Jessica Topper rocks our world...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

I first learned about Jessica Topper's books when I won a copy of Dictatorship of the Dress from another blogger. I loved it! Then I found out Jessica was re-releasing her debut novel, Louder than Love, and I knew I had to read that too. Another enjoyable novel for me! (See my review.) Since that time, Jessica has paired up with Amanda Usen for a wonderful Hanukkah series that I binge-read this past December. Today, I'm thrilled to have her back at CLC to talk about her latest novel, Get What You Need. This is a follow-up to Louder than Love, but can be read as a standalone. I do recommend checking out Louder than Love though! Jessica has one copy of Get What You Need for a lucky reader!

Jessica Topper has been in love with the beauty of the written word ever since she memorized Maurice Sendak's Chicken Soup with Rice at the age of three.

After earning a B.A. in English Literature and her Master's Degree in Library Science, Jessica went on to work as a librarian in New York City before trading in the books for bookkeeping. For seventeen years, she worked in the production office of an international touring rock band.

Jessica broke the rock romance mold with her 2013 debut novel LOUDER THAN LOVE. Her follow-up romantic comedy, DICTATORSHIP OF THE DRESS, was named one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2015.


She lives in Western New York with her family - including two cats that love to walk across her keyboard.

Visit Jessica online:

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Synopsis (may contain spoilers for Louder than Love): 

Sometimes getting what you want is the easy part...

Katrina Lewis-Graves isn't the type of woman to run from problems. But she knows to get out while the getting's good. Fourteen years ago, she left Manhattan for small town solace after a freak train accident left her widowed with a one-year-old. Seeking sanctuary in her hometown of Lauder Lake, Kat ended up stumbling upon a soul mate of legendary proportions: famed guitarist Adrian "Digger" Graves.

Now she's fleeing Manhattan once again: this time with her rock star husband and troubled teen daughter in tow. This time, it's to save Abbey...even if it means dragging her, kicking and screaming.

Across the pond, another woman is taking flight. Adrian's estranged daughter Natalie has not wanted for much in life back in England. Horses, houses in the country, cars, closets full of couture – all courtesy of, but with no thanks to, Digger Graves' heavy metal music success. Her parents' divorce had robbed Adrian of much of his fortune, as well as any meaningful place in his daughter's life. But as her own marriage and entire privileged pinnacle comes avalanching down, Natalie jumps on a desperate whim at the open invitation her stepmother Kat has made to "come stay anytime you want."

Lauder Lake may not be what Abbey or Natalie want, but it holds some surprises – and may just be exactly what they both need... (Courtesy of Amazon.)

What is one thing you would tell the debut novelist version of yourself?
I would channel my best Dori from Finding Nemo and say: Just keep writing, just keep writing…to remember the magic of writing that first book, the joy and the exploration, and not to let the numbers or reviews or the market keep you from telling the stories you want to tell.

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing Get What You Need?
Because this was a “ten years later” story following the characters of my very first and best-known novel, Louder Than Love, many of the rewards and challenges were intertwined. Re-visiting beloved characters but staying consistent with the “tone” and the world of Lauder Lake after so long put me through my paces but was also very rewarding. 

It gave me great pleasure to finally delve into the head of Natalie, the estranged daughter of our rock star hero Adrian “Digger” Graves from Louder Than Love. We had always heard about her from Adrian, but we finally get her POV, along with Abbey’s, in Get What You Need. Abbey was barely five when she first won over Adrian and the hearts of many readers, so it was difficult for me to put her in a few tough situations, to give her some very realistic flaws that teenagers have and yet, still keep her loveable and redeemable. 

But overall, the rewards were far greater than the challenges, being able to finally get this story out after finding I had notes on it dating back to before Louder Than Love’s publication! I had obviously wanted to stay with these characters for longer than just one book. 

If Get What You Need was made into a movie, what are some songs that would be on the soundtrack?
Music is always a big catalyst in my writing and so often my characters are musicians; even the title of the book was pulled from a song that just kept getting stuck like an earworm in my head! You won’t find anything too recent in this book, as it takes place around 2015 (keeping true to the first book’s 2004-2005 timeline). The top 3 songs would be: 

"You Can’t Always Get What You Want" – The Rolling Stones
"She’s Leaving Home" – The Beatles 
"New Year’s Prayer" – Jeff Buckley

There are other songs mentioned and even performed in the book, but no spoilers! I will leave them for readers to discover. :)

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
The last movie I saw in theaters was A Complete Unknown. I’m not a huge Bob Dylan fan but I thought Timothée Chalamet really pulled off a great portrayal. I always like when an actor learns to play their own instruments (and even sing) for a role and apparently, all three of the main actors did just that. 

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
Joan Jett, please! I love her raspy, tough voice, which can also be tender at times. (Think “Bad Reputation” mashed with her “Crimson & Clover” cover.) She was the singer that twelve-year-old me and my friends would imitate, jumping off the bed with a hairbrush as a microphone in hand, so it would be fitting to have her along for the ride!

If we were to visit you, what are some places you would take us to see?
I live about twenty miles from the Canadian border, near Buffalo NY. I love to take people to see the Falls if they have never been, but then (if you have a passport) we can go across one of the three bridges into Canada. If we take the Rainbow Bridge, you can walk across and put one foot in Canada and keep one in the US. If we take the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, there are cute little walking towns with cafés, coffee shops and wineries on both sides of the border and my favorite little town, Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is very picturesque and along the Niagara Wine Trail (hint: it features prominently in a future book!) 

