks to Sariah for visiting with us and to Kaye Publicity 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 October 5th at midnight EST.

Spotlight and Giveaway: The Holiday Detour

Even though it's almost October, we're starting to get into a holiday mood. Today, we're kicking that off with The Holiday Detour by Jane Kolven. Thanks to Bold Strokes Books, we have one e-book to give away!

Sometimes it takes everything going wrong to make you see how right things are.

Dana Gottfried is a stressed-out Jewish lesbian who’s just quit her job and wants to get home to see her grandmother. When her car breaks down in Indiana on Christmas Eve, Dana is stranded—until she’s rescued by Charlie, a pig farmer who doesn’t identify as male or female. Although they come from different worlds, Dana is intrigued by Charlie’s sense of humor and kindness. Despite her better judgment, Dana says yes when Charlie offers a ride.

But the journey home is paved with detours. From car accidents to scheming ex-girlfriends to a snowy and deserted Chicago Loop, everything that could go wrong on their road trip does, but it leads Dana on a path of self-discovery that just might end in love.

Jane Kolven is an author of contemporary, fun LGBTQ romances. She is proud to create stories that show a variety of LGBTQ people finding happiness—because everyone deserves love. Jane currently lives in Michigan with her wife and their pets.

Visit Jane online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * 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 October 4th at midnight EST.

Book Review: The Choice

By Sara Steven

Olivia Pritchard lives in constant fear since Mother Mason came into power. Everything from healthy eating to exercise is controlled by the government, all in the name of health and happiness. Olivia hates being dictated to, but to protect her family she must follow the rules or face a stay in the Shame Box - a perspex box, placed in a public place for everyone to judge.

After Olivia witnesses an innocent woman being violently arrested, she is no longer able to ignore the injustice. The underground rebellion 'Cut The Apron Strings' is gaining momentum and for the first time in years Olivia has a choice: keep her head down or join the fray… (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

For those who are fans of The Handmaid’s Tale, this dystopian thriller needs to be the next book on your to be read pile! It was absolutely chilling, the thought of having anyone control the way I choose to live my life by way of food, exercise, the high and hard to reach expectations that are placed on every single person and family unit under Mother Mason’s jurisdiction. Olivia can remember a time before all of the strict guidelines, when she owned a bakery and could bake desserts to her heart’s content. In this new world, bakeries are banned, and sugar is the devil.

In this world, people are pitted against each other, encouraged to spot out any potential illegal wrongdoing, and often this ends in the Shame Box. Yet there are many other ways to dole out punishment, and much of what I read had been nothing short of scary. Children taken from their homes, adults sent to macabre prisons, the type that focus on the very things the Mother Mason establishment warns against. Olivia feels there is no winning, no matter what she chooses to do, and it makes for a very trying and difficult life.

The Choice goes so much deeper than what the storyline entails. In our society, we hear so much about the dangers of eating unhealthily, of not exercising, in not making healthy choices. Olivia’s experiences takes all of that and asks, “At what cost?” How far do we go in order to create a “better” world? And, in doing so, is it really any better? Should we take away someone’s personal choice in how they want to live their lives, even if it means they might not live in a manner of wellness, or should everyone have that say? In this story, it’s so far one way or the other, there is no balance, so similar in representing how hard it is for those of us in the “real world” to find that balance.

I felt intrigued and hooked from the very first chapter, wanting to know what would happen next for Olivia, her family, her friends. At times challenging, and at others inspiring, it was hard not to put myself in her shoes and wonder how I would react or deal with a similar situation, if I could suck it up if it meant keeping my family safe, or if I would go against the grain in order to change up the status quo. It made me appreciate the bowl of ice cream I had last night, all the more. A well deserved, five-star read from me!

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

Book Review and Giveaway: Anxious People

By Melissa Amster

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove comes a charming, poignant novel about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.

Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can’t fix their own marriage. There’s a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can’t seem to agree on anything, from where they want to live to how they met in the first place. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year-old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her face, a flustered but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment’s only bathroom, and you’ve got the worst group of hostages in the world.

Each of them carries a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them—the bank robber included—desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next.

Rich with Fredrik Backman’s “pitch-perfect dialogue and an unparalleled understanding of human nature” (Shelf Awareness), Anxious People is an ingeniously constructed story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope—the things that save us, even in the most anxious times. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

It has been a while since I last read a Fredrik Backman novel. For some reason, Bear Town and Us Against You didn't capture my interest. However, after reading Anxious People, I'm leaning toward checking out some of his books that I missed!

