Reviews at Amazon--July/August 2024

We're posting some reviews at our Amazon (or Goodreads) accounts, as either they've been sitting in our queue for a while and deserve their time in the sun, fall under our featuring policy, or they're new reads that we couldn't wait to post at the blog. You can check them out at the links below. Hope we can help you find your next favorite book!

Sara Steven:
Scandalous Women by Gill Paul

The Bereaved by Julia Park Tracey

My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine

Casket Case by Lauren Evans 

Redeemed by Penny Lane

Dirty Diana by Jen Besser and Shana Feste

Jami Denison: 

In Any Lifetime by Marc Guggenheim

Allyson Bales:

In Every Life by Rea Frey

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

Melissa Amster:

Honey by Isabel Banta

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland

The Dating Contract by Stacey Agdern

The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

Uncharted by Tracey Garvis Graves

The Goldie Standard by Simi Monheit

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

My Favorite Mistake by Marian Keyes

Behind Every Good Man by Sara Goodman Confino (enter to win until September 2nd!)

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Book Review: The Bachelorette Party

By Jami Denison

Knowing the bride’s preferences is key to throwing a memorable bachelorette party. A trip to Nashville or Las Vegas is perfect for an extrovert who loves to drink and dance. The quieter types might prefer a spa weekend filled with massages and makeovers. The adventurous types? Camping and rock climbing. But what of the true crime lovers?

In Sandra Block’s latest thriller, The Bachelorette Party, bride-to-be Alex is obsessed with the 666 serial killer. As an intern for a crime show, she’s actually interviewed the man imprisoned for the crime several times. He proclaims his innocence; if Alex can prove it, she’s guaranteed a job on the show. Alex is also engaged to a wealthy single dad, and her best friends from college want to throw her the perfect bachelorette party. They’ve rented out the mountain lodge where the 666 killer murdered his first victim. What could be more fun?

Then Alex wakes up after midnight to find the house covered in blood and her friends missing. In the middle of a blizzard, in this isolated lodge, Alex wonders if the real 666 killer has returned to finish what he started. Or could the killer be even closer than she thinks? 

While I loved Block’s terrific premise, I found the execution a bit lacking. Other than Alex, the characters are somewhat one-dimensional, and Alex herself has issues that feel very convenient and cause her to doubt herself. Block moves back and forth between the action of the bachelorette party and the backstory of Alex’s interviews and internet discussions about the killer. This structure helps at creating tension, but occasionally gets confusing.

Still, I hung in there hoping for a big payoff, and I got one. Block nails the ending completely, adding twists on top of twists and paying off subtle setups. She ties up loose ends and closes on the right note. It makes up for the muddy middle. 

For readers who love serial killer books, The Bachelorette Party is a good fit for their library. It would also make a fun gift idea for women attending a hen-do. For brides-to-be—even the ones who love true crime—I hope the idea remains in a book, and doesn’t become the start of a trend.   

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

More by Sandra Block:
Girl Overboard
What Happened That Night

Little Black Lies

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A perfect summer day with Judith Natelli McLaughlin...plus a book giveaway

Today we welcome Judith Natelli McLaughlin to CLC to talk about her latest novel, Summer on Butterfly Bay, which was released earlier this summer. It sounds like a great story to enjoy not only in the summer, but any time of year! Judith has one copy, along with some swag, for a lucky reader!

Judith Natelli McLaughlin has been writing for as long as she can remember. The first book she ever wrote she bound with masking tape and for six-year-old Judy that was exactly how a "real" book was supposed to look. 

She still loves to write and illustrate books but she no longer uses masking tape to bind them. She publishes across genres, including children's chapter books, poetry books, middle grade, women's fiction and romance.

A native of New Jersey, Judy and her husband, Brian, call the sandy beaches of the Jersey Shore home. She has three grown, city-dwelling daughters, Katie, Lindsay, and Maggie, as well as her faithful writing companion, a West Highland White Terrier named Duke.

Visit Judith at her website and on Instagram.

Synopsis:
People can change…like the colors in a sunset.

When young widow Ali Mitchell Ford heads to Butterfly Bay for the summer, she expects peace, quiet, and time to rejuvenate. Instead, she runs head-on into the hurricane force of her mother when she discovers the house her parents insisted she rent, the grandest home on the island, comes with its own built-in-man, Brooker Knight, a wealthy entrepreneur who hopes to heal the gaping hole in his own heart.

Ali’s first instinct is to run. But to where? Living with her parents would be a heart attack in the making and she has already sublet her place. Out of options, she is forced to endure the Great Summer Share with Brooker and his soon-to-be fiancée, the newest face of a luxury makeup empire.

Can a mystical, elderly woman, a furry rescue dog, and the healing waters of Butterfly Bay help Ali and Brooker recognize true transformation can only come when the desire for change exceeds the comforts of what is keeping them stuck, or will they be strangled by grief forever? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“With Summer on Butterfly Bay, Judith Natelli McLaughlin has created a magical story of loss, love, unexpected joy—and an irresistible dog! Perfect for fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey and Carley Fortune.”

—Andrea J. Stein, award-winning author of Typecast and Dear Eliza

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
Someone once told me my writing reads effortlessly, like perfection is poured out on the page.  I was thrilled to hear that because behind the scenes there is a lot of writing, and re-writing, and struggling and editing, and crying. And writing and re-writing and struggling and editing and crying, (repeat process) to get it all to read effortlessly.