Thanks to Jessica for chatting 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 February 9th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Librarians of Lisbon

By Jami Denison

While much of the historical fiction centered around World War II deals with Germany, France, and England, the cataclysm was truly global, and many important events occurred in other countries. In her first adult novel, author Suzanne Nelson explores a lesser-known chapter in America’s involvement in that war. The Librarians of Lisbon is a fictional tale about a real program—American spies undercover in Portugal, a neutral country where Nazis and Allies slithered around each other for advantage. Nelson’s two heroines work undercover to help the Allies, but will love derail their missions?

By day, best friends Bea and Selene work as librarians in 1943 Lisbon, cataloging a vast array of information for the allies. By night, they are spies—Bea working with infamous double agent Gable to decode German messages, and Selene on the arm of Portuguese baron Luca, trying to find out which of his socialite friends is feeding information to the Nazis. Recruited separately, Bea and Selene keep their spy activities secret from each other, and grow apart as their adventures take them in different directions. But both women end up falling for the men they’re working with.

Librarians differs from most of the World War II fiction I read. It’s a slow burn, and the pacing doesn’t really pick up till three-fourths of the way through the book. There’s a subplot about the mining of wolfram and its uses that, while historically accurate, feels more intellectual than emotional. The women never seem truly in danger, and most of the tension is derived from the romantic relationships. There are parties, glittering gowns, and several explicit sex scenes. The mentions of concentration camps are few and far between. The book portrays a glamorous world of Mata Haris and James Bonds, not Ravensbruck.

I enjoyed the cameo of American born, French singer/spy Josephine Baker and other attempts that Nelson made in incorporating real events into her fictional account. But honestly, the action in the book felt very removed from the horrors faced by the Jewish, British, and French people. Readers who want to empathize with these populations may find the book isn’t what they’re looking for.

On the other hand, there’s something symbolic about reading about galas, operas, fancy ball gowns, and romances that are going on while millions of people are suffering. There are always people who will be able to profit from pain, and others who ignore it while going about their daily lives. We’re about to get a strong reminder of that. And this time, Americans won’t be the good guys. 

Thanks to Ro Romanello PR for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: Murder in the Tuscan Hills

By Sara Steven

A picturesque scene…

As grape harvest season rolls around, retired DCI Dan Armstrong and his beloved canine companion, Oscar, are looking forward to a nice quiet September. But when Dan is contacted about a mysterious death out in the Tuscan Hills, it seems that work must come before pleasure.

A suspicious find…

At first it appears that the body found lying outside a prestigious winery has been the result of a tragic hit and run. But then the police discover that this is a cover up for murder…but who would kill in such an idyllic spot and why?

A face from the past?

As Dan investigates, he meets famous ex rock star, Digger, owner of the winery and prestigious Podere Dei Santi hotel. Digger’s guests include wealthy businessmen, tourists, and, among them, suspected mafia hitmen. But more significant for Dan is a face he knows only too well from his own past and he soon finds that wine isn't the only thing fermenting around him.

Could this murder be the start of a gangland war, or do the killer’s motives lie much closer to home? Will complications from Dan's past return to trouble his future? Either way, Dan and Oscar must work around the clock to solve another mystery. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I know I say this with every Armstrong and Oscar book, but I think Murder in the Tuscan Hills is my favorite, and here’s why: There is still plenty of suspense and drama leading up to the eventual discovery of who the culprit is, but this time, we dive even deeper into who Dan is and the connections he has with the people he’s invested in. 

One of the constants that we’ve always known about Dan is the reason behind his marriage failing. His ex-wife had cited his need to always put his work before his family, and while that isn’t how Dan ever really felt about it, it’s always there, in the back of his mind. So much so, that when a body is found at the winery and he’s called in to help investigate, he’s concerned about how this will affect his current relationship with girlfriend Anna.

It doesn’t help that the ex-wife is now part of the investigation, which only adds to Dan’s fears. Of all the wineries in all the world, why did it have to be the one he’s been tasked with solving a crime for? There is an added layer of delicate chaos as he tries to balance his relationship, the ex, and finding a murderer. 

I liked getting to see Dan more vulnerable. The reader still experiences Dan’s methodic search for the truth, and that was as fun as it always is, and of course, who could forget Oscar, the greatest assistant ever created? But with all of that, Dan showed a side of himself I don’t feel I’ve really been privy to before this installment, and it was sweet to see him attempt to keep Anna at the center, ensuring he doesn’t take similar strides to cause imbalance to what they have. 

Someday, I’d like to check out the Tuscan Hills–I’ve been saying that for years, too, since I’ve started reading Williams’s books, but for now, I’ll continue to live vicariously through Dan and Oscar. It was another five-star read for me!

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

Purchase Link:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Kobo

T. A. Williams is the author of over twenty bestselling romances and has turned his hand to cosy crime, set in his beloved Italy, for Boldwood. The series introduces us to retired DCI Armstrong and his labrador Oscar and the first book, entitled Murder in Tuscany, was published in October 2022. He lives in Devon with his Italian wife.

Visit T.A. Williams online:
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Book Review: If the Ring Fits

By Sara Steven

When investment banker Adrian and software engineer Rowena started the day, they didn’t expect to end it engaged! But Adrian has invented a fake fiancée to impress his CEO, regretting the lie almost immediately, and now he is in hot water. Meanwhile, Rowena's career has just gone up in flames, leaving her unemployed, unexpectedly expecting with no father in the picture, and short of options.