Overall, this was a great novel. There were parts that I didn't see coming at all and I was pleasantly surprised. I liked all of the characters and the way they interacted, as well as how their stories unfolded throughout the novel. It was so clever how everything was threaded together. One of the situations reminded me of something a close friend is going through and I hope things will happen for them the way they happened in this novel. 

The only thing that didn't work for me was that some phrases translated strangely and it was hard to make sense of what was being said. It didn't detract from my enjoyment, but I had to re-read some sentences more than once. 

I definitely recommend this novel for a cozy fall read!

Movie casting suggestions (even though this story takes place in Sweden, they've moved other stories to America, so I chose accordingly...and it was still a challenge, so bear with me!):
Jack: David Corenswet
Jim: Brendan Gleeson
Julia: Stefanie Martini
Ro: Hannah John-Kamen
Anna-Lena: Joanna Cassidy
Roger: Craig T. Nelson
Estelle: Rosemary Harris
Lennart: Scott Bakula
Zara: Elizabeth Perkins

Thanks to Atria for the book in exchange for an honest review...and for sharing a copy 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 September 29th at midnight EST.

More by Fredrik Backman:

Spotlight: She Gets That From Me

Quinn never expected that her best friend’s courageous decision to be a single mother by choice would end up transforming her own life in this poignant novel from USA Today bestselling author Robin Wells.

When Quinn Langston’s best friend unexpectedly passes away, Quinn embraces Brooke’s three-year-old daughter Lily and elderly grandmother Margaret as the family she’s always wanted.  She’ll do whatever it takes to help them heal, but she didn’t anticipate Lily’s biological father would be part of the plan. Margaret is old-fashioned, though, and she has no compunction about finding a way to reach Lily’s dad, a sperm donor. After all, he's a blood relative, and she believes family should raise family.

Zack Bradley doesn't know what to expect when he finds out he has a child. Sperm donors don't usually get to meet their...well, he's not sure what to call Lily yet, but he’s certain he wants to get to know her. There’s just one of problem: he’s about to move to Seattle with his wife, Jessica, who’s undergone multiple infertility treatments, desperately wants a family of her own and can’t stand the idea of Zack playing daddy to another woman’s child.

Together, they’ll all learn that the human heart is infinitely expandable and there are many different roads to family.

Purchase She Gets That From Me here.

Photo by Arden Wells

Robin Wells was an advertising and public relations executive before becoming a  full-time writer. She always dreamed of writing novels--a dream inspired by a  grandmother who told "hot tales" and parents who were both librarians. Her  books have won the RWA Golden Heart, two National Readers' Choice Awards,  the HOLT Medallion, and numerous other awards. She now lives in Texas with  her husband, but will always be a Louisiana girl at heart.

Visit Robin online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Spotlight and Giveaway: Bunco - A Comedy About The Drama of Friendship

Bunco: A Comedy About The Drama of Friendship is a new book by Robin Delnoce. It is recommended for fans of Bridesmaids, Desperate Housewives, and Bad Moms. Thanks to Book Publicity Services, we have one copy for a lucky reader!

We all have “those” friends.  Maybe you’ve known them since childhood, or met in college, or while waiting for a child’s practice to end. Maybe you found yourself living on the same street. There’s no single path to friendship. Relationships don’t follow a script and neither do the lives of smart, funny, complicated suburban women.

Jill, Anne, Mary, and Rachel met years ago through a neighborhood group that regularly got together to play a dice game called bunco. Although players have come and gone, they continue to use bunco as an excuse to abandon their day-to-day responsibilities and enjoy food, drinks, and the company of their best friends. 

When new neighbors move in under the cover of night, the foursome sees an opportunity to expand their bunco circle. But within hours, suspicions run rampant as the odd behaviors of the newest residents are interpreted differently. Are they quirky, or kinky? Diabolical, or misunderstood? Time after time, as the truth sheds light on some secrets, more emerge. Each woman finds herself shocked by the friends she thought she knew.

Through the friendly banter, intimate confessions, and tongue-twisting insults, you may see yourself or your friends in these characters. Wipe away tears of laughter and loss as you join the four metaphorical rounds of bunco, and feel part of the conversation. Whether engaging in playful exploits, providing unconditional support, making uncomfortable sacrifices, or winding up in handcuffs again, these ladies are those rarest of friends who become true family. Of course, families don’t follow a script either, unless it is a plot-twisting, slightly off-color comedy about the drama of friendship. And bunco, sort of.

