Spotlight: What We Sacrifice for Magic

Perfect for fans of Practical Magic and The Lager Queen of Minnesota: a coming-of-age novel following three generations of witches in the 1960s, this enchanting and heartwarming debut explores the importance of family and the delight and heartbreak of discovering who you truly are.

It’s 1968, and the Watry-Ridder family is feared and respected in equal measure. The local farmers seek out their water charms, and the teenagers, their love spells. The family’s charms and spells, passed down through generations of witches descending from the Black Forest, have long served the small town of Friedrich, Minnesota.

Eldest daughter Elisabeth has just graduated high school—she is expected to hone her supernatural abilities to take over for her grandmother, the indomitable Magda. She’s also expected to marry her high school sweetheart and live the rest of her life in Friedrich. But all she can ask is, why her? Why is her path set in stone, and what else might be out there for her?

She soon discovers that magic isn’t the only thing inherited in her family. That magic also comes with a great price—and a big family secret. The more she digs, the more questions she has, and the less she trusts the grandmother she thought she knew. Who is Elisabeth without her family? She must ultimately decide what she’s willing to sacrifice for her family, for their secrets and their magic, or risk it all to pave her own way.

Navigating the bittersweet tension between self-discovery and living up to familial expectations, What We Sacrifice for Magic is a touching look at coming into one’s own. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

“Beneath the gossamer veil of Andrea DeWerd's enchanting debut is a steely examination of power and its consequences on the magic-wielding Watry-Ridder family. Tenderly written, with spot-on period details, What We Sacrifice for Magic is a beautiful book about the courage it takes to change, if not the stars of our lives, the constellations we make of them.” 
—Sally Franson, author of A Lady's Guide to Selling Out

“A high stakes coming-of-age story with a heroine you’ll root for and a deep dive into one girl’s dilemma over just what it means to wield her own power . . . This is an exuberant debut; Andrea Jo DeWerd writes with obvious love for her own craft, and readers will look forward to more from her.”

—Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of Finding Margaret Fuller

“For fans of magic, of sisters, and of the unexpected, What We Sacrifice for Magic is the book you want. It is charmed, charming and a poignant and compelling coming-of-age story.”
—Amy Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of In Love

Purchase this novel here!

Courtesy of Andrea's website

Andrea Jo DeWerd is a writer and book marketer in Brooklyn, NY. Andrea received her M.S. in Publishing from New York University and B.A. in English from the George Washington University. A born and bred Minnesotan, Andrea now lives and writes in Brooklyn, NY. What We Sacrifice for Magic is Andrea’s debut novel, and she is hard at work on a contemporary Christmas rom-com, tentatively titled Christmas Cookie Miracle. (Bio courtesy of Andrea's website.)

Visit Andrea online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

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Book Review: Whatever It Takes

By Sara Steven

THE WIFE: Lorna lives with her husband in her dream home, loves socialising and has a passion for the finer things in life.

THE HUSBAND: Dan owns a successful accountancy business, enjoys golf and exercise, and loves Lorna deeply. Life is good. Until new neighbours move in to the house next door. Perry, a property developer is charismatic and friendly, with a beautiful young wife, Ingrid. They become friends, sharing intimate dinners, trips away and ultimately a holiday together in Greece. But all is not as friendly as it seems. While there, a fatal accident occurs that changes their lives. They don’t all return. But those that do, are hiding a huge secret . . . and there’s someone who will do whatever it takes to make sure that it never comes to the surface. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

This is my first experience with reading a book written by Joy Wood, and I have to say it won’t be my last. I’m a sucker for a good mystery thriller, and Whatever It Takes gave that and then some. The reader is instantly drawn to the two main characters, Lorna and Dan, because they are the everyman when it comes to fledgling relationships. Lorna never feels fulfilled, and Dan never feels as though he’s enough for Lorna, no matter how hard he tries, constantly putting the two at odds. It was no surprise to me that Lorna would immediately glom on to the new couple in the neighborhood, Perry and Ingrid. They offer up something exciting and new, whisking their new friends on trips and dinners, with the ultimate goal of gaining Lorna’s and Dan’s trust.

It’s no secret that Perry and Ingrid are hiding something, but what they are hiding is shrouded in mystery and intrigue. And it’s also no secret that they need Dan and Lorna in order to fulfill their “mission,” but the reader is left in the dark just as much as everyone else is. Once the two couples are in Greece, I still wasn’t sure what would happen or why they were all there–not until the pivotal moment that changed everything, leaving me absolutely shocked! It was a “did that just happen” kind of moment, changing the trajectory of the book going forward.  