When fate throws these two hot messes into a meet-cute of epic proportions, it's a match made in rock-bottom heaven. They say love is blind, and with nothing to lose, Adrian gets down on one knee… and Rowena says yes!

The rules of engagement are simple:

Pretend to be madly in love

Keep their real lives separate

Absolutely, positively do NOT catch feelings

However, faking it is harder than they thought, especially when every overnight stay comes with only one bed and zero personal space—blurring that imaginary line between ‘just business’ and ‘definitely personal.’

Soon, their carefully constructed charade starts to feel alarmingly... real. Can Adrian and Rowena stick to their engagement pact, or will their fake relationship graduate to something authentically messy, complicated, and wonderful? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I know a storyline is good if I can imagine it portrayed on the small or big screen, and that is definitely the case with If the Ring Fits. The situation that Adrian and Rowena find themselves in is so unique and crazy–but realistic enough that I can totally picture it! Adrian needs a fake fiancee, and Rowena needs to find some means of security, even if it might be short-lived. Both characters can help one another, even coming up with rules to ensure it’s strictly platonic, but it’s tough when Adrian can’t seem to get Rowena out of his head, and Rowena loves how caring and sweet Adrian can be. They even come up with pet names for one another: Bunny for Adrian, Sunshine for Rowena. The lines between friendship and romance become extremely blurred, and in the best ways!

The story starts out rocky, the reader not really knowing from the get go what the outcome will be for this couple. Over time and chapters, it becomes clear that there is more here than just a business proposal, and I really liked that. Rowena has to think about her future, and not just for her, but for her child, and Adrian is so afraid to allow himself to engage within a serious relationship that he isn’t sure if he will ever be ready for anyone, even Rowena. Given how unorthodox their situation is, it’s hard to really say what the “right” thing is, and often secondary characters advise both Adrian and Rowena to listen to their gut, but I could tell that there is still a lot of learning and growth to be found. 

I loved how initially, Rowena is a more passive, reactive character, who ends up taking charge more–that was pretty evident when Adrian and Rowena attend their pseudo engagement party. And Adrian internally begins to question if he can see himself falling in love and seeking out Rowena’s love, even if it might mean possible hurt and failure. Adrian isn’t good with failure. But to see him take his fake fiancee into consideration and to witness the consideration of a future with someone was pretty amazing to see.

This was such a fun experience, a coming-of-relationship story that highlighted two very witty characters who make the best out of an unconventional situation. It was also nice to see some familiar characters from other books by Camilla Isley, characters linked together in ways that were seamless and effortless. If the Ring Fits is a definite five-star experience!    

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

Purchase Links:

Amazon US * Amazon UK

Camilla Isley is an engineer who left science behind to write bestselling contemporary rom-coms set all around the world. She lives in Italy and her first title for Boldwood, The Love Theorem, a Hollywood-meets-STEM romance, was published in June 2023.

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Lisa Montanaro is true to herself...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

I met Lisa Montanaro online when she started following CLC a while back. I've always known her to be kind, friendly, and someone with great book recommendations. So when I found out that she had written a book and that it would be published soon, I couldn't wait to learn more about it and get my hands on a copy! Everything We Thought Was True sounds really interesting and I'm excited to read it in the near future. I had a great time interviewing Lisa for CLC and I hope you will enjoy her answers as much as I do. Lisa has one ebook of her debut novel to share with a lucky reader!

Lisa Montanaro is part no-nonsense Italian American New Yorker and part sunny Californian. She has a unique background as a performer, teacher of deaf students, lawyer, coach, speaker, and author. Everything We Thought Was True is her debut novel. Lisa is also the author of The Ultimate Life Organizer, published by Peter Pauper Press. 

She serves as webinar host for the Women's Fiction Writers Association and is a member of its diversity & inclusion committee. She is also the facilitator of the Retro COLAGE group for adult children of LGBTQ parents. When not writing, Lisa enjoys cycling and hiking with her veterinarian husband, tending to her garden, and chasing after her rescue dogs. Lisa has enjoyed living snow-free since 2012 in Northern California, where she's made it her mission to sample the wines of the region. 

Visit Lisa online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram * BlueSky

Synopsis:
A secret that forever shapes a family… 

New York, 1983: When an argument erupts during dinner and Teresa Antinori, a typically docile wife and mother, hurls plates filled with pasta e piselli at her husband, Frank - the future of their Italian American family is changed forever. Frank has found a safe harbor with Teresa, but longs to truly be himself, while Teresa struggles with the startling discovery that her husband is gay and living a lie. 

Los Angeles 2015: Thirty-two years later, their daughter Lena is still picking up the pieces. When her father calls with unexpected news, it throws her right back into her least favorite place - the past. Lena is torn between supporting her father and her enduring loyalty to her mother, who once demanded secrecy at all costs. 

Told in alternating points of view - Frank and Teresa in the past, and Lena in the present - Everything We Thought Was True is the story of a family trying to reconcile their past, understand the secret at the heart of the family’s rupture, and embrace the future. Brimming with love and loss, heartache and hope, this multigenerational family drama weaves a tapestry of identity, healing, and forgiveness. 