Robin Delnoce has the kind of sense of humor that would crush any political aspirations. Her off-color humor amuses most but offends a few, and she has been known to issue a post-party apology or two. After twenty years of being caught in her verbal crosshairs, her husband kindly suggested she shift her energies to a more constructive outlet.

Visit Robin online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * 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 September 28th at midnight EST.

Book Review: Island Affair

By Cindy Roesel

Pack your bags, we're heading down to Key West for an ISLAND AFFAIR (Kensington) to remember.

Sara Vance arrives for her special family holiday, only to find out her so-called boyfriend isn't coming. Sara is stuck on the tarmac as a single for a family couples only weekend! She's had enough problems getting her family to think she's finally got her life together and now she's dumped. What is she going to do?

How about asking a hunky firefighter who is standing there listening to her plight and ready to help out. Luis Navarro has everything you want in a man, including a big heart.

Sara asks and he agrees to be her fake boyfriend for the week. We know where this is going. Luis makes a big impression on the family and helps everyone feel more familia. Everyone wants to know, where did she find this guy? As the week goes along and they succeed near misses with their story, the one thing they agreed to do isn't working. They find themselves falling head over heels for one another.

Sara is a sweet character. She's struggling with an eating disorder and doesn't believe she fits into her family of over achievers. Luis is the perfect ying to her yang, effortlessly just being himself while helping her feel better about herself.

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

More by Priscilla Oliveras:

What's in the mail

Melissa:
Lana's War by Anita Abriel from Atria (e-book via NetGalley)
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner from Berkley  (e-book via NetGalley)
Not My Boy by Kelly Simmons from Sourcebooks (e-book via NetGalley)
The Roommate by Rosie Danan from Berkley  (e-book via NetGalley)

Mom Walks: Starting in Fifth by/from Rebecca Prenevost (e-book via NetGalley)
Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Do No Harm by Christina McDonald from Gallery

Millicent Glenn's Last Wish by Tori Whitaker from Kathleen Carter Communications

Anywhere For You by Abbie Greaves from William Morrow (e-book via NetGalley)

A Borrowed Life by Kerry Anne King from Lake Union (e-book via NetGalley

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey from Tor Books (e-book via NetGalley)
Are We There Yet? by Kathleen West from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)

Girl Gone Mad by Avery Bishop from Lake Union (e-book via NetGalley)

The Hungover Games by Sophie Heawood by Little, Brown (e-book via NetGalley)

The Holiday Detour by Jane Kolven from Bold Stroke Books (e-book via NetGalley)

Jami:

She Lies Close by Sharon Doering from Titan Books (e-book via NetGalley)

We Hear Voices by Evie Green from Berkley (e-book via NetGalley)

A Mother Like You by Ruby Speechley from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book)

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters from Random House

The Smash-Up by Ali Benjamin from Random House

Sara:
The Christmas Swap by Sandy Barker from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book via NetGalley)
Secondhand Love by/from Annie Hoff (e-book)

Love is a Battlefield by/from Whitney Dineen (e-book)

Book Review: Stuck On You

By Sara Steven

Sadie doesn't have time for finding love. She's too busy as PA for famous artist Damian Banks. When she's not arranging exhibitions, she's organising his dry cleaning or dumping his never ending stream of girlfriends.

But when she strikes up an unusual friendship with her desk share buddy, she finds a confidante and a new potential love interest. Problem is, they've never actually met...

With Christmas just around the corner, can Sadie put herself first for a change and find what she's been looking for all along? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

I couldn’t help but picture Lucy, Sandra Bullock’s character in Two Weeks Notice, when I see the interaction between Sadie and Damian, a man reminiscent of Hugh Grant. Sadie is Damian’s go-to for nearly everything in his life, which often gets in the way of allowing Sadie a normal existence. Where it differs though, is through the unique situations and circumstances that Sadie finds herself in with being Damian’s PA. It’s not often an assistant has to break up with her boss’s girlfriends! That right there shows the originality and outward funny that Portia MacIntosh brings to her characters and her stories. 

Another awkwardly funny scenario: When Sadie brings Damian home for the holidays. That scene alone, in where he’s practically inviting himself along when he knows that Sadie has requested the time off to spend with her family, speaks volumes on the type of character that Damian is. But at the same time, it’s hard not to find him likable. Over the course of Stuck On You, we discover how the preconceived notions had for how each character presents themselves and who they truly are will change. Damian isn’t who he really is at all, and Sadie might not feel as trapped in their codependent working relationship as she thought she’d been. 