Ultimately, no one is to be trusted. As the pages (and days within the story) unfold, I didn’t know what would happen next, or to whom, the eventual steps leading into a pretty epic climax that felt more than justified and all-out worthy. It might be fiction, but it felt like something I’d see on Dateline or 20/20, that’s how real it felt. 

This has absolutely nothing to do with the story, but I love the title of this book. Every time I'd see it, it reminded me of the tv show Degrassi: The Next Generation, with their intro theme song aptly titled, “Whatever It Takes”. Much like that coveted theme song, the characters here will do whatever it takes to make it through, no matter the ultimate cost to everyone else and most importantly, to themselves. It was a dark, thrilling experience! 

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

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

 

Joy Wood has worked as a nurse most of her adult life and turned to writing six years ago to ‘see if she could.’ Her earlier work was adult romance and intrigue, but more recently she has switched genres to romance with a crime element. Joy lives in the small but charming seaside town of Cleethorpes in North East Lincolnshire and her writing ideas come from watching the tide turn daily, of course with the obligatory ice-cream – someone has to support the local economy!

Visit Joy online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter

Visit all the stops on Joy's blog tour:

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What's in the email...plus a giveaway

Melissa:
She's a Lamb! by Meredith Hambrock from ECW Press (NetGalley)

The Anti-Heroes by Jen Lancaster from Amazon (print)

Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero from Random House (NetGalley)

The Page Turner by Viola Shipman from Harlequin (NetGalley)

Into the Woods by Jenny Holliday from Forever (NetGalley)

Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass from Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse (NetGalley)

Unlikely Story by Ali Rosen from Montlake (NetGalley)

My Mother's Ridiculous Rules for Dating by Philip William Stover from Hera (NetGalley)

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone from Random House (NetGalley)

The Theater Threat by Allie Sarah from Snowridge Press (NetGalley)

Insignificant Others by Sarah Jio from William Morrow (NetGalley)

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein from St. Martin's Press (NetGalley)

Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas from St. Martin's Press (NetGalley)

What the Nanny Saw by Kaira Rouda from Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse (NetGalley)

Beautiful Broken Love by Shanora Williams from M.B. Communications (print)

American Housewife by Anita Abriel from Lake Union (NetGalley)

The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose from Random House (NetGalley)

Beach Vibes by Susan Mallery from Harlequin (NetGalley)

The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo from Putnam (NetGalley)

Low-Hanging Fruit by Randy Rainbow from St. Martin's Press (print)

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall from Ballantine (NetGalley)

Sara:

Considering Us by/from Jenn Bouchard (ebook)

Flirting With Disaster by Naina Kumar from Random House (NetGalley)

Royally Matched by/from Kate O'Keeffe (ebook)

The Wives by Valerie Keogh from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

Someone Like You by Sandy Barker from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall from Simon & Schuster (NetGalley)

Melissa S:

Love Story by Lindsey Kelk from HarperCollins (print)

The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne from Angela Melamud (print)

Allyson:

The Names by Florence Knapp from Viking (NetGalley)

What could be in YOUR mail:

The Incompletes by Linda Smolkin

Thanks to Linda, we have one copy to share with a lucky reader!

Synopsis:

A drummer girl. A list of names. A quest for justice.

Emma Meade, an ex-drummer mourning the loss of her brother, discovers an abandoned drum set in her new home. Thinking it’s a sign to play again, she picks up the sticks and hits the snare. Instead of a satisfying clang, there’s an unexpected rattling. Hidden inside is a note with eight names. All are crossed off but one.

Obsessed with the note, Emma seeks answers and learns that the eight names include criminals who evaded punishment. The last, unchecked one has taken on a new identity and owns a nearby venue. Drumming up vengeance may not be good for the soul, but for Emma, it might be the only option.

After joining a band, she convinces them to play at the venue and concocts a daring scheme. As Emma weighs getting caught against getting justice, she must decide whether an evil person deserves to die, and whether she the strength to dole out that justice. 

The Incompletes is the fourth novel by author Linda Smolkin whose debut, Among the Branded, was called "a beautiful and fascinating novel that will keep readers hooked" by San Francisco Book Review. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

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 1st at midnight EST.

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Book Review: One Day to Fall in Love

By Becky Gulc

‘The clock is ticking, don't let love run out . . .

When the love of her life falls for someone else, Rena finds herself desperately scrolling for a solution. That's when an ad for a new dating app pops up:

24 hours to fall in love ❤️ A guaranteed love match by the end of the day or your money back.

Fueled by heartbreak and tequila, Rena signs up and prepares for her life to change. What she doesn't know is that she is bound to repeat this day over and over again, until she finds her perfect match. One day they said, but there was no mention of how many times that day would play out . . .’   (Synopsis courtesy of Waterstones.)