And with regards to Butterfly Bay specifically, I have been blessed to hear from my readers that my story has made an impact on their lives, addressing love, and grief and the journey to healing in a way that is real and will stay with them forever.  Connecting with even one reader on that intimate level is enough to sustain me on my own writing journey…and hearing this same refrain from so many readers? Including words like “I read it in one day?”  Well, I am humbled, honored, and consider it my privilege to continue to share my stories.

What is one thing you would tell the debut novelist version of yourself?
Do. Not. Give. Up.

It’s about the journey, not the destination.

And this next nugget is one my dad liked to share. It’s a Branch Rickey quote: “Luck is the residue of design.”
 
Oh. That’s three. My apologies, but all three see me through.  And, by the way, this is my third novel and I am still telling myself these same three things.
 
If Summer on Butterfly Bay was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
This is such a perfect question!  Perfect because when my niece finished reading Butterfly Bay, one by one, she cast the movie, sending me screen shots of her proposed actors. It was a fun afternoon as her ideas rolled in and then I put them all together for an Instagram reel, crediting her as casting director.  So, here we go… Emma Stone as Ali, Henry Cavill as Brooker, Elle Fanning as Sloane, Emma Thompson as Mary, Harrison Ford as David, along with the great Ellen Burstyn and finally, my very own dog, Duke McLaughlin, playing the part of KoB. 
 
What is the last book you read that you would recommend?
Easy. The last book I read is the last book I would recommend…The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.  It is a masterpiece.  Read it. Listen to it. Mark it up. Take notes. Take your time. Just read it.  I already wish I could read it again for the first time. My favorite takeaway theme from the sweeping novel is women raising other women up. Us women, we all stand on another woman’s shoulders. Mine are sturdy thanks to the ones before me. And on.  And on.  I know why Oprah fell so deeply in love with the book. And as I mentioned in an intsa post, I am ready to discuss it with her whenever she wants.
 
If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
Right now I am in Seaside Park, NJ which is the loose backdrop for Butterfly Bay.  We would hop on our bikes and ride up and down the boardwalk, then stop at Park Bakery for a piece of glazed coffee cake.  Followed by a stop at White Oak Market where we could order a few subs to go, for lunch.  We’d pop our lunch in the bike basket and ride home to eat on my front porch.  After lunch and a lazy nap on the porch swing, perhaps we’d head out for a paddle board excursion on the bay after which we could walk to Charlies (now Salty Scoops) for ice cream. We’d search for Monarch butterflies, read our books, and bury our toes in the sand. We’d end the day on the pier with a sunset that doubles as fireworks. 
 
If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 

Yikes. My first instinct is to reach out to my niece, the one who cast the Butterfly Bay movie, to see what she thinks. But without her help I will have to go with…

Nope. I needed her help! And we are picking Tina Fey! Thanks, Erin…she is perfect.  Did you hear her narrate Bossypants? Tina Fey is dry and funny, smooth and rough all at the same time.  GENIUS!

Thanks to Judith for visiting with us and 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 3rd at midnight EST.

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Book Review: A Season of Perfect Happiness

By Jami Denison

Occasionally, parents of new babies ask my husband and me our opinion on the best time in our children’s lives. Although we married later in life, our answer is the same: When the kids were in grade school, when homework wasn’t too tough and we spent our weekends watching soccer matches and having dinner with friends. It was, as author Maribeth Fischer might say, a season of perfect happiness. But eventually the kids grew up; some of us moved away. Others got divorced or suffered life-threatening illnesses. Happiness is fleeting, and there’s nothing like the women’s fiction genre to remind us of that.

For Claire, the protagonist in Fischer’s novel, A Season of Perfect Happiness, her season is a year filled with activities around her husband, her stepchildren, their mother, and her husband’s best friend and his wife. They’re a close-knit, if unlikely, group, and Claire, who fled from Delaware to their tiny Wisconsin town, cherishes them above all else. She’s also hiding a devastating secret, one that she knows would change the way Annabelle, her stepchildren’s mother, would view her forever. But when a person from Claire’s former life comes to town, Claire knows she’s in jeopardy of losing all the people she holds dear. 

Women’s fiction is about characters and relationships over plot, and Fischer is a master at creating characters. Claire, her husband Erik, and Erik’s ex-wife Annabelle come across as fully dimensional, and their flaws are as real as they are. The writing is stellar, as Fischer blends evocative description, thoughtful narration, and realistic dialogue to tell her story. Her world-building is masterful, centering around the real-life theatre museum Ten Chimneys, and creating scenarios and characters that will inevitably collide. 

I was less enamored of a few narrative tricks the author employed. Claire holds onto her secret until about a quarter of the way through the book; a technique when utilized by a first-person narrator comes across as a heavy-handed way of increasing tension. Later, she makes it clear that Claire is looking back on the story rather than experiencing it with the reader. Claire’s commentary may be designed to create suspense, but for me, I concluded that everything must end up okay because of the calm voice telling the story.

More broadly, and beyond the questions of narrative technique, Fischer poses provocative questions on the nature of responsibility and forgiveness. Does one mistake—no matter how consequential—define a person for their entire life? What if the mistake is a result of mental illness? At what point in a relationship are people owed access to each other’s deepest secrets? A Season of Perfect Happiness is a great choice for book clubs who want to delve into these issues.

Even if you’re not hiding a life-changing secret from your friends, A Season of Perfect Happiness is a wistful reminder to cherish the best times in your life. Happiness may be fleeting, but so is life itself. 