The premise behind the relationship Sadie has with her desk share buddy is an interesting one. At times I feel it limits her from fully pursuing someone else or even determining the best employment for her, because she doesn’t want to let that potential relationship go. I thought it was sweet how it all plays out, and while I had a clue as to how it would go, it was still nice to see that come to fruition.

The biggest thing to learn from Stuck On You is that you never really know what to expect. Appearances aren’t everything, not really. I love how we get to discover that, too, right along with the primary characters who made this book so much fun! 

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK * Amazon US 

Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author of 12 novels, including It's Not You, It's Them and Honeymoon For One. Previously a music journalist, Portia writes hilarious stories, drawing on her real life experiences.

Visit Portia online:

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Twitter * Instagram

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Visit all the stops on Portia's blog tour:

Spotlight and Giveaway: A Palm Beach Scandal

Today we are featuring A Palm Beach Scandal by Susannah Marren. Although it is the second book in a series, it can be read as a standalone. Thanks to St. Martin's Press, we have one copy to give away!

From Susannah Marren, author of A Palm Beach Wife, comes her next book set in the exclusive, glamorous world of Palm Beach. Marren follows two sisters as one offers the ultimate selfless act to the other, proving the very meaning of family, in this novel of artifice and intrigue.

Veronica and Simon Cutler and their dazzling adult daughters, Elodie and Aubrey, strike an enviable pose, the ultimate Palm Beach family. In a town where social aspirations, wealth and charm prevail, they are transcendent. While the sisters are polar opposites, they are fiercely loyal to each other. When Elodie receives the shocking news that she is no longer able to conceive a baby, she turns to Aubrey.

Aubrey, a free spirit, isn’t interested in marriage or children, yet when her sister asks her to carry her child, she can’t say no, despite her mother’s warnings. And then one stupefying secret, meant to be buried forever, is unearthed and no one in the Cutler clan is able to turn back. As the family is shaken to their core, Aubrey and Elodie must realize their places in the world and the lives they want to lead.

In the midst of the unforgiving opulence of Palm Beach, A Palm Beach Scandal is a story for our times, a captivating tale of discovery, sisterhood, and love for others where you least expect it.  

Photo by James Maher

Susannah Marren is the author of Between the Tides and A Palm Beach  Wife and the pseudonym for Susan Shapiro Barash, who has written over a dozen nonfiction books, including Tripping the Prom Queen, Toxic Friends, and You’re Grounded Forever, But First Let’s Go Shopping. For over twenty years she has taught gender studies at Marymount Manhattan College and has guest taught creative nonfiction at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. She lives in New York City.  

Visit Susannah online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * 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 September 22nd at midnight EST.

Sara and Melissa talk about...Music

We've been running a column series to get more personal with our readers. This month, we're talking about music! 

We're always open to topic suggestions, so please don't hesitate to share those in the comments. We'd also love to know if you can relate to anything we've said or hear your own thoughts on the topic. So don't be shy. :) We look forward to getting to know you as much as we're letting you get to know us. You can find our previous columns here, in case you missed them.

Melissa Amster:

I have always had music in my life and it has been "instrumental" for me. I vaguely remember singing "Bad Girls" by Donna Summer while my uncle played it on the piano when I was really young. I liked the "toot toot, beep beep" part. Since I have so much to say about music, I've decided to do something similar to what I did in the TV post...I'm going to share my music influences during various parts of my life. 

The first pop influence in my life was Michael Jackson. I listened to the Thriller album (or cassette) every day and made my Charmkins dance to his songs. I got to see him in concert around that time, which was so exciting! A few years later, I became obsessed with Madonna and listened to her various albums all the time. I even made an art project about her in fifth grade and dressed like her for costume day at camp. I also liked Wham and Whitney Houston and saw both in concert. (As you may have noticed, I have some sort of concert curse.)

Moving on to middle school, I started out listening to Tiffany and Debbie Gibson all the time. When we'd go on our family vacation to Florida, I'd sit on the porch to watch the sunset while playing my Tiffany cassette over and over. When eighth grade came around, I was sucked into the fandom of New Kids on the Block. Talk about being obsessed! I even got a hat like they wore. My best friend, sister, and I went to see them in concert on my best friend's birthday. I cried when I saw Joey through my binoculars. (Who knew that I'd meet him about 15 years later when he starred in Wicked?!?)