I have been through a phase of reading lately where I’ve been gravitating to thrillers and crime novels and I was starting to worry and wonder whether I would ever feel the pull back to ‘romantic fiction’ that I’ve historically loved. Well, occasionally you come across a book (or one is sent to you, thank you!) that just makes you fall back in love with a genre, and this for me has been One Day to Fall in Love by Molly James. I adored this book from start to finish!

I should say I was a quick YES to reviewing this novel as I was aware Molly James is a pen name for Belinda Jones whose work I have  previously loved (Winter Wonderland; The Travelling Tea Shop). Belinda has always had the knack for making a reader feel they’ve visited somewhere they’ve never been and as ‘Molly’ she has done this again in this Groundhog Day style time-loop story set in beautiful Torquay. (Again, I’ve never been but feel like I have now!)  

Rena is a wonderful main character, in love with her friend Dylan but he’s seemingly ready to settle down with someone else. Rena needs distraction and quick. Cue signing up to a dating app that promises true love within 24 hours or your money back; Rena doesn’t just sign herself up but her best friend Natalie too, as Rena needs her to see there is someone more deserving of her friend than her current cheating boyfriend. The friends are then, unbeknownst to them, set to live through the same Sunday ad infinitum until they find their ‘true loves’. 

I wondered how the day could repeat without becoming a bit samey and wondered if it would all just seem a bit far-fetched for me – I needn’t have worried the whole book is so refreshing and funny! Needless to say Rena meets a few new faces in the path of finding true love and there are questionable characters as well as adorable ones.

A stand-out for me was the development of Rena’s relationship with her father through reliving the same 24 hours after this man she barely has a relationship with turns up at the theatre where she works out of the blue. A beautiful element to the story that other important characters had an equally beautiful part in.

The backdrop of Torquay is a huge part of the novel. So many places play their part in the novel and as someone who grew up in a seaside town I loved being transported. I also loved Rena’s passion for her work at the theatre and her hopes to play her part in the restoration of the nearby pavilion. It worked perfectly how this element of the story built and linked to the characters introduced along the way.

I don’t want to give anything away about the true love side to the story but just to say this book is incredibly satisfying to read; one you want to hug at the end and I will miss it greatly! Highly recommended.

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

Also by Molly James: Skip to the End

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Michelle Mars is so down-to-Earth...plus a book giveaway

We are pleased to welcome Michelle Mars to CLC today. Melissa met Michelle on Instagram earlier this year and has enjoyed chatting with her and we know you will enjoy hearing what she has to say! She is the author of a bunch of contemporary rom-coms, including the Frisky Bean series. Michelle has a copy of the first book, Frisky Intentions, along with some swag and art prints to share with a lucky reader!
 

Michelle Mars has an unhealthy obsession with coffee, caramel, and funny t-shirts. This single mom of two amazing, kind, and creative dragons/children has naturally purple hair and loves nothing more than talking books, kids, and living your best life. She enjoys reading romance, traveling, and writing stories that make her readers laugh, sweat, and swoon. 

Michelle’s truth: Humor is a turn-on! (Bio courtesy of Amazon.)

Visit Michelle online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
Welcome to the Frisky Bean
Coffee to Wake you Up
Pastries to Turn you On

Listen… My daily goddess card tried to warn me that a big change was coming. She did. But… I was still not prepared for the impact that he would have on my life. That day when we met, I quite literally fell into him.

It was mortifying. It was exhilarating.

It was totally unprofessional. It was hot.

While our actions and bodies were most definitely aligned, our intentions were not. How so, you ask?

Well, I was blissfully busy pursuing my goals for my new café, The Frisky Bean. I did not ask, nor have the time, to deal with complications. And, since I felt as though we were both falling hard, all seemed well-blended.

That right there was mistake number one through five thousand, because he has no understanding of love and my goddess cards have some explaining to do.

Here’s what I know… Sometimes even the best recipes flop while a recipe riddled with mistakes can yield unexpected perfection. What were we?

A freaking delight. Stop asking me and read our story.

Don’t forget your oven mitts because one thing we were very good at is bringing the heat. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
My favorite compliment every time I hear it is that someone was having a rough day, and one of my romcoms helped them turn it around by getting them to laugh. I love bringing happiness into people's lives. It's why I love writing high-heat, low-angst romantic comedies. Especially Jewish ones. I love bringing more sexy, casual Jewish joy into the world. 

What is one thing you would tell the debut novelist version of yourself?
What I would say to young, starting-out, author me would be that no story is everyone's cup of tea, but there are tea drinkers out there who will totally appreciate your blend, so continue to write what you love and find your tea drinkers. Also... stay away from long metaphors.