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

More by Maribeth Fischer:
The Life You Longed For
The Language of Goodbye

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Hanging out with Jean Meltzer and Sara Goodman Confino...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

I'm so pleased to have both Jean Meltzer and Sara Goodman Confino at CLC today! I've read all four of each of their books and love them all! Both authors live in the DC area and I was fortunate enough to get to meet them around this time last year. They are as lovely in person as they are online. I also have been credited with introducing them, so that validates my friend matchmaking skills. ;) They write wonderful Jewish-themed rom coms and they started a group on Facebook called Jewish Women Talk About Romance Books. I had fun asking them some questions and seeing how each of them would respond. And it was even more fun to read their answers! Their latest novels are Magical Meet Cute (Jean's, which is out today) and Behind Every Good Man (Sara's, which released earlier this month). As always, I loved both! Thanks to Harlequin and Sara, we have one copy of each novel for a lucky reader!

Magical Meet Cute review

Behind Every Good Man review

Jean Meltzer studied dramatic writing at NYU Tisch and has earned numerous awards for her work in television, including a daytime Emmy. She spent five years in rabbinical school before her chronic illness forced her to withdraw, and her father told her she should write a book—just not a Jewish one because no one reads those. Magical Meet Cute is her fourth novel.

Visit Jean online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Sara Goodman Confino lives in  Montgomery County, Maryland, with her husband, two  sons, and miniature schnauzer, Sandy. When she’s not writing or working out, she can be found on the beach or at a Bruce Springsteen show, sometimes even dancing onstage.

Visit Sara online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
Is he the real deal…or did she truly summon a golem?

Faye Kaplan used to be engaged. She also used to have a successful legal practice. But she much prefers her new life as a potter in Woodstock, New York. The only thing missing is the perfect guy.
Not that she needs one. She’s definitely happy alone.

That is, until she finds her town papered with anti-Semitic flyers after yet another failed singles event at the synagogue. Desperate for comfort, Faye drunkenly turns to the only thing guaranteed to soothe her—pottery. A golem protector is just what her town needs…and adding all the little details to make him her ideal man can’t hurt, right?

When a seriously hot stranger mysteriously turns up the next day, Greg seems too good to be true—if you ignore the fact that Faye hit him with her bike. And that he subsequently lost his memory…
But otherwise, the man checks Every. Single. Box. Causing Faye to wonder if Greg’s sudden and spicy appearance might be anything but a coincidence. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"With her latest offering, Jean Meltzer continues her trend of fearlessly tackling sensitive, mostly uncharted issues with finesse and humor. Creative, inventive, and romantic, Magical Meet Cute is her boldest novel yet." 
—Meredith Schorr, author of Someone Just Like You

Synopsis:
It’s a doozy of a bad day for Beverly Diamond when she catches her husband, Larry, in a compromising position with his secretary. What’s a DC suburban wife to do with a soon-to-be ex, two young kids, and no degree or financial support in 1962? Beat the louse at his own game, that’s what.

Larry runs the Maryland senatorial campaign for the incumbent candidate projected to win against his younger underdog opponent, Michael Landau. But Beverly has the pluck, political savvy, and sheer drive to push Landau’s campaign in a successful new direction, even if he already has a campaign manager who is less than pleased she has inserted herself into the race.

Now it’s rival against rival. She and Michael do make a great team…maybe in more ways than one. But with the election heating up, she needs to focus on one thing at a time. If Bev can convince Michael to go modern, pay attention to women’s issues, and learn how to dress himself properly, maybe she can show Larry exactly how much he has underestimated her their entire marriage—and make her own dreams come true in the process. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“Behind every good book…is well, a terrific writer. Sara Goodman Confino does it again with her latest, Behind Every Good Man. Confino’s page-turner is full of laughs, feminine mystique, endearing characters, Jewish-isms, and lotsa heart.” 

—Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author of Woman on Fire

What is something you loved most about each other's latest novels?

JM: I loved how fiercely feminist Behind Every Good Man was. I loved how it explored difficult topics and issues that face women to this day, but through the lens of this fun 1960s revenge fantasy. Beverly, the protagonist, was such a wonderfully drawn character, and I found myself highlighting many parts of the book. Absolutely, a five-star read for me. 

SGC:  I ADORED the use of magical realism. I had never heard the term Jewitch before, but I always loved witchy stories (think Practical Magic) and so I loved the connections there. I’m big on evil eyes and red string bracelets, so I just had a lot of fun with the whole concept. (My Jewitch power is I can find things—like I can literally walk into someone else’s house and find the thing that they’ve been looking for.)

If you could pair up on a book, what would it be about? 

JM: I’ve been percolating on a women’s fiction/comedic-style novel for some time now, and I’ve spoken to Sara a little bit about pairing up on it, but that’s all I’m going to say for now, because as your readers know, nobody likes spoilers! Also, I’d have to find time in my current schedule, which sadly, is probably not going to open up to writing two books a year anytime soon. But maybe one day! 

SGC: Oh, we’ve talked about some ideas! We both want to do a Jewish horror novel at some point (Jean is into the movies and I’m into the books!) and we’ve talked about a Thelma and Louise style girl trip/romcom/running from the law story. I don’t know which is happening first, but a collaboration is definitely coming someday!

Melissa and Jean, August 2023

If your latest novels were made into movies, what songs would be on the soundtracks?