"A masterfully written 'love is love' story told during a time when freedom came with rules. Everything We Thought Was True is a love story but also a story of fear and disbelief. Everyone pays a price in this family that loses almost everything before they find not only themselves, but each other. A story of secrets, lies, triumph, and joy by a debut author who bears watching." 

~ Barbara Conrey, USA Today bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye and My Secret to Keep

 

"Lisa Montanaro's carefully drawn characters are our neighbors—they are us—and they demonstrate a path to face and overcome the types of challenges that threaten to tear us apart. Refreshingly empathetic and self-reflective, Everything We Thought Was True is a novel of family and forgiveness perfect for our time." 

~ Jennifer Klepper, USA Today bestselling author of Unbroken Threads and The Last Road Trip

In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like for you?
It’s been a long and winding road, but an exciting one—started drafting in 2016, submitted to publishers in 2022, got my publishing deal in 2023, and am now releasing in January 2025.

How is Lena similar to or different from you?
On paper, the protagonist, Lena, and I share multiple identities: Italian American, married, native New Yorkers who moved to California (her to the LA area, me to the Davis area), lawyers (although I left the practice of law many years ago), and are the child of an LGBTQ+ parent. Yet, we are very different in many other ways. Lena is someone who hasn’t fully processed her emotions. She’s living in the aftermath of her family's secrets and decisions and hasn’t dealt with her childhood trauma. The characters in my novel are all trying to live their lives while the world and the truth are encroaching.

Many families have secrets that shape future generations. I hope readers resonate with what it’s like for a person and family to suffer emotional trauma or loss, and how it affects their lives.

If Everything We Thought Was True was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I love this question, especially because I’m a theater performer, and I love film adaptations of books. For Lena, I would cast Linda Cardellini, and for her husband Kevin, I would cast Justin Hartley (who ironically played the character of Kevin on This Is Us!). For Frank in the past story, I would cast Milo Ventimiglia. For Teresa, I’ve racked my brain researching who would play her and come up short, so I would hold auditions. ☺ I have a feeling I’d cast an unknown actress who would capture that Italian American look and the empathy of the character. Readers have said that Teresa is the heart of the story. If any readers can think of the perfect match for Teresa, please let me know!

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?
The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros. It left me with such a book hangover! This was my first book by Rebecca Yarros, but it won't be my last. I loved this dual timeline novel, with one story set in present day, and the other during WWII. There was so much to weave together, and the author did it beautifully. There's a story within a story—one of the characters is an author and unearths letters from the past. Meanwhile, the reader is experiencing what is happening in those letters through the characters in the past. Very cool! There's love, romance (with some surprisingly hot sex in both the past and present stories), heartbreak, history, and surprise. I cried some tears of sadness and happiness while reading this one.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?

Marisa Tomei comes to mind immediately. She captures my physical look, is Italian American (we are paesana with ancestors from the same areas of Italy!), and I respect her work as an actress. Plus, I stood behind her on the red carpet for a movie premiere in New York City years ago and she seemed like a lovely person. 

If we were to visit you, what are some places you would take us to see?
California Wine Country for sure. I’ve made it my mission to sample the wines of the region since relocating to Northern California from New York in 2012. Other favorite spots are Lake Berryessa and the charming town of Winters, Sea Ranch and Point Reyes on the gorgeous Pacific Coast, Mount Shasta and Yosemite for their stunning natural beauty, Muir Woods for the majestic redwoods, and Lake Tahoe, which is one of the most stunning places in the world.

Thanks to Lisa for chatting 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 February 4th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Mask of the Deer Woman

By Melissa Smoot

At rock bottom following her daughter’s death, ex–Chicago detective Carrie Starr has nowhere to go but back to her roots. Starr’s father never talked much about the reservation where he was raised, but the tribe needs a new marshal as much as Starr needs a place to call home.

In the past decade, too many young women have disappeared from the rez. Some have ended up dead, others just…gone. Now local college student Chenoa Cloud is missing, and Starr falls into an investigation that leaves her drowning in memories of her daughter—the girl she failed to save.

Starr feels lost in this place she thought would welcome her. And when she catches a glimpse of a figure from her father’s stories, with the body of a woman and the antlers of a deer, Starr can’t shake the feeling that the fearsome spirit is watching her, following her.

What she doesn’t know is whether Deer Woman is here to guide her or to seek vengeance for the lost daughters that Starr can never bring home. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

This book was incredible. The storyline is a dark one, but a necessary one. As an Indigenous woman myself, the discussion of missing and murdered indigenous women and children is widely known in Native communities. The jurisdictional issues with state and county law enforcement and the federal government makes it almost impossible to get most of these cases the attention they deserve. I really appreciated how Dove explained these issues in a way that any reader can understand. 

The pace of this story was perfect. I have not read such a brilliant page turner in a while. I was completely captivated. The story takes us through only a span of days, but the urgency of needing a certain outcome makes it feel even too long for what the main character, Carrie Starr, is trying to accomplish in these few days.

Throughout the book, I never knew who I could trust, if anyone. I was surprised at who some characters turned out to be and not so surprised at others. I loved the inclusion of certain beliefs and traditions within the Native community, it added so much depth and personality to the story. Dove does a great job of putting a spotlight on the reality of reservation life. The poverty and high unemployment rate, as well as the domestic abuse and drug use, keeps some tribes in an unfortunate socioeconomic space. Add to this that some of these tribes do not have their own police force, and it is a recipe for disaster and tragedy for these missing girls. 