If the Frisky Bean series were made into a TV series, who would you cast in the leading roles?
Leading roles. Wow. As someone who has aphantasia, it's often hard for me to picture actors, the way so many do, visually inhabiting the roles. That said, Jason was loosely based on Chris Hemsworth in appearance, so that one was easy. Summer could have been a young rom-com era Debra Messing or Amy Adams. 

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?
The last book I read that I would recommend because she is one of my favorite authors is  Live, Love, Spy by Lexi Blake. The Lexiverse is one of my favorite places to visit when I read.

What is your favorite autumn dessert?
My favorite autumn dessert is tough to choose so I'm going to have to go with two; Pumpkin Cheesecake and Honey Cake. Yum!

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
My life narrator would probably be Sandra Bullock. She has the seriousness mixed with the comedy chops and a healthy dose of sarcasm to do a fantastic job. 

Thanks to Michelle for visiting with us 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. 

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Giveaway ends September 30th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: A Home for the Holidays

By Melissa Smoot

For wedding singer Mel Hart, the holidays have always retained a certain magic. Her mother, Connie, always managed to pull off spectacular Santa hijinx that convinced Mel to keep believing in Santa way longer than other kids. Those moments meant everything to Mel because the rest of the year, life was unpredictable because of her mother’s alcohol use. 

But two weeks before Christmas, Mel gets a call from the hospital: her mother has died. 

Then a woman shows up on Mel's doorstep, claiming to be Connie's estranged best friend, promising to tell Mel a different narrative—one in which Connie was almost a famous country music star, if only a man hadn't gotten in the way. Instead of spending Christmas alone in her dead mother's house, Mel agrees to stay with Barb for the holidays, finding herself in the middle of Barb's complicated family and uncovering secrets while fighting an attraction to Barb’s in-the-middle-of-a-divorce son. As Christmas approaches, Mel reckons with how little she knew about her mother's past while reexamining her own future. 

A Home for the Holidays is a moving exploration of complicated grief, mother-daughter relationships, loving someone with addiction, and the redemptive power of opening one's heart to love in all its forms. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

When I started this story, I was not sure where it was going. I imagined a book with ‘holidays’ in the title to be light and airy, full of festive parties and joy. This was not that, but I loved it. There was so much heart and emotion in this story that I felt like I was reading the words of an old friend. I grew up in the Chicago area and I could feel the icy cold winter air, see the snow on the ground, and hear the familiar sounds of the holidays in the Windy City.

The relationship between the main character Mel and her mother was a complicated one with many secrets. As I continued reading, I felt the dynamic shift and the heaviness of the grief Mel carried, lifting. This is a deep and soulful book that the author wrote beautifully. The past and present are comingled in the perfect way, and it was impossible not to get wrapped up in it. The unlikely friendships that turn into family made this a heart-warming read. If you want to read something that strays from the typical feel-good holiday story, this is a perfect choice. I have a feeling I will be thinking about this book for months.

Thanks to Knopf for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase A Home for the Holidays here.

Also by Taylor Hahn:
The Lifestyle
The Wedding, the Winery, and Will (A Vintage Short) 

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Jamie Harrow has her head in the game...plus a book giveaway

We are excited to introduce you to Jamie Harrow and celebrate the publication of her debut novel, One on One! You don't have to be into sports to enjoy the sizzling romance this story provides or to care about the issues it focuses on. Thanks to Dutton, we have THREE copies to give away!

Jamie Harrow grew up on the sidelines of a basketball court since, like her protagonist, her father was a longtime coach. She wrote a sports column for The Villanovan, the student paper at her basketball-obsessed college. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and lives in New Jersey with her family.

Visit Jamie online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok

Synopsis:
Eight years after graduation, Annie Radford is not happy to be back at her alma mater in her old job with the Ardwyn Tigers’ basketball team. Worse, her coworker from back in college, Ben Callahan, is still on the Tigers staff, and he’s annoyingly wholesome, hot, and clinging to a grudge against Annie for abandoning him and the team their senior year.

But as Ardwyn becomes the season’s Cinderella Story, things start heating up between Annie and Ben, too. And while neither of them can deny this could be something special, Annie’s afraid to tell Ben the truth about why she left basketball—the thing she loves most—in the first place. She’ll have to learn to trust him if they have a shot at being together.

In addition to being funny, romantic, and sexy, One on One examines the pressure put on college athletes, challenges the sexism in the world of sports, and exposes the dangers in whole communities idolizing the big men on campus.

For readers of The Hating Game and The Ex Talk, a workplace, enemies-to-lovers debut for anyone yearning for a courtside romance, perfect for anyone who can’t get enough sports rom-coms. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

UK cover

"One on One is an immersive, sexy, absolute winner of a debut. It's the romance book version of the breathless anticipation that silences a packed arena in the split-second between the launch of a half-court shot and that perfect, delicious swish sound. Jamie Harrow has a forever fan in me!"