JM: Since Magical Meet Cute is about a proud Jewitch woman who might have accidentally summoned a golem... I would expect to see all the best tunes with witchy and fall vibes. Some current favorites would be "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals, "Season of the Witch" by Donovan, "W.I.T.C.H." by Devon Cole and "Breakfast" by Dove Cameron.   

SGC: A bookstagrammer actually sent me a fun playlist she made on Spotify of early 60s girl power songs that would be SO perfect, like “These Boots Were Made for Walking” by Nancy Sinatra. But if we’re using anything more modern, I definitely would want “I Can Do it With a Broken Heart” by Taylor Swift and “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyonce because Bev in Behind Every Good Man is just such a powerhouse.

If you could ask each other one question, what would it be?

JM: I actually know Sara pretty well now, and I don’t think either of us are the type that hold back, so maybe I would ask her where her love of mini-Shnauzers and Bruce Springsteen first developed. And then, I’d see if she wants to grab a drink and head out to the pool. 

SGC: Jean and I were kind of instant besties, so there’s not a lot that we haven’t asked each other. But I’m always so in awe of how she manages her chronic illness and is still ALWAYS there for people. No one shows up like Jean when you need her, and I wish I was better at that when my own life feels overwhelming, so I think I’d ask how she does it all.

Melissa and Sara, August 2023

If you got to switch places for a day, what is something that would surprise the other about your life?

JM: I know that Sara has a pretty hectic house between kids, and dogs, and a husband. My house, in contrast, is currently just me and my husband. So, I am certain that Sara would be shocked by how quiet my house is. I think she would also be surprised at how much I work, too. 

SGC: How little time I actually get for anything. Between kids, teaching (not this year thankfully!), two dogs, family obligations, and keeping the house running, there are days when it feels like I don’t even get to sit down, let alone write. There are days when it feels like Sara the author doesn’t even exist, and that’s hard.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? (Like how John McEnroe narrated Devi's life on Never Have I Ever.)

JM: I am the worst person when it comes to knowing celebrities! So, maybe I would just say Adam Sandler because he’s been such a role model to me in terms of portraying Jewish culture with pride, love, and humor. And frankly, I’d like to find any excuse to meet him and eat pickles together. 

SGC: Okay, first of all, Never Have I Ever is one of my all time favorite shows and I hope they reboot it for 87 more seasons. But I think Morgan Freeman. Because he’d do the best job stating what my intentions were for the day, followed by, “And then Sara did absolutely none of that.” Or Steve Martin. I’d watch that man read the phone book!

Thanks to Jean and Sara for chatting with us and for sharing copies of their books with our readers (thanks to Harlequin for the MMC giveaway).

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 2nd at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Mechanics of Memory

By Sara Steven

Never Forget.

Memory is Copeland-Stark’s business. Yet after months of reconsolidation treatments at their sleek new flagship facility, Hope Nakano still has no idea what happened to her lost year, or the life she was just beginning to build with her one great love. Each procedure surfaces fragmented clues that erode Hope’s trust in her own memories, especially the ones of Luke. As inconsistencies mount, her search for answers reveals a much larger secret Copeland-Stark is determined to protect.

But everyone has secrets, including Hope. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I’m completely in love with The Mechanics of Memory! I’m a sucker for a good psychological sci-fi thriller with elements of romance sprinkled into it, and this fits that to perfection. Copeland-Stark’s facility reminded me of an upscale rehabilitation resort for A-listers, combined with the Hawkin’s National Laboratory the character Eleven from Stranger Things has had to fight to survive in. And Hope has had to fight to survive, too. Nothing is as it seems, despite everything the employees try to do to make it appear that the facility is doing it’s best to make the inhabitants “be well,” a phrase the reader will encounter often between staff and the “guests” there. All for research. But to what end?

Soon, Hope and other cohorts figure out that there is more behind the scenes, and they go to great lengths to discover the truth behind what Copeland-Stark is really up to. In every chapter, there are a myriad of clues and answers that are given to the reader in the best of ways, a few steps at a time, and even when I thought I knew what was happening and how Hope ended up at a place like Copeland-Stark, in the end I was completely wrong in my assessment. The virtual reality rooms and the scenes between Hope and her friends who have banded together through trauma were engaging moments that provided so much to the story. Through it all, despite having memory stripped away at every turn, it’s never really gone. Not entirely. Particularly when there is love involved.

While I enjoy this genre, I don’t often get the opportunity to read from this genre. It’s a favorite of my husband’s, too, and it was nice to have the chance to recommend this book to him. There’s a big scene in the book where computer code is used to decipher some hidden secrets and meanings and it was fun to hear from my husband (a computer programmer/web developer) on what it all means and where it had been derived from. It’s definitely been added to his TBR list. The Mechanics of Memory is a definite five-star page turner, and if I could give it more stars than that, I would in a heartbeat!   

Thanks to Author Marketing Experts for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: Hush Little Baby

By Sara Steven

When Melissa Crawford snatches a crying baby from outside a house, she knows she's done the right thing. She can't bear to see the baby suffer one more day in that house, with those people. With her, baby Gabriel will be safe and loved. She is his grandmother after all...

But as Melissa is making her escape, she is involved in a terrible accident which forces her into hiding. She can't believe she's been so careless - now she has to lay low and let the dust settle.

Gabriel's parents won't care where he is, they'll be glad he's gone but if she goes to prison who will care for the little baby? Who will keep him safe?