If there is ONE book you read in 2025, make it this one. You will not be sorry.

Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase Mask of the Deer Woman here.

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Spotlight: Wedding Dashers

Ada’s little sister is getting married. Which should be a happy thought, right? But the once close sisters have been in a year long fight, the wedding is all the way in Ireland, and Ada is so broke that she just barely managed to get a ticket on a budget airline. And as if things couldn’t get worse, said airline just cancelled her connection. Which means Ada is stuck in London with no way to make it to the wedding.

Surely she’s hit rock bottom?

So, there’s no reason for her not to spill her heart out about the over-the-top wedding, her sister’s worryingly quick engagement, and the womanizing best man she’s dreading meeting to a handsome also-stranded stranger at the bar. Until she realizes the stranger is headed to the same wedding. Oh, and he’s the infamous best man.

Now, Jack and Ada must put their simmering attraction behind them to make it to Belfast before they miss the nuptials. But between flat tires, missed trains, and suspect hostels, Jack and Ada start to question whether their feelings are worth going the distance, or just a distracting detour along the way.

Purchase The Wedding Dashers

"The swoony banter, the hilarious travel mishaps, the close proximity—Wedding Dashers has it all. I was hooked from the very first page!”
—Lynn Painter, New York Times bestselling author of Happily Never After

"Did Heather McBreen write Wedding Dashers for me specifically? This book has everything my heart desires in a travel romcom—plans gone awry, perfect banter, and multiple instances of only one bed. It's funny, heartfelt, and hot as heck; I couldn't decide whether to laugh, swoon, or fan myself. A true delight!"
—Sarah Adler, USA Today bestselling author of Mrs. Nash's Ashes and Happy Medium

"Heather McBreen brings all the fun, all the feels, and all the chemistry with her debut Wedding Dashers, a romcom in its truest form that kept a smile on my face from the first page to the last. Ada and Jack's mishap travel adventures are side-splittingly funny and the tender moments in this book will stop you in your tracks. This is a book you'll want to read again and again." 
—Meredith Schorr, author of As Seen on TV and Someone Just Like You

Heather McBreen currently lives in Seattle, WA, but spent the best year of her life living in London where she completed an MA degree in arts and cultural management. When she's not writing or reading books about kissing, she can be found surfing the web for travel deals and plotting her next adventure. Wedding Dashers is her debut novel.

Visit Heather online:
Website * Instagram * X

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Book Review: The First Love Myth

By Sara Steven

Liz Madden has a storybook romance—high school sweethearts, second chances, and a happily-ever-after. But when she finds out that her husband cheated on her, she is forced to make the hard decision and walk away. Unable to reveal the betrayal to those closest to her, Liz instead takes refuge with her father and half-sister, Zoey.

Zoey is nursing her own broken heart after a devastating end to her first love. But true to Reid-sister heritage, she’s courting disaster with a no-strings-attached affair with her ex.

Liz's marital discord also brings their older sister, Cecilia, back to town. But Cecilia has complicated relationship issues of her own. She’s never forgiven their father for the affair he had seventeen years ago, and she’s also never accepted Zoey as part of the family.

As their respective heartbreaks draw Liz and Zoey closer together, Liz finds she is getting tired of walking the line between her two sisters.

The Reid sisters are each in over their heads. To make it through the summer, they'll have to heal the fractures between them. Sometimes, forgiveness isn’t always a straight line, and letting go is the only way forward. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I loved learning about the Reid sisters! All three have varying degrees of obstacles and hurdles they need to overcome, but it all stems from their familial pasts. Liz has allowed her husband to come and go for most of their relationship, seemingly due to his fears of long-term commitment, while Cecilia can never commit–she never feels safe enough to let down her guard, for fear of getting hurt. Zoey can’t seem to let go of her destructive first love, even though she knows he’s done too much for them to come back from, seeing many similarities to big-sister Liz. If Liz always forgives her husband, shouldn’t Zoey forgive her ex, too?

My favorite aspect to it all is the relationship shown between the three primary characters, the struggles in forgiveness, and when to let go of something that no longer serves the soul anymore. I felt like the pain Liz feels when deciding on whether to stay in her marriage or not is honest and real, deciding whether a relationship decades in the making is worth salvaging, and her sisters are there as support and guidance, as best as they can. Cecilia is afraid of letting the past in, which involves Zoey in ways Cecilia can’t come to terms with, but with tough love maybe she can get there, because the family bonds are so important and worth fighting for.

Zoey discovers that as much as Liz has been a role model for her, sometimes it’s OK to venture out into uncharted territories and make her own path that delineates from Liz, even if that means possible failure. I really felt like Zoey had a coming-of-age experience within this story, growing into herself and trusting her own gut more. She discovers she can’t make anyone love her, whether that’s her ex or in some sense, her own sister Cecilia.  

Really, each primary character had some serious growth happen, which was pretty amazing to see.  It seemed like the overall message was to highlight how change is inevitable and that it's OK when it happens, because sometimes the most beautiful things come from letting go. The First Love Myth was masterful and important, a definite five-star read!

Thanks to Red Adept Publishing for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Casey Dembowski:

When We're Thirty

The Corey Effect

Get a Room

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What's in the (e)mail

All (or most) of these books can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Apple, Kobo, etc.