—Sarah Adler, USA Today bestselling author of Happy Medium

“In her absorbing debut novel, Jamie Harrow has crafted a moving journey about following your dreams, falling in love, and the power of finding your voice. As enthralling, captivating, and addicting as the very best basketball games, with sparkling cinematic moments worthy of one of Annie’s own electrifying sizzle reels, One on One is a total slam dunk. I couldn’t put this down!"

—Becky Chalsen, author of Serendipity

"Sweet, sexy, and messy in all the right places. I adored every single page.”—Kate Robb, author of This Spells Love

 In one sentence, what has the road to publishing been like for you?
It’s been long and full of detours, but I’m so grateful it turned out the way it did.

How is Annie similar to or different from you?
Annie and I both love sports, unsurprisingly. She’s also returning to what used to be her dream job in basketball after many years away, which sort of parallels the way I returned to writing when I started working on this book. At the same time, she’s a little bit snarkier than me, and I wish I were as assertive as she is.

If One on One were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I would cast Ella Purnell as Annie. I think she’d do a great job with Annie’s combination of vulnerability and boldness. Ben is tricky, but I think I’d go with Dylan O’Brien. Ben is a wholesome golden boy on the surface, but he’s also holding a grudge and has a surprisingly dry sense of humor, and he can pull off both sides. 

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
The Fall Guy is so much fun, with a charming cast and lots of humor. Also, Inside Out 2 is incredible and has really affected the way I think about emotion!

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
It’s local summer at the Jersey Shore, which means the tourists are gone but the weather is beautiful, so I would take you to the beach. It’s the perfect time to sit in the sand or walk the boardwalk in a cozy sweatshirt. Then I’d take you to my local independent bookstore, Thunder Road Books, and we’d finish the day with dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Asbury Park.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
I’d love for Phoebe Waller-Bridge to narrate my life. I’m imagining lots of clever one-liners and sneaky jokes. She can make fun of me as much as she wants!

Thanks to Jamie for chatting with us and to Dutton 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 29th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Lovers

By Allyson Bales

If Kit Larson believes one thing, it’s that the cards never lie. She’s seen it proven time and time again as a tarot reader and mystic influencer. But unfortunately the cards didn’t warn her about her most recent breakup or her parents’ divorce, so when Kit is offered a gig at another influencer’s boho-chic Joshua Tree wedding she accepts for the distraction. And distract it does when she finds out her high school crush, Julia, is the wedding planner.

Julia Kelley is her agency’s most sought-after wedding planner, and for a good reason—she's a perfectionist. Control means never showing others the vulnerable, blobby mess she really is deep down inside. Having an ex-girlfriend in the bridal party is a problem, sure, but reconnecting with the beautiful tarot reader who broke her heart as a teenager is so much worse.

Kit’s cards once told her that she and Julia were Twin Flames, two halves of the same soul. With wedding events pushing them together, their spark reignites . . . and so does a chance at being lovers. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I just finished this queer, angsty, witty, swoony rom-com and my heart is full! 

Rebekah Faubion, I’m not really sure how this is a debut! Well done! The writing immediately pulled me in. I loved the characters, especially Kit and Julia, and the story made my mushy heart so happy! 

Faubion painted some of the best pictures I have ever read.  The descriptions of the wedding venue, Kit’s air stream, the wedding food, the characters' outfits, and so much more really made me feel like I was in the story! I now want to decorate my whole house with Kit’s aesthetic and buy an air steam and visit the desert! 

Speaking of Kit, I really loved and identified with her character and Julia’s too. They are two former besties from high school that come back together after almost ten years apart. Both of them are struggling with their identity. 

"Can your life really be what you want if you are denying a truth about yourself?"

The way both of them explore this question is so relatable. So many of us are hiding our truth in some way. Whether that’s through our sexual identity, our family dynamics, our jobs, or other things we hide inside and it’s clear they are bursting to come out of their cage. These characters navigate the exploration of those truths in an empowering and vulnerable way. 

As a long time rom-com girly with When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and The Holiday being at the top of my list, I have always been searching for queer love stories like these too. I loved how this story talks about there being more than just conventional love and how beautiful that is too. 

“I'm beginning to see how there are a lot of ways to live that fairy tale in real life and how important it is to make those expressions of this romantic ideal just as relevant as the more conventional ones.”

This story also made me love learning about tarot and really really want to get my own tarot reading.  There’s also Taylor Swift lyrics, supportive secondary characters, and a mom and mad who will make you giggle. 

This story is one that I really think you will enjoy and I triple dog dare you to read it! 

Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase The Lovers here.

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Book Review: Royally Matched

By Sara Steven

I’ve got 99 problems, and picking the wrong guy might be all of them.

I've always had my royal checklist: Attend the Husband Hunting Ball? Check. Find the perfect match for a princess like me? Check. Feel zero sparks with Mr. Right (aka Enzo Revera)? Sadly, double check.

But then I meet Marco, Enzo's charming and rugged brother. He's everything I shouldn't want, especially since I've planned my life to avoid the messiness of love.

When a twist of fate puts Marco at my side, I can't deny our chemistry, even if he's all wrong for a princess like me. Thrown together by royal duties and an ancient riddle, Marco and I embark on a crazy adventure that leads us to hidden clues.

As we unravel a secret that changes everything, I’m faced with a choice between duty and desire. Can I defy expectations and claim both the throne I’ve always wanted and my true love? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I’ve read the first book in the Royally Kissed series, The Backup Princess (reviewed here), and as much as I enjoyed that experience, I really loved Royally Matched! I felt very invested in both main characters. Sofia is known as the “Pitiful Princess” of Ledonia, due to her more rigid and pristine attitude, while Marco is a fly by the seat of his pants kind of guy, content to go where the wind takes him. Sofia has fallen for that type of guy before, and it ended in heartbreak for her, so she’s made it her mission to completely eliminate attraction and chemistry from any relationship, preferring to create a list of potential suitors who look good on paper.

The man who looks the best on paper is Enzo, Marco’s brother. Enzo checks all of Sofia's boxes, but none that sets her soul on fire, which Sofia is completely fine with. For her, it’s better to be safe than in love. But she can’t get Marco out of her head. Despite how different they seem to be, he is the one who can get her out of her shell. And for Marco, with his head in the clouds, Sofia is the comfort he needs to find his way back to earth from time to time. I liked the sweet connection they have and the way Marco continually gets past Sofia’s defenses, even when she thinks she needs to put duty first before her own wants and needs.

The crazy adventure they go on was a nice addition to the story, and I did not suspect who was ultimately responsible for it. Marco thinks he knows who is behind everything, but who it really is was a pleasant surprise. Discovering the truth behind Sofia and what her future holds was also nice to see. While I enjoyed seeing the progression of possible romance for Sofia–Enzo or Marco–it was even better to witness the strength and power she has, particularly when she can define her life by her own terms. 

Royally Matched reminded me of the movie The Mirror Has Two Faces, with Barbra Streisand and Jeff Bridges. Maybe because like Sofia, Jeff’s character Gregory had been burned one too many times before by overtly sensual, charismatic women, and decides to look for someone he felt he would have no chemistry with–Rose, played by Barbra Streisand…although, let’s be honest here, no one has more charisma than the incomparable Babs. The same goes for the ties between Sofia and Marco. It is a connection that is for the ages, despite how hard Sofia tries to deny it or refuse it. It’s the “sizzle” that really spices up this sweet endearing love story, making it a well-deserved five-star experience!

Thanks to Kate O'Keeffe for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Kate O'Keeffe:

Breaking the Ice (Love on Thin Ice series)

Faking It With the Grump (Sisters & Sweethearts series)

One Last First Date (Flirting With Forever series)

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Book Review: Can't Help Falling in Love

By Melissa Smoot

Lexi Danby is looking for some no-strings, fall fun. Once a college track star, she was forced to drop out when her father passed away. Now she’s trying to make ends meet while putting herself through school and caring for her grieving mother. When her comically bad waitressing lands her directly in the path of a handsome, charming stranger named Will, Lexi may just have found the distraction she’s been looking for. Their first date looks promising until a misunderstanding at a party thrusts Lexi and Will into a fake engagement they can’t talk themselves out of. And Will turns out to be a member of Seattle royalty.

Will Grand is heir to a major company, and Seattle’s most eligible bachelor. But he’s been placed in charge of an important merger with a company that values family above all else, and needs to show them that he’s settled down. While a fake engagement is advantageous from a business standpoint, it’s not so great for a budding relationship with a woman who’s wary of commitment. With a woman who Will is beginning to care about much more than he could have anticipated.

As Lexi gets a taste of Will’s glamorous world and the pair keeps up the pretense of their fake engagement for the press, they decide to see where a more casual relationship takes them out of the spotlight. And amid apple picking in comfy flannels, outdoor breweries in the crisp air, and fun Halloween preparations, Lexi starts to realize the scariest part of the season might just be taking a chance on love. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

This was a really cute book. I loved that most of it took place during my favorite season, autumn, and you could feel the crisp air and the coziness as you read. The premise of starting a relationship out of a complete misunderstanding was a fun one. The main character, Lexi, felt human and vulnerable. The idea of keeping your heart locked up because you never want to feel heartbreak and pain is relatable. Lexi kept her emotions inside and refused to let herself fall, even when she was aware that she was in fact falling for Will Grand. 