But caring for Gabriel is harder than Melissa imagined. Why does he keep crying? Why won't he settle? Why does he remind her of another child she once loved...and lost? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Much like with the other books I’ve read by J.A. Baker, Hush Little Baby becomes a wild ride in unexpected ways! At first, the reader believes that Melissa is doing all she can to save her grandson. Maybe not in the most productive way, and it is truly unorthodox to take her grandson away from his rightful parents, but we believe it’s in an effort to protect Gabriel. She’s a true protagonist, albeit a muddled one. 

Then, BAM! A secluded trip to their new home becomes their potential downfall, with thriller experiences that I did NOT see coming. J.A. Baker has a tendency to put characters together who you would never anticipate sharing space, which creates a lot of great drama and chaos, and it works well here, too. Melissa gets so much more than she bargained for with her rental, which later leads to late night road trips and escapes and possible sightings, putting her and Gabriel at risk. 

There are two distinct storylines within this story: the present time with Melissa and Gabriel, and Nancy’s story, who we later learn is connected to Melissa. I figured that out roughly a few chapters in, which only endeared me more to what Melissa is going through and the deep-rooted reasons she has for making sure that nothing happens to her precious grandson.

Towards the end, there is a major, MAJOR reveal–it was not anticipated by me at all! But looking back, I do recall some glimmers here and there that acted as a road map, showcasing Melissa’s real motivations. It does not wash away what Melissa has done, but it does offer up an even deeper explanation for the background of mental anguish that may have been linked back to her own familial relationships. Hush Little Baby truly was an unpredictable experience, which made it all the more enjoyable to read.

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Kobo

J. A. Baker is a successful psychological thriller writer of numerous books. Born and brought up in Middlesbrough, she still lives in the North East, which inspires the settings for her books.

Visit J.A. Baker online:
Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

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Book Review: The Unraveling

By Melissa Smoot

Jocelyn Banks has always felt like an outsider in the ballet world. She was raised in rural Louisiana, taught to scrap and hustle for the life she wanted. And ever since Jocelyn found ballet, she has been able to take her life into her own hands. After years of success at the North American Ballet, she is now on a hiatus to enjoy life in London.

But in an instant, Jocelyn’s world is turned upside down and she’s forced to find a way back into the ballet world. But the ballet scene in London is completely different from the one in America. It's not just talent and drive that will move you forward; if you don't secure a sponsor to pay your salary, you will go nowhere. Jocelyn manages to score a donor, which is crucial at the Royal National Ballet—but the hardest part is yet to come.

Jocelyn is unable to break through her emotions, afraid that if she does, she’ll be flooded with feelings she can’t afford to have. But something about her sponsor, the charismatic Alastair Cavendish, sets a fire in her. What she feels when she’s with him is raw and real. If she goes down this precarious path, she knows she’s doomed to fall into an intoxicating spiral of self-sabotage. But the lust and magnetizing lure of power and prestige keep clawing at her, ultimately forcing her to choose between desire and duty. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

This story was so full of secrets, drama, and deceit and I loved it. The Unraveling is the second of Hamrick’s novels that I have read, and it was just as scandalous and juicy as the first one (First Position - reviewed here). I love any story that is based on the world of ballet, and this was no exception. I really liked how the author tied together the childhood trauma that the main character Jocelyn had suffered, and ultimately works through in the book. It felt so relatable and made the character that much more vulnerable and human. As the story progresses, you see Jocelyn begin to connect the dots between her own behaviors and the things she suffered as a child. She starts to own her actions and reactions and really becomes self-aware.

This novel took place in London, so that was a nice change in setting from the previous book and gives the reader new visuals to experience. The ballet company that Jocelyn dances for is not void of the typical dance world drama, which leaves you wondering who will win out in the end. I enjoyed that Hamrick took us into the rehearsal studios with the dancers and let the reader experience the behind-the-scenes world of professional ballet. This is a fast moving, sometimes dark, but thrilling novel about the grit and strength it takes to make it as a dancer, and the forbidden indulgences that can derail a career faster than it started. Add this one to your TBR pile immediately.

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

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A friendly visit from Kelly Elizabeth Huston...plus a book giveaway

Today we are pleased to welcome Kelly Elizabeth Huston. Her latest novel, See Sadie Jane Run, was released a few weeks ago. It's book four in the Found Families series and can be read as a standalone, just like all the others in the series. Kelly has a copy of the first book, Tex Miller is Dead, along with some swag, to share with a lucky reader!

Kelly Elizabeth Huston writes women-centric, genre-straddling fiction that always includes laughs and a love story. But sometimes there's heartbreak, a smidge of mystery, moments of suspense, and maybe a dead body... or two. Maybe. Above all, she hopes her protagonists are better for it in the end, and she entertains her readers along the way.

She currently lives in Georgia with her husband and two nearly-grown sons, who are, hands down, the best cheer squad a writer could wish for. After spending a few years in the traditional publishing space, Kelly leaped to the indie side without looking back and is eager to dole out her book babies and get them read. She hopes you'll join her in the adventure. (Bio courtesy of Kelly's website.)

Visit Kelly online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
When mechanically-minded Sadie Klein, Ph.D., finds herself poufy dress-deep in a well-meaning scheme gone awry, she escapes from a riverboat casino with the help of Dutch Holland, an old teenage crush she hasn’t seen in fifteen years. Sadie runs to her childhood home intent on settling down in coastal Georgia’s Canaan Cove, where her Jewish grandparents raised the brainy nerd girl and her queer brother—outsiders on the outskirts of town. More than a decade later, that seaside hamlet has seen some changes, but everyone thinks they know everyone’s business, and the rumor mill still spins fast.