NG = NetGalley

Melissa:
We Would Never by Tova Mirvis from Avid Reader Press (NG)

The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O'Connor from Gallery (NG)

Romantic Friction by Lori Gold from Harlequin (NG)

The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig from HarperCollins (print)

Again, Only More Like You by Catalina Margulis from Rising Action (NG)

The Peculiar Gift of July by Ashley Ream from Dutton (NG)

Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro from St. Martin's Press (NG)

Thrill Ride by Amy Ratcliffe from Kensington (NG)

I Might Be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman from Grand Central (NG)

Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh from Thomas Nelson (NG)

The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman from Amazon (NG)

The Last Road Trip by Jennifer Klepper from Red Adept (ebook)

Trial Run by/from S.M. Levine (ebook)

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein from Dutton (print)

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor from Berkley (NG)

Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross from Harlequin (NG)

Rush Week by Michelle Brandon from William Morrow (NG)

Get What You Need by/from Jessica Topper (ebook)

You Make My Heart Stop by Becky Hunter from Forever (NG)

Rewind to Us by Molly Morris from St. Martin's Press (NG)

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings from St. Martin's Press (NG)

Off Menu by Amy Rosen from ECW Press (NG)

Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter from Berkley (NG)

Right Back at You by Carolyn Mackler from Scholastic (NG)

Just Emilia by Jennifer Oko from Regal House (NG)

Good Moms Say Bad Words by/from Jenifer Goldin (ebook)

Sara:

Hook, Line, and Single by Phoebe MacLeod from Rachel's Random Resources (NG)

Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey from Angela Melamud (NG)

Making Friends Can Be Murder by Kathleen West from Berkley (NG)

The Night Shift by Gemma Rogers from Rachel's Random Resources (NG)

My Son's Girlfriend by Kerry Wilkinson from Bookouture (ebook)

Intersections by Karen Uhlmann from BooksForward (ebook)

Melissa S:

The Love Fix by Jill Shalvis from HarperCollins (print)

Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey from Angela Melamud (print)

Jami:

The Nanny Share by Emily Shiner from Bookouture (NG)

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Book Review: She Doesn't Have a Clue

By Melissa Smoot

A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it’s more like a nightmare.

Why Kate agreed to attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding is its own enigma, but she’ll plaster on a fake smile for two nights, with the aid of free champagne, naturally. And because the groom happens to be her editor, she’ll try to finish a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift.

When the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate’s biggest romantic regret.

As the wine flows and the weather threatens to hold every guest hostage, bitter resentments and long-held grudges surface amongst the colorful crowd. Anyone could be capable of murder, it seems. What would Loretta do? Unfortunately, Kate doesn’t have a clue. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I loved this storyline. It was so well written and thought out, it flowed perfectly. I really enjoyed how the author wove the main character's current life into what has happened in the murder mystery books the character has written. I recently read another book that used this method and I find it to be such an incredible, yet intricate way to build the narrative of the story.

The setting on the private island during a major rainstorm was also perfect. It really set the mood for the macabre tone of the book, but also added to the mystery. The grand old manor that the cast was staying in for an exclusive blue blooded wedding weekend, was so easy to imagine and I loved all the details that were included in the descriptions of the home. It added so much to the overall feel of the setting. 

All the characters were so different, yet I could not figure out who the antagonist would turn out to be. There were so many reasons to believe it was one person, and then boom, it turns out it couldn’t have been them. This one definitely kept me guessing until the very end. I could not read this book fast enough to find out which of the “suspects” actually turned out to be the killer.

I also enjoyed all the humor and wit in this book. The author did such an amazing job of creating well developed characters, it made it easy to get sucked in from the start. For the entirety of the story, I had a hard time deciding whom to trust and if I liked certain characters or not, which was kind of fun!

If you are looking for something that will keep you fully entertained from beginning to end, this is it! I will be adding this one to my list of favorites for 2025!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase She Doesn't Have a Clue here.

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Come sail away with Cindy Dorminy...plus a book giveaway

With Jethro

We're pleased to have Cindy Dorminy at CLC. She's no stranger here, as Sara has read and enjoyed a bunch of her rom-coms. (See her review of The Foster Wife from 2023, as just one example. Put Cindy Dorminy's name in the search bar to see her other reviews.) Today Cindy is talking about her latest rom-com, The Loathe Boat, and she has some print copies and ebooks to give away!

Cindy Dorminy grew up on a steady diet of popcorn (the kind you pop in a sauce pan), Tab (pre-Diet Coke), and movies for teenagers. She can't let a day go by without quoting a line from one of her favorite films, so quirky dialogue is a must in her stories. Cindy enjoys writing funny love stories, walking her dog, and slinging iron the old-fashioned way.

When she's not tucked away in her she-shed, Cindy shares her house with her musician husband and her awesome daughter (oh, and her adorable dachsie).  She resides in Nashville, TN, where live music can be heard everywhere, even at the grocery store.

Visit Cindy online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:
The Loathe Boat is about to set sail! All aboard!

Chrissy Parks already has one failed marriage under her belt, and despite being on good terms with her ex, she has no desire to put another ring on her left hand anytime soon. Life is good with Deacon, her amazing boyfriend, so there’s no need to rock the boat.

Deacon Youngblood has other plans. He pops the question just days before they plan to set sail on a role-playing-themed cruise. When Chrissy flips out and turns down his proposal, he begins to think that she may not be over her ex.

The situation escalates into a breakup, but neither will relinquish their cruise ticket. Chrissy climbs aboard the Sovereign of the Sea with the goal of clearing her head and enjoying all the cruise has to offer. Deacon follows with the hope of winning her back.