The author did a great job making the family members, of both Will and Lexi, realistic and could hold their own throughout the story. I liked the fact that Lexi and her mom went through a metamorphosis of sorts by the end of the book. The setting, the romance, the friendship…this was just a wonderfully written feel-good story. If you are looking for something surrounding “starting over” or “second chances”, this is a perfect read for you.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase Can't Help Falling in Love here.

More by Sophie Sullivan:
Ten Rules for Faking It
Love Naturally
A Guide to Being Just Friends

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Sara and Melissa Talk About...What We Did for Labor Day Weekend

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 what we did (or didn't do) for Labor Day weekend. 

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. 

Sara Steven:

I had big plans for Labor Day. Well, bigger plans than usual. The Sunday before, the goal was to work like I normally do on Sundays, later driving to a friend’s house for a much-needed girl’s sleepover at her house, and then on Labor Day, I had made arrangements with another friend of mine to partake in a morning yoga class. The sleepover friend was also going to hang out at my house later that afternoon, in an effort to get some pool time in before she started her new job the next day. (Okay, after reading through my original plans for that Labor Day weekend, I’m realizing it was actually a lot I’d initially planned.) 

But I was all for it. Until I got sick.

Sick might be kind of an overstatement. I’m still not sure how it happened, but it started earlier in the week with some kind of weird eye pain that felt like I had a foreign object stuck in my right eyeball. My eye was itchy but in pain at the same time, with a headache that lasted days. By Saturday I ended up with a migraine, so I had to cancel plans with everyone because I wasn’t up for a sleepover, yoga, or any pool time, which I felt pretty bad about, all things considered. My doctor suspected some sort of allergen had infiltrated my body, and things did get better over the week, but it was gradual. I half-joked that my body had to absorb whatever it was that landed in my eye, and I’m not convinced that didn’t happen.

At some point that week, and due to promised Labor Day deals, I ended up purchasing a new mattress–something I haven’t done in twenty years! I’ve read somewhere that we should be replacing mattresses every 7-10 years, but I obviously didn’t get that memo. I call myself “The Princess and the Pea” because I’m such a delicate sleeper. Everything has to be just so, and that includes the mattress I sleep on. Why change something that isn’t broken, until it actually becomes broken–my old sad mattress really had seen some better days since circa 2004, when I first bought the thing at the largest furniture store I’ve ever been to, Nebraska Furniture Mart–those who live in the Midwest know what I’m talking about. In fact, the brand of my old mattress is a Berkshire Hathaway; Warren Buffet knows mattresses, apparently.

I felt certain I’d found the perfect replacement for Old Faithful, until I brought it home and was bombarded by all the new mattress smells that come with owning a new mattress. Every morning I woke up feeling like I was coming down with something. My oldest son, who’d spent the day with his ex on Labor Day, made us aware of the fact that she became severely ill and later let him know she had Covid–and of course, he ended up with it, too. So I figured I was also coming down with Covid, only the feeling of not quite getting full-on sick but feeling sick never left me. It’s been a couple of weeks now and I feel like it’s getting better, but I’m fairly certain my new mattress is to blame. The various noxious odors that come from it are very chemical-like and after Googling “can your new mattress make you feel sick,” I discovered that new mattresses should be off gassed before use. That was all new to me. I don’t remember if I did that with my Berk mattress or any other mattress before it, but maybe the way mattresses are made have changed in the last two decades. 

My eye is better now. I no longer feel like I’m coming down with something, and my son is over Covid. No one else in my house got sick. Labor Day is meant to be an annual celebration of social and economic achievements for workers. A day to relax. But I feel like my Labor Day this year was more laborious than anything! Maybe it will go better next year. But in the meantime, here’s a photo of my son’s blue-tongued skink Peter Skinkledge in a hot dog costume, in celebration of the Labor Day pastime of grilling out, relaxing, and spending a nice, joyous day with family and/or friends.

Melissa Amster:

Labor Day this year was pretty much low key overall. We took the kids to the state fair for a couple hours to get out of the house and do something different. Otherwise, we just watched movies and did errands. My car also stopped working, so that was not fun. (Thankfully it got fixed the next day.) We did see a fun and entertaining movie called Jackpot though. Anyway, I've decided to write about Labor Day weekend from 2023 instead, since that was much more interesting.