Sadie’s high stakes shenanigans on open waters include an accomplice, Tristan Pembroke, the heir apparent of the major energy conglomerate that is also Sadie’s employer. Playboy Tristan is a trust fund kid looking for an even bigger payday, while Sadie wants full rights to an invention patent pending so that she can do some good. They learn too late that big business won’t suffer the trickeries of a little geotechnical engineer, no matter how brilliant she is, and the mysterious Dutch may be more involved than their accidental run-in makes it appear.

With a present told from Sadie’s point of view and glimpses of their heartbreaking past seen through teenage Dutch’s eyes, a love story of yanked-apart teens that never truly let go unfolds. Old secrets and outright lies come to light while corporate espionage puts lives at risk, all with a backdrop of sticky summer nights and peach moonshine in a quirky ocean-side town full of bighearted characters. Sadie can’t outrun her past mistakes, and forgiveness is a steep hill to climb, but after living all over the world, home might be right back where it all began. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
One reader was not a fan of a particular trope used in my debut rom-com, Tex Miller Is Dead, and bluntly said so, but then followed up with “That said, this book was so well-written, so beautiful, so real that I would have forgiven the author anything.”  That was a fantastic day.

If you could tell the debut novelist version of yourself one thing, what would it be?
“This is going to be the hardest, most heartbreaking, life-affirming, hilarious, and wild challenge you’ve faced since the boys’ toddler years.”

If See Sadie Jane Run were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
This is hard because my characters are REAL in my mind and I know exactly what they look like. I do LOVE to hear how readers see them, though. That always fascinates me.! But to play along, I will say a slightly aged-up and messy Hailee Steinfeld and a younger, grumpy Bradley Cooper. P.S. I am TERRIBLE at this game. LOL!

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
Last movie I saw was Deadpool and Wolverine. I’m an unabashed MCU fan and often have the sense of humor of a 14 y.o. boy, plus Mr. Kelly loves to see me giggle and do my NSYNC dance moves. It hit ALL the marks. 

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
Emma Thompson with all the exasperation and woeful pity she can muster.

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
So much! I can whisk you away to a gorgeous, breezy, mountain vineyard and hiking around spectacular waterfalls or into the city for an amazing aquarium, the Coca Cola Museum, and a hunt for little painted doors that are hidden gem art pieces throughout various neighborhoods all over town. But if I had my way, we’d sit on my back patio in our cutest PJs and drink grown-up drinks and talk about books!

Thanks to Kelly for chatting with us and for sharing one of her books 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 August 27th at midnight EST.

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Sara and Melissa Talk About...Seasons

We've been running a column series to get more personal with our readers. We are currently in our fifth year!

This month, we are talking about seasons. The four seasons provide a nice backdrop to novels, whether they're in the heat of summer, a blustery autumn with the leaves falling everywhere (and pumpkin spice, of course), a cozy warm home after being outside on a freezing winter's day, or all the flowers blooming in the spring. To accompany this post, here are some songs that talk about seasons:

"Girl for All Seasons" from Grease 2
"Seasons of Love" from Rent
"The Time of the Season" by The Zombies
"Seasons" by Maroon 5

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 grew up in the midwest, where we got all four seasons to the extreme. Sometimes, we'd get snow in the middle of spring! After moving out east, I noticed that some seasons are more mild than others. Here are my thoughts on each of the seasons:

Summer: Summer used to be my favorite, when I was a kid and got to go swimming almost every day. I also enjoyed having breaks from school or college and would live it up during the summer months. Nowadays, the only thing I like about summer is my birthday. I work year-round, so summer is just like any other time of the year, except really, really hot. I hate being hot. I just feel so disgusting after being outside for a while. I'm also not as much of a Fourth of July person as I used to be. It just feels like any other day to me. 

Autumn: I've always been an autumn person, for as long as I can remember. I don't even care about pumpkin spice. I just love the smell of the air, the leaves changing color, the temperature cooling down a bit, etc. I don't know that I've talked about Sukkot much here, but it takes place during the autumn and the later in the season, the better. (Trust me, it's no fun being in a sukkah when it still feels like 100 degrees out!) This year, it will be in late October, so I'm looking forward to that. I also still enjoy Halloween and Thanksgiving. My older son was born in September, so that's another reason for me to like this time of year!

A glimpse inside our sukkah

Winter: When we first moved to Maryland, we were told that it barely ever snows here. That winter, we had Snowmageddon and could barely even leave our house. I'm not a huge fan of snow, except when I don't have to be outside dealing with it. It's a pain to shovel and it's scary to drive on. I also don't like being extremely cold either. In the midwest, it was so cold that it was actually painful. I enjoy the winter holiday season, but that's about it. I found out that this year, Hanukkah and Christmas are together! At the end of winter, I look forward to my daughter's birthday.

Snowmageddon 2010

Spring: I used to be ambivalent about spring. It was just nice enough out, but it felt like a boring season to me when I was growing up. After moving to Maryland, I now look forward to seeing the cherry blossoms every spring. They're so beautiful! My anniversary and my younger son's birthday are both in March, so that's something fun to celebrate. And while I don't like cleaning for Passover, I do enjoy the holiday once it's actually happening.