Left to right: Me, Joey, my sister

In high school, my tastes changed quite a bit. I started listening to musicals more often. When I was a freshman, my school performed Working, and I liked it so much that I listened to the original cast recording all the time after that. When Wayne's World became a movie in 1992 and played "Bohemian Rhapsody," I was fixated on learning every single word to that song. And then came Nirvana. I don't even know how many times I listened to Nevermind, but it kept me sane on all the bus rides to and from school. I was into Disney music at the time, as well. I couldn't get enough of Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Newsies. I even made a Disney music mix for when we had a Disney theme for Homecoming during junior year and I played it all the time. That was also the year my school did How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and I listened to that soundtrack, as well. I also listened to Miss Saigon, Les Miz, Guys and Dolls, and Into the Woods a lot. Toward the end of senior year, it was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat coming out of my speakers all the time.

During my various years of college, I was big into Toad the Wet Sprocket, Green Day, Alanis Morissette, Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant, Counting Crows, Jill Sobule, Barenaked Ladies, No Doubt, Gin Blossoms, etc. I also listened to The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Shock Treatment soundtracks a lot. Later, I was all about the soundtracks for Clueless, Empire Records, and Pulp Fiction. That all changed when I got the original Broadway cast recording of Rent at the end of 1996 and memorized it all by the time I saw it on stage a year later. I also started getting into country music toward the time I graduated college and then bought myself Shania Twain and Dixie Chicks CDs. (I even saw the latter in concert in 2000.)

As an adult, I still listen to Broadway music all the time, especially with my older son. We take car trips just to get out of the house and listen to our favorite cast recordings, such as In the Heights, Wicked, Heathers, Legally Blonde, The Last Five Years, Dear Evan Hansen, Jagged Little Pill, etc. Of course, I went through a Hamilton phase in 2016, but then got satiated from it. I sometimes listen to the radio, but all the songs sound the same after a while. I currently like "Break My Heart" by Dua Lipa though. I tend to listen to eighties and nineties music whenever possible, but my kids aren't fans, so it's hard to do so when they are around. My workout music is always the nineties station on Pandora. Another music influence has been Frank Sinatra, whom my late paternal grandpa liked. I'd also play Ella Fitzgerald's music a lot. My favorite modern version is Jamie Cullum. I love his voice and songs. 

I could go on and on about music, but I hope this gives you a taste of my interests. 

Sara Steven:

It’s been awhile since I’ve been tasked with a music-themed topic. I think Melissa and I were still involved in our monthly blog group project when I blogged about the various songs that would get me through the day. My last top ten post related to music is from 2012! 

Looking at that list compared to the songs I have on my playlist now, I don’t see any similarities. I’m not sure if nearly a decade has changed my taste in music, or maybe my experiences are different, requiring a change in palette. Either way, music is still a huge component in my world and I rarely go a day without listening to something. While many choose to use an app for their musical playlists, I’m still plugging the phone in and switching up the songs I can listen to; moving files over, removing files... I know it’s easier to use an app, but for some reason, I feel like I need to work at creating the perfect catalog, depending on the type of music I need on any given week. 

I’ve decided to share a list of my top ten must-have songs, just like in the old days. However, I won’t be scouring the depths of an MP3 player like I would have back then. I wouldn’t even know where to find it. The forward progression from 2012 to 2020 has led to an advance in technology for even the likes of someone like me, someone who swore she’d NEVER own a Smartphone. (I’m looking at my Samsung Galaxy S10e, even as I type this) Either way, maybe you’ll find a new song you’d like to add to your own list—whether that’s from Pandora or Spotify or if you’re like me, with an old school MP3 playlist on your phone. In no particular order:

Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake $ Timbaland: "4 Minutes"

I think this comment says it best; when you pull up this music video on YouTube, you’ll see that a commenter left a reply that says: “If you’re listening to this song in 2020...you’re a legend!” 

Tamara Bubble: "Self Motivated"

When I listen to this song, it does just what it says it will do. I feel motivated! Self motivated, to be precise. This is a good one to have on your playlist while out for a run or when you’ve got a ton of stuff to accomplish in the day. I first heard it while watching HBO’s Insecure and I really liked it.

Blackmill ft. Veela: "Let It Be"

It’s trippy and chill and full of delicate angst. 

James Blake: "Retrograde"

My fifteen-year old introduced me to this song. He discovered it while playing a video game, Tales from the Borderlands. It wasn’t one of his favorites, but I really like it. It’s not a song I’d think to find on a video game, but it goes to show you, you never know where you’ll find good music.