Last year, my family and I went to Pittsburgh over Labor Day weekend. One of my close friends moved there a couple years ago, so part of the trip was to spend time with him and the other part was for being tourists. Of course, we stopped at Sheetz on the way. ;) 

When we got to Pittsburgh, we went right to the Heinz Museum. It's a tall building with lots of different exhibits on every floor showing the history and industry of Pittsburgh. Some of it felt like standard museum stuff, but I really enjoyed the Heinz room (all about their products) and the Mr. Rogers display. 

After the museum, we picked up some groceries and then stopped by my friend's new house. Then we went to the house we rented on Vrbo and got settled in and started working on dinner. My friend came over to join us. The house was really nice, but it was very hilly to get over there. The street leading up to the house was on a steep incline, as well. 

When we finished dinner, we went on a long walk to this area that overlooks the city and has a nice scenic view of the city.

With my friend

The next day, we did a little more exploring, including taking this trolley up a huge incline to look at the city during the daytime. Then we went to Randyland. That's like nothing else I've ever seen. A very kitschy and eclectic outdoor art display with old toys and other random objects.

Then we visited the Mr. Rogers statue before getting lunch and heading home.

While it was a quick visit, we had a nice time and it would be fun to go back when we have more time available to do some exploring. 

We didn't have time to do much at the aviary, so we will try it next time.

Did you do anything memorable over Labor Day weekend? 

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Jennifer Snow is heating things up...plus a book giveaway

We're excited to have Jennifer Snow here today to talk about her latest novel, All Signs Point to Malibu. It's being compared to a mix between the movie My Best Friend's Wedding and the novel In Five Years. Count us in! Thanks to BookSparks, we have TWO copies to give away!

Jennifer Snow is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty-five contemporary romances and thrillers. Her novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and some have been optioned for film and television. Also a screenwriter, Jen is known for her romantic comedies and female-driven dramas. A Canadian living in Torrevieja, Spain, with her husband and son, she loves to travel and spend time near the ocean. Visit Jennifer at her website and on Instagram.

Synopsis:
Hailey Harris can’t stop messing with fate. A successful life coach, Hailey uses her ability to glimpse the future to guide her clients down the right path. But her gift has made her own life lonely. After all, having a real friend would mean asking someone to believe the unbelievable.

The one person she might have confided in—her ex, Liam Jensen—is newly engaged to a beautiful, sweet, thoughtful heiress. But when Hailey has a vision predicting a not-so-happy ending for the couple, her mission is clear: help Liam and his fiancée avoid the biggest mistake of their lives.

Stopping the wedding while planning Liam’s engagement party is no easy feat. And Warren Mitchell—Liam’s sexy, irritating best man and Hailey’s nemesis—is suspicious of Hailey’s motivations. Between sleeping with her frenemy and watching her careful plans spiral out of control, Hailey discovers the real cause of Liam’s future heartbreak. But now that she knows the truth, will Hailey keep on fighting fate or trust in the love she never saw coming? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“All Signs Point to Malibu is a sweet, sexy romp with lots of heart and a psychic twist.”
—Nan Fischer, author of Some of It Was Real

“A spicy enemies-to-lovers dream so full of delicious tension and chemistry that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!”
—Holly James, author of The Déjà Glitch

"Funny, heartfelt and at times bittersweet, All Signs Point to Malibu is a joyful read."
—Melissa Baron, author of Twice in a Lifetime

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
I am always grateful for any and all compliments on my writing and my books, but there was one kind of unusual compliment I received when my hockey themed Colorado Ice series released - a reader loved the female friendship between Becky and Abby so much, they named two baby goats after the characters! I was so honored and the baby goats were adorable!

If you could tell the debut novelist version of yourself one thing, what would it be?
It all works out - trust the process and try to have more patience (still working on taking this advice lol).

If All Signs Point to Malibu were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
Hopefully it will!! We are currently in pre-development and casting, so I probably shouldn't answer this one. But I will say I want someone fun and quirky for Hailey and brooding yet humorous for Warren - and they need to have amazing chemistry on screen!

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
Kristen Wiig! I think she could emote perfectly the implied eye rolls that typically fill my days!

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you'd take us to see?
I live in beautifully sunny Torrevieja, Spain on the Costa Blanca coast, so we would visit La Mata Beach, Makala Beach Club, the marina for a boat ride, the waterfalls near Benidorm, and La Manga - a stretch of land just a street wide with the ocean visible and accessible on both sides! Can you tell I love being near the water?

What is your favorite autumn activity?
Autumn in Spain is a lot like summer in Spain but when I lived in Canada, I loved autumn - it was my favorite season with the cooler days and the changing colors of the leaves - we would go for after dinner walks with coffee and then bundle up near a fire to warm up afterwards and read. :)

Thanks to Jennifer for chatting with us and to BookSparks 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 24th at midnight EST.

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