Sara Steven:

When I think of seasons, I immediately think of the song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by The Byrds. To everything there is a season, right? It’s fitting. Just this morning, I reflected on the fact that next year, I’ll have lived in Arizona ten years, when it feels like I just moved here not too long ago. Before moving to Arizona, I lived in Nebraska for fourteen years, and soon, Arizona will contend with that length of time. My boys are young adults and teenagers now, but when we moved here, my youngest wasn’t in school yet, and the oldest son was starting fifth grade. If anything shows you a turn of seasons, it’s realizing how much older your children are. 

The one year my boys attended school together;
6th grade and kindergarten respectively

When it comes to my favorite season, it’s always been the summer. I love the heat. I love the sun. I love the ability to spend as much time as possible outdoors, enjoying fully bloomed plants, nature, and wildlife that you might not see in colder weather. I know for someone who now contends with intense heat in Arizona, I sound a little crazy. Most of the time, residents here hide out during those 115 degree days, and yes, I’m one of them. Even I have my limits. But I enjoyed my early morning walk today, reveling in a cloudless blue sky and neverending sunshine, because I’ll work around the super hot summers in Arizona, not letting it dampen my favorite time of year. 

It’s not limited to where I currently live. No matter where I’ve lived–Oregon, Texas, Nebraska, Arizona–I’ve loved the summertime. I feel more in tune with myself and with my environment. I tread through those cold winter months, prepare through the spring, in order to arrive at June-July-August. One of my earliest memories in my childhood consists of time spent outdoors in the summery sunshine, lifting my face up towards the bright horizon, eyes closed, listening to the sounds of other kids like me playing and enjoying their day. My birthday is in July, too, so that might have something to do with it. I’m a summer baby by birth, and by choice.

Me, enjoying the great summer outdoors

What is your favorite season? Least favorite?

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Book Review: You Will Never Be Me

By Allyson Bales

Influencer Meredith Lee didn’t teach Aspen Palmer how to blossom on social media just to be ditched as soon as Aspen became big. So can anyone really blame Mer for doing a little stalking? Nothing serious, more like Stalking Lite. Then, Mer gets lucky; she finds one of Aspen’s kids’ iPads and swipes it. Now, she has access to everything: the family calendar and Aspen’s social media accounts. Would anyone else be able to resist tweaking things a little here and there, showing up in Aspen’s place for meetings with potential sponsors? Mer’s only taking back what she deserves—what should have been hers. 

Meanwhile, Aspen doesn’t understand why her perfectly filtered life is falling apart. Sponsors are dropping her, fellow influencers are ghosting her, and even her own husband seems to find her repulsive. If she doesn’t find out who’s behind everything, she might just lose it all. What everyone seems to forget is that Aspen didn’t become one of TikTok’s biggest momfluencers by being naive. When Meredith suddenly goes missing, Aspen’s world is upended and mysterious threats begin to arrive—but she won’t let anything get in the way of her perfect life again. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Jesse Q. Sutano’s stories are always such a treat! 

I loved Dial A for Aunties and had a blast reading Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers with my ears.  You Will Never Be Me had the same flavor of Sutano’s other books with equal parts drama and mystery as well as moments of humor that made me laugh out loud.  I think this one may be my favorite!

I love a story that you can’t stop thinking about when you aren’t reading and makes you forget where you are when you are reading it.  This story was that for me.  I am a newish bookstagrammer and loved reading about the influencer lifestyle so much.  AND from two perspectives?!? That was SO much fun!  

Getting to see what life is like from Aspen and Meredith’s perspective made me do a really deep dive after reading.  So many of us follow influencers.  I do for pretty much everything.  I love to watch how people curate their closet, cook their food, take care of their plants, how they manage their homes and families, and of course get introduced to the latest and greatest books!  This story really made me think about what it must be like for them and wonder if people are being authentic.

I know as a newish bookstagrammer I am kind of feeling the pressure and I am just taking pictures of books I love!  There are so many people online now trying to make a living.  At what point will that change?  Will it get bigger than it is somehow?  Will we as a society be impacted at some point?  

This book really makes you think and it's one you will not want to put down until you know what happens!

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

More by Jesse Q. Sutanto:
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Dial A for Aunties

I'm Not Done With You Yet

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Jodi Picoult has made a name for herself...plus a book giveaway

Credit: Tim Llewellyn

Introduction by Melissa Amster

I have been a fan of Jodi Picoult ever since I read The Pact twenty years ago. Since then, I have devoured everything she has written, with the exception of Plain Truth since I saw it as a movie on Lifetime. In 2012, I got to meet Jodi in person at one of her book signings and she was so funny and down-to-earth. It just made me love her that much more! Unfortunately, the timing doesn't work out to meet her in person again this year when she's in my neck of the woods. However, getting to do an interview with her at CLC totally makes up for it! I absolutely loved her answers to my questions and I know you will too. It means so much to me that she took the time to give such well thought-out responses.

Jodi's latest novel, By Any Other Name, is one of my top picks for 2024. I just loved everything about it and I can't stop recommending it! It's different from anything she has ever written before and I can see how much passion she put into it. Check out my review. We're celebrating the publication today and are so excited that it's finally available for everyone to read. Thanks to Random House, we have one copy for a lucky reader!

Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 29 novels, including Mad Honey, Wish You Were Here, Small Great Things, The Storyteller, Lone Wolf, Sing You Home, House Rules, Change of Heart, and My Sister's Keeper, and, with daughter Samantha van Leer, two young adult novels, Between the Lines and Off the Page.

