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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