Honey Claws: "Digital Animal"

I first heard this song while watching Breaking Bad. I liked the beat and the downward progression during the chorus. 

First Aid Kit: "My Silver Lining"

This really helped me out while I was dealing with some health stuff earlier this year. I’m not ordinarily into country-infused sounds, but this reminded me of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” in sound and melody. It’s another one found on Tales from the Borderlands.

Yelle: "Que Veux-tu" (Madeon Remix)

This song has been on playlists of mine in the past, then I forgot about it. But old home movies reminded me of the times my youngest son would dance his little toddler feet off while listening to it! My husband and I had ideas of dressing up as the characters from this music video, but it never happened. But the song lives on!

Shakira, Maluma: "Clandestino"

It’s Shakira. ‘Nuff said.

Massive Attack: "Angel"

This reminds me of the 90’s and the 2000’s and all of it in between. 

Tanerelle: "Nothing Without You"

This song makes me think of missed opportunities and broken promises, or two ships passing each other by, even though the two ships never wanted to pass one another by. It’s beautiful and mournful and yearnful. This is another one I found on Insecure.

Your turn! Tell us your music influences and/or favorite songs!

Pamela Redmond keeps us young...plus a book giveaway

Photo by Mark Hanauer

Introduction by Melissa Amster

I have been a fan of Younger ever since it first graced my TV screen. It's funny, sexy, creative, and wildly entertaining. It's no secret that I'm #TeamCharles. So I'm really excited to have Pamela Redmond here today, as she wrote the novel that the TV series is based upon and now has a sequel called Older. I am sure it will keep me entertained while waiting for season seven to finally show up! Pamela is here today to share her thoughts on writing and the TV series. Thanks to Gallery, we have TWO copies for some lucky readers!

Pamela is the New York Times bestselling author of both humor books and novels, including Younger, now a television show created by Sex & The City’s Darren Star, and its sequel Older. Her other books include the historical novel The Possibility of You and the bestsellers How Not To Act Old and 30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know By The Time She’s 30. Pamela is also a name expert and the co-creator with Linda Rosenkrantz of a groundbreaking series on baby names and the world’s largest baby name website Nameberry. She lives in Los Angeles with one son and near the other, though she frequently visits New York where her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter live. You can learn more about Pamela in this profile in The New York Times or this story in The Star-Ledger. (Bio adapted from Pamela's website.)

Visit Pamela online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:

New York or Los Angeles? Romance or commitment? Younger…or older?

Liza Miller never dreamed that anyone would be interested in her life, let alone buy a book about it. But everything changes when, on the eve of her fiftieth birthday, she publishes a thinly veiled novel about a woman posing as a millennial called Younger—which her old friend Kelsey wants to turn into a TV show.

Liza is off to Los Angeles to help Kelsey write the pilot. But that means leaving behind her on-again off-again boyfriend Josh, her pregnant daughter, and her best friend Maggie. Can Liza find happiness in her new adventure if it means leaving everyone she loves?

Yet as Liza is swept up in the heady world of Hollywood, she finds herself thinking less and less of her life back home in New York. And when she meets Hugo Fielding—the devastatingly handsome and incredibly flirtatious Brit playing her boss on the show—she toes the line between having a crush and falling in love.

Torn between New York and Los Angeles, a familiar love and a risky one, an established career and a shot at stardom, Liza must decide if it’s too late to go to the ball...and if she even wants to. From the author of the beloved Younger, this is an endearing, hilarious, and relatable tale of second chances and new beginnings that proves: the best thing about getting Older is that you finally get to be yourself. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

How are you similar to or different from Liza? I’m similar to Liza in that I’ve changed my life and done a lot of new things after 40. I’m different in that I’m very honest about who I am. Pretending or telling a lie doesn’t even occur to me until days, months, or even years later, when I’m thinking about turning some event from my life into fiction. What were the biggest reward and biggest challenge with writing Older, given the direction the TV series took Younger? The biggest reward was writing about characters who were so well-known and fully-realized, from the original novel Younger which I updated last year and from the amazing work over six seasons of Younger TV by Darren Star, Sutton Foster, Hilary Duff, Debi Mazar, Nico Tortorella, and Tess Albertson. The biggest challenge was to create a story that didn’t step on the toes of all the wonderful plot lines that have developed over the six seasons on Younger TV but stayed true to the characters and their world. Also, to create a hero who could hold a candle to the dreamy Charles! What is one piece of advice you have for aspiring novelists? Take classes! It’s hard to find a good class on novel writing because you can’t really workshop a novel over the course of a few months. But TV writing and screenwriting classes can teach you a lot about plot structure and short story writing classes can teach you to create compelling characters. Best, you’ll meet other writers you might want to continue meeting with in a private group. Who would you love to see as a guest star on Younger for the final season? Me! What is something you learned about yourself during the pandemic? That the thing I love best is what I do all the time anyway: Sit alone in a room typing. Going out and getting together with other people is nice, and I miss restaurant meals and traveling for sure, but it’s not central to my happiness. What is your theme song? "I Will Survive." The character Sutton Foster (this is part of the meta-ness of Older) sings it at an important and meaningful event in the book. But telling you which one would be a spoiler!