Picoult’s books have been translated into thirty-four languages in thirty-five countries. Four novels – The Pact, Plain Truth, The Tenth Circle, and Salem Falls - have been made into television movies. My Sister’s Keeper was a film released from New Line Cinema. Mad Honey is currently in development for a series/film. Small Great Things and Wish You Were Here have been optioned for motion picture adaptation. Picoult is the co-librettist for the stage musical adaptation of her two Young Adult novels, Between The Lines and Off The Page, co-written with her daughter Samantha Van Leer, which premiered Off-Broadway in Summer 2021 and is currently licensed through Music Theatre International. She is also the co-librettist of the musical BREATHE, which was inducted into the Library of Congress's Performing Arts COVID-19 Response Collection; of the musical adaptation of THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak, which will debut in the West End in London in the fall of 2025; and the musical adaptation of AUSTENLAND, currently in development. (Bio adapted from Jodi's website.)

Visit Jodi online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * TikTok

Synopsis:
Young playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. But seeing it performed is unlikely, in a theater world where the playing field isn’t level for women. As Melina wonders if she dares risk failure again, her best friend takes the decision out of her hands and submits the play to a festival under a male pseudonym.

In 1581, young Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats. Her lessons on languages, history, and writing have endowed her with a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling, but like most women of her day, she is allowed no voice of her own. Forced to become a mistress to the Lord Chamberlain, who oversees all theatre productions in England, Emilia sees firsthand how the words of playwrights can move an audience. She begins to form a plan to secretly bring a play of her own to the stage—by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work.

Told in intertwining timelines, By Any Other Name, a sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire centers two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. Should a writer do whatever it takes to see her story live on . . . no matter the cost? This remarkable novel, rooted in primary historical sources, ensures the name Emilia Bassano will no longer be forgotten. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“You’ll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life in her brilliantly researched new novel.”
—Kristin Hannah, author of The Women

“Her best one yet. Jodi Picoult has combined her trademark research with an astonishing and heart-rending story, embedded in truth, and turned it into a gripping novel.”
—Jojo Moyes, author of Someone Else's Shoes

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing By Any Other Name?
The biggest reward was taking a hypothesis (Shakespeare didn’t write all his plays, but maybe a little known woman named Emilia Bassano wrote some of them) and finding so many connections between Emilia Bassano’s life and the plays that it seemed less like coincidence and more like evidence. For example, take Othello.  In the play, Iago gives a speech: “What shall I say? Where’s satisfaction?/ It is impossible you should see this,/ Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, /As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross/As ignorance made drunk. But yet I say,/If imputation and strong circumstances/Which lead directly to the Door of Truth,/Will give you satisfaction, you may have’t.” (Othello, 3.3.404-11)  Lots of weird metaphors there, right?  Well, in the little Italian town of Bassano del Grappa – where Emilia’s family emigrated from -- a fresco was painted in the main square above a salt shop. At the top was a bunch of animals including a goat, a sheep, and a monkey…and a woman representing Truth.  Also in that village square? Two apothecary shops. One was called The Moor. The other was run by a man named Giovanno Otello.

Moreover, between the first publication of the play in the first quarto and its inclusion in the First Folio, about 160 new lines were added.  This, in itself, is not unusual.  However, these new lines were added after Shakespeare was dead. So we know he didn’t write them. Who did? Well, of those new lines, the vast majority were penned for the character of Desdemona’s servant, Emilia – including a long speech considered the first feminist soliloquy in literature. Whether or not you believe Emilia wrote any of the plays, in 1611 she was the first published female poet in England – a remarkable achievement, when she was in her forties. But writers do not appear out of nowhere – what if she was writing all along, and using someone else’s name?  What if that name was William Shakespeare?   

The biggest challenge with writing the book was that it required me to take academic knowledge and use it to create a world — Elizabethan England, namely.  In a way, it was like writing fantasy, because I had to write it in a way that allows readers to see and smell and feel completely immersed.  I had to research details like whether common folks had windows in their homes, or just shutters; what was served at Queen Elizabeth I’s feasts; what herbs were used for birth control and abortifacients.  

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?

That one of my books has helped someone through a difficult time.  I’ve had suicidal teens tell me that my books convinced them to tell an adult how they were feeling; I’ve had parents of trans kids use my books to build bridges with judgmental relatives; I’ve had gay readers use my books to come out to their families. 

What is one thing you would tell the debut novelist version of yourself?
Write what you need to write, not what you think is marketable.  It’s advice I’d give debut novelists today, too.

What is your favorite "Shakespeare" play? 
It’s one that usually makes people roll their eyes – Romeo and Juliet.  I have a personal attachment to it, because it was the first play I read, and the first play I taught as an educator…and truth be told, I love my husband dearly but I’m still waiting for the guy who automatically speaks in a sonnet with me the moment we meet!

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
Wow…this is hard one!  I have to pick Meryl Streep, don’t I?  What CAN’T she do?  

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
I’d take you into Hanover, the town where I live, and we’d have lunch at Lou’s - a diner that’s been around for 75 years.  I’d swing you by my house to play ball with Stanley — the puppy that’s just turned one.  Then we would hike up to a piece of property we own that has views of NH's White Mountains AND the VT’s Green Mountains, collapse into Adirondack chairs, and I’d pop open a bottle of rosé.  

Thanks to Jodi for visiting with us and to Random House for coordinating the interview and 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. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends August 25th at midnight EST.

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Listen to this book on Speechify!