Chrissy has a nagging feeling that Deacon is hiding something from her. And he’s not the only one vying for her attention. Chrissy must search her heart and decide who she wants. Or maybe she should abandon ship.

Cindy Dorminy did it again! The Loathe Boat is an impossible-to-put-down, action-packed rom-com that delivers all the feels. The characters are terrific, the setting is spectacular, and the story has the perfect amount of tension and spice. This story featured some of my favorite tropes: second -chance love, forced proximity, and love triangles. I've never had any desire to go on a cruise, but after traveling with Chrissy and Deacon, my entire thought about sailing has changed....

~ Hilary Grossman, author of Mom Com

 

"In Dorminy's classic voicey style, The Loathe Boat takes readers on a hilarious and wild adventure on the high seas. You'll laugh, cringe, and swoon right along with Chrissy and Deacon as they LARP their way towards an ending that's as funny as it is surprising. This is a read not to be missed!" 

~ J.R Luis, author of Unfortunately Karen

What is a favorite compliment you received on your writing?
I work in a large department at a major medical center for my day job. I was walking by the front desk one day and heard one staffer tell the other “That’s Cindy, the writer.”  The other staffer said, “I love your books.” She received a massive bear hug because no one (other than my family who is required to shower me with praises) has ever done that before. It made my year.

What is one thing you would tell the debut novelist version of yourself? 
That’s a tough one. Even though I am publishing my tenth novel (gasp), I still feel like a newbie most days. I guess one thing I did do correctly is contact some authors that I admired. These may not be on the NYT bestselling list, but indie authors or mid-level authors. They (we) love it when people contact us. One in particular is still a good online friend today and I cherish her encouragement and our commiseration sessions. Also, don’t get too settled on only one path to publication. The industry changes on a dime and you may need to pivot. You might think you want a traditional (big 5) publishing deal with an agent at some point, but later, you might want to be independent and have total control over your writing career. Or you may want to choose a smaller traditional press like I did. All paths are valid and each one has definite pros and cons.

If The Loathe Boat were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles? 
This is an easy one. Kellan Lutz was always the picture in my mind for Deacon.  He’s very easy on the eyes but doesn’t really know it. Megan Fox is Angela. She’s drop dead gorgeous, so it’s hard not to like her. Theo James is Elliot. Tall, handsome, and incredibly sure of himself. And starring Olivia Holt as Chrissy. She’s cute as can be, perky, and very lovable. Plus, she’s from Tennessee!

If you could cosplay anyone, who would it be?
I’m such a nerdy girl, Velma from Scooby Doo would be my go-to character. And who doesn’t love Scooby?

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
I think I would love Jennifer Aniston to narrate my life, especially if she uses that adorable Texas accent she had in Dumplin’.

If we were to visit you, what are some places you would take us to see?
I live in Nashville, TN (a/k/a Music City) and like my bio states, there is live music everywhere, even at the grocery store. I wouldn’t take you to Kroger, obviously, but we would go to the Grand Ole Opry. Everyone must experience that at least once in their life. Also, we’d go to The Bluebird Café. It’s this hole in the wall (away from downtown) where singer-songwriters showcase their songs. You might not recognize them on the street, but you would definitely know their songs. One caveat to the Bluebird – shhhhh. No talking, no woo-hooing. Speaking of ‘woo-hooing’ I would NEVER take you downtown to the honky tonks. You’ll never get me on one of those pedal taverns (otherwise known as woo-hoo wagons).

Thanks to Cindy for chatting 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 January 28th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey

By Jami Denison

My taste in reality TV is more Golden Bachelor and Selling Sunset than shows where women scream at each other and scratch with their fake nails. But when I see clips of some Real Housewives or restaurant servers going at it, I always wonder, when will one of these women snap and kill someone? Apparently author Astrid Dahl thought the same thing, as that’s the concept of her second book, The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey. And even if you don’t know the difference between Bravo and E, you’re going to love it.

Producer Eden Bennett has a killer idea for her reality show Garden State Goddesses – cast her naïve cousin Hope, who just married Leo, brother-in-law of the show’s star. Hope, the product of a Northern California Bible-thumping family, will be the perfect foil for Carmela, the long-nailed, hot-tempered, proud Italian married to Leo’s brother Dino, a rumored member of the Mafia. 

But no one told Hope she was cannon-fodder, and she hates it when Carmela attacks her for no reason. At least the other women in the show are nicer: There’s rich drunk Birdie; bisexual Renee whose teen daughter wants to be the next Ariana Grande; and Leo’s sister Valerie. As the show takes its toll on Hope, it wears away at her marriage to Leo. But even Leo doesn’t know about the secrets Hope is hiding from her past. Will Carmela be the one to dig them up? And what happens when she does?

Wives begins with a lengthy cast list, a warning that the reader is going to have trouble keeping track of all those characters. I was confused at first, and since the book starts with a prologue from the middle, it took me a while to settle in about who was who. There are a lot of ancillary characters as well, such as Birdie’s son and Renee’s daughter. 

While the tone is a little uneven, swerving from intrigue to farce, the structure matches the season of a reality show, from those fake girl trips to the on-camera confessionals. With such a sprawling cast list, Dahl does justice to the three point-of-view characters, giving depth to Eden, Hope, and Renee. Eden reminded me a lot of Rachel from the Unreal TV show that ran on Lifetime ten years ago. Beyond the reality TV genre, Eden is a stand-in for anyone who has had to compromise relationships and even personal integrity to move ahead in their dream careers.