Thanks to Pamela for chatting with us and to Gallery 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 September 21st at midnight EST.

Spending the day with Olivia Lara

We are pleased to welcome Olivia Lara to CLC today to feature her debut novel, Someday in Paris. Enter for a chance to win a copy over at Goodreads! (E-book; US only.)

Olivia Lara was born and raised in Bucharest in a family of booklovers and storytellers. Since university she has worked as a journalist and marketer in Romania, France and the United States. She is currently a marketing executive in San Francisco and lives in the Bay Area with her husband, young daughter and four cats. 

Visit Olivia online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
Finding the one is only the beginning... 

1954. Zara is fifteen the first time she meets Leon. During a power cut in a small French museum, the two spend one short hour in the dark talking about their love for art, Monet and Paris. Neither knows what the other looks like. Both know their lives will never be the same. 

1963. In Paris, Leon no longer believes he will ever find the girl he lost that night. After dreaming about him for years, Zara thinks she has already found him. When they meet at an exhibition, they don't recognize each other – yet the way they feel is so familiar... 

Over the course of twenty years, Zara and Leon are destined to fall in love again and again. But will they ever find a way to be together? 

'It's about dreams and taking chances. Missed opportunities and mistakes. Loss and sacrifice. But above all, it is about love. The kind of love that survives time, distance... even death. The kind of love I wish for you.' 

A magical new love story about star-crossed lovers, perfect for hopeless romantics and fans of One Day and The Notebook. 

'An epic, sweeping romance about soulmates and second chances' ~Holly Miller

'An absolutely unforgettable love story' ~Mandy Baggot 

'A deeply moving, richly evocative story of love, loss and the power of hope' ~Miranda Dickinson 

Purchase Links:

Amazon US * Amazon UK * Kobo US * Kobo UK * Apple US  

Apple UK * Barnes & Noble * Google

What is something you learned about yourself while writing Someday in Paris? 

Oh, so many things. I wrote manuscripts before, but never showed them to anyone and didn’t finish them 100%. This was the first time I felt I had something special, a story that I couldn’t get enough of and thankfully I also felt confident enough in it to show it to my husband. He loved it and urged me to try and publish it. I’ll forever be grateful to him for this (and countless other things). 

I learned to trust my instincts and listen to the characters. I learned that I can only write what I believe in, and I can only spend months and months with characters I have strong feelings for (not always love). That I am a hopeless romantic. That I tend to write as much as I talk. Which is A LOT. That writing is rewriting. That, while writing a book is a solitary endeavour, publishing a book takes a village of dedicated, talented people. That finding the right agent who will champion your book and love it as much as you do is probably the most important decision you’ll make in your publishing career. I learned that characters can stay with you long after you write ‘the end’ and the only way to fill the void they left in your heart is to write a new story and allow other characters to invade your imagination. 

What were the biggest reward and biggest challenge with writing Someday in Paris? 

There were so many rewards, truly. And they keep on coming. Someday in Paris has only been published three months ago, and I’m sure more wonderful things will happen. The look in my husband’s eyes when he finished reading it. My agent’s reaction when she read Zara and Leon’s story, my editor’s reaction. The first early reviews from readers floored me. Their love for Someday in Paris was a dream come true. I feel that with every person who reads and loves my debut novel, I’m getting all the rewards that I need. 

The biggest challenge? I’d say it was figuring out how to tell the complex story of Zara and Leon, over twenty years, and keep it within a ‘decent’ word count. Deciding what to include and what not to kept me up at night as we were going through edits. Thankfully, both my agent and my editor are brilliant, and their guidance was incredibly valuable in this process. 

If Someday in Paris were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles? 

