About Us

Melissa Amster lives in Maryland (DC Metro area) with her husband, two sons and daughter. When she's not reading and interviewing authors, she is working as a media manager for a book publicity company. In her spare time (what's that?!?), she likes to watch her favorite shows on TV, bake challah and desserts, and host meals and other gatherings. Check out her personal blog and follow her on Twitter and her Bookstagram.

Sara Steven is a wife and stay-at-home mother of two rambunctious boys in Queen Creek, Arizona. When she’s not pursuing an English degree at Arizona State University, going for a trail run or working on a writing project, she takes a break and opens up a good book (or turns on her Kindle). Find her on Twitter.

Feel free to contact us with any questions, proposals, or comments...or just to say hi! If you're contacting us regarding book reviews, please see our review policy first.

Review Associates

Becky Gulc lives in York, England. When she's doesn't have her head in a book, she works as a Social Researcher (anything to do families, health, the most disadvantaged). Becky has been undertaking creative writing courses and aspires to be a fully fledged writer too, one day... When she's not reading Becky loves walking in her happy places, the North Yorkshire Moors and by the sea. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter if you would like to get to know her better.

Jami Denison moved to St. Petersburg, FL in 2012, the same year she joined CLC. Under the name Jami Deise, she is the author of three books available on Amazon: Keeping Score, The Ties that Bleed, and House Divided. She is also a real estate agent with Century 21.  Jami is a huge fan of domestic thrillers, women’s fiction and horror in books, movies, and TV. She’s on Facebook and Twitter, and blogs at JamiDeise.blogspot.com.

Allyson Bales lives in New Jersey.  She is an art therapist working with at-risk youth and loves making a difference.  Books have been her saving grace and really helped her manage being a front line worker during the Pandemic.  When she’s not helping others, she loves to travel and camp with her wife.  One of her favorite places to read is by a campfire with some good tunes in the background.  You can find her on Bookstagram at @readswithally.

Melissa Smoot became an avid reader as a small child, growing up in Chicago. The first book she remembers reading (and loving) was Mandy by Julie Andrews. She has since become a lover of Women’s fiction as well as mystery and suspense and everything in between. Melissa graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in American Indian Law and is also pursuing an M.L.S degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law at Arizona State, with a focus on Tribal Law and Corporate Compliance. In her spare time, she likes to read, do jigsaw puzzles, go for long early morning walks, spend time with family and friends, and try new places around town. She works in finance and currently lives in Scottsdale with her Jack Russell Terrier, Dolly.

Author Liaison

Cindy Roesel lives in Miami, Florida. She graduated from Hunter College, CUNY with a BA in Communications and went on to work for nearly twenty years as an anchor/reporter/producer at major television markets across the country. She even won an Emmy for a TV special she produced! She now focuses on her writing and has completed her first novel, Viewer Discretion Advised. She’s thrilled and honored to be part of CLC and affiliated with such bright and vibrant women. If you’d like to chat about books with Cindy, find her at her blog and on Facebook and Twitter.

Artist

Ben Stanford is an expat Canadian living in Paris, France with his wife and son. When he’s not freelancing on web and design projects, he works as a communications consultant for international organizations based in Paris. He has a fine arts degree with a concentration in communications from the University of Ottawa. Ben created the new illustration and logo for us and would love to work on book cover designs with aspiring authors. Check out his work on Pinterest and Visual.ly. You can also find him on Twitter.

CLC Alumni:

Amy Bromberg (she may be back in the future)

Tracey Meyers (she may be visiting from time to time)

Gail Allison

Kathryn Hamilton

Denise Keliuotis

Miriam Plotinsky

Marisa Appleton