The pacing is a little slow in the beginning, but Dahl hits her stride midway, and the deaths come fast and furious (and sometimes funny). The ending wraps up everything nicely while dangling enough loose threads for a sequel. 

Reality TV fans should definitely add The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey to their TBR pile. Dahl is a talented-enough writer that Really Dead could spawn its own franchise, too. 

Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Renée Rosen can do anything...plus a book giveaway

Credit: Julie Kaplan Photography

Introduction by Melissa Amster

We're thrilled to have Renée Rosen at CLC again today. I love her historical fiction novels and her latest, Let's Call Her Barbie, is no exception. In fact, it's her best one yet! (See my review.) Renée is lovely both online and on Zoom calls (for book clubs). I hope to meet her in person one of these days. She's here today to talk about her latest novel and about Barbie. Thanks to Berkley, we have one copy of Let's Call Her Barbie to share with a lucky reader!

Renée Rosen is a USA Today bestselling author. Her novels include Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, The Social Graces, Park Avenue Summer, Windy City Blues, White Collar Girl, What the Lady Wants, and Dollface as well as the young adult novel, Every Crooked Pot.

She is a native of Akron, Ohio, and a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C. She now lives in Chicago and is at work on a new novel. (Bio courtesy of Renée's website.)

Visit Renée online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:
When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.

In 1956, the only dolls on the market for little girls let them pretend to be mothers. Ruth’s vision for a doll shaped like a grown woman and outfitted in an enviable wardrobe will let them dream they can be anything.

As Ruth assembles her team of creative rebels—head engineer Jack Ryan who hides his deepest secrets behind his genius and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, whose hopes and dreams rest on the success of Barbie’s fashion—she knows they’re working against a ticking clock to get this wild idea off the ground.

In the decades to come—through soaring heights and devastating personal lows, public scandals and private tensions— each of them will have to decide how tightly to hold on to their creation. Because Barbie has never been just a doll—she’s a legacy. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"Renée Rosen's research and deft writing bring Barbie - and those who brought her into the world - to vivid pink life and make Let's Call Her Barbie a riveting read for anyone who loves historical fiction, strong women (real and otherwise), Barbie the doll, Barbie the movie, or stories about the American dream. The first must-read of 2025! It's DOLL-ing!"

—Viola Shipman, USA Today bestselling author of The Page Turner

"Impossible to put down, this is a riveting portrayal of a flawed yet awe-inspiring visionary. I thought I knew Barbie’s story, but Rosen’s unflinching portrayal of the doll’s meteoric rise, and the players behind it, proves there’s much more to this tale. An absolute must-read."

—Karma Brown, #1 international bestselling author of What Wild Women Do

“A fresh and fun take on Barbie lore…clever and satisfying.” 

—Shelby Van Pelt, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures

What is one thing you'd tell the debut novelist version of yourself? 

Don’t take yourself or life so seriously. Lighten up and enjoy the experience because it all goes by so quickly. 
 

What is something new you learned while doing research for Let's Call Her Barbie?
I don’t even know where to begin. I learned so much about what went into the creation of the world’s most iconic doll.  First of all and most surprising was that Barbie was based on a German prostitute gag doll for men. Secondly, Ruth Handler, the Mother of Barbie, never played with dolls as a little girl. Thirdly, Barbie was a big flop when they first introduced her at Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. Those are just a few things that come to mind, but there are many, many more. Barbie has often been criticized for her body but people will be surprised to learn that Barbie’s extreme measurements were all driven by her wardrobe and not some misogynistic fantasy. 

If Let's Call Her Barbie was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles and what songs would be on the soundtrack?
I’m so bad at questions like these, but here goes… I think a younger Robert Downey Jr. would be a perfect Jack Ryan and I can see Jennifer Lawrence as Charlotte Johnson. I think Tom Hiddleston could be a great Elliot Handler.  As for Ruth, that’s trickier to cast, there’s a few possibilities—Sandra Bullock, Sigourney Weaver or Zooey Deschanel. 

The soundtrack would be everything from Elvis and Little Richard in the 1950s to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones (the whole British invasion) along with protest songs in the 1960s and 1970s. The book references quite a few songs that I hope people will remember or Google!  
            
Which was your favorite Barbie when you were growing up?
I had a Bubble Cut Barbie that once belonged to a relative and I cherished her. I still have her along with my original Ken, Midge, and Julia dolls. 

In one sentence, what are your thoughts on the Barbie movie from 2023?
I didn’t know what to expect when I went into the theater that day and I have to say, I was very charmed and very pleasantly surprised. 

If you could come up with a new Barbie for the 21st century, how would she dress and what objects would she come with? Bonus: What would you call her?
I don’t know! That’s impossible to say, especially knowing what goes into creating a new doll. I suppose I would come up with a spiritual Barbie who is all about embracing the present moment since that’s all we ever really have. Her accessories could include a yoga mat, a candle, a copy of Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now, and Rhonda Bryn’s The Great Secret. I’d call her Enlightened Barbie. 

Thanks to Renée for chatting with us and to Berkley for sharing her book with our readers!

Just for fun, check out the post Sara and Melissa wrote about Barbie in 2023.

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 January 26th at midnight EST.

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