Oh, I love this question. And, actually a lot of readers mentioned they would definitely see Someday in Paris made into a movie, so…who knows? Maybe someday… 

To be honest, when I wrote the book, I imagined real people; I saw their faces and they weren’t those of famous actors. So, unknown, new actors would work just perfectly for me. But, if we’re talking about known actors, hmm, let’s see.

Zara — Marion Cotillard or Emma Watson 

Leon — Matthew Goode or Alexander Skarsgård 

Vincent — Jake Gyllenhaal or Oliver Jackson-Cohen 

Nicole —Amanda Seyfried or Margot Robbie 

JJ — Tom Hanks (because Tom Hanks is always the answer) or Kevin Costner     

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend? 

Emma. I quite enjoyed this version. 

What do you do to maintain those gorgeous curls of yours? 

All my childhood and way into my adolescence I wanted to have perfectly straight hair like everyone else and I used to keep my hair in a ponytail. In time, I learned to appreciate the unruly curls. I think they maintain themselves...haha. I don’t do anything special and usually just try to let them be. 

What is the cutest thing one of your cats did recently? 

Pumpkin, our Maine coon mix, who sometimes stays with me while I write or edit, insisted on contributing to my latest manuscript with lots of ‘hhkhuukh’ and “lklklkl”. My agent is going to have a blast reading the draft.

Thanks to Olivia for visiting with us and to Rachel's Random Resources for coordinating the interview.

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Book Review: My Christmas Number One

By Sara Steven

Cara doesn’t do sexy and she only does ‘Happy Christmas’ under duress. She is, after all, a serious musician, and her stubborn streak is born from her struggle to recover from a serious injury.

Javi lives for escapist fun - in his music, and in his life - especially since he’s always failed at life’s more serious challenges, including marriage and fatherhood.

Javi and Cara are forced to record a Christmas single together, but neither of them have plans to spend any more time with each other than they absolutely have to. With Christmas traditions that couldn’t be more different, and outlooks on life that are worlds apart, the chemistry just shouldn’t work. But the magic of Christmas can bring even opposites together… (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon)

My Christmas Number One felt like a departure from the typical holiday stories I’ve come to expect with “Christmas” in the title. I expected lots of snow and mistletoe, but what I discovered were hot tropical nights and palm trees! And it worked well. This non-traditional holiday story featuring two polar opposite characters really dug in, not to mention the musical background that tied everything in and where it should be. 

As indicated in the synopsis, Cara is very much an introvert, with quiet sensibilities that show her English roots. Javi is loud and extroverted, proud of his Columbian roots. Their musical styles couldn’t be any more different from one another, but much like what we get to see as the story unfolds, the differences complement. As uptight as Cara appears to be, it’s hard to fault her for it, given what has happened in her past. It’s done a lot to shape the person she is today. And Javi appears to be the loveable Peter Pan-like man who doesn’t really want to deal with feelings or relationships. There is a lot of baggage spread out between them. Just when I thought they would make some progress as individuals and as a potential couple, then the setbacks would set in. It made the relationship an interesting one to watch.

The secondary characters really added to the chemistry, too. I loved Javi’s daughter, Bea. Maybe it’s the nod to the holidays, which, even though this isn’t a traditional holiday story, it is still there—but, Bea reminded me of Sam, the boy in Love Actually. Much like Sam, Bea loves to play the drums and her personality is very preteen acerbic. The interactions she has with her father are very telling, in terms of what their relationship is like and why it’s like that. Then there’s Cara’s father, Gordon. He frustrated me to no end. There are reasons behind it and why he feels like he must protect Cara at all cost, which gave allowances for his behavior, but while I wanted to see what would happen between Cara and Javi, I also wanted to see if Cara would ever stand up to her father. 

What I loved most about My Christmas Number One was that it was a raw, honest read. There are situations both main characters are dealing with and watching their insecurities and stumbling blocks get stripped away one by one was a beautiful experience. In the end, when you love someone, it goes beyond the surface of looks or talent or fame, or any of the other things that can fade over time. It’s about acceptance and trust and respect, and seeing someone for who they really are, a lesson all of the characters must learn within this book. With its music and dancing, adventures and more than not, misadventures combined with everything else, this was a worthy five star read!

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

Purchase Links:

Amazon US * Amazon UK

Leonie Mack is a debut romantic novelist. Having lived in London for many years her home is now in Germany with her husband and three children. Leonie loves train travel, medieval towns, hiking and happy endings! 

Visit Leonie online:

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Twitter * Instagram

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