Book Review: Swiped

By Jami Denison

I had my share of horrible dates when I was trying to meet Mr. Right on the dating apps. But I did meet my husband on Match, so they worked for me! Gwen Turner, heroine of L.M. Chilton’s debut novel Swiped, can’t say the same. Her dates have been disastrous, featuring men who lie about their age, their wives, and only seem interested in nudes. But do they all deserve to die?  

Gwen’s made some pretty big mistakes in her life—quitting a great job to run a coffee truck, breaking up with a man who truly loved her—and now her roommate/best friend is moving out and getting married. Gwen wants to bring a date to the wedding, but the pickings are slim in her small coastal English town. At her friend’s hen do, she’s desperate for an excuse to leave, and messages one of her matches on the dating app. But he responds with a newspaper clipping about a man who was murdered. Shaken, Gwen realizes she had gone out on a date with him. And then her other dates start dying, their bodies found in the same location where Gwen had met them. Is the killer after Gwen? Or trying to frame her?

While the plot of Swiped is a bit like the classic 1989 Al Pacino thriller Sea of Love, the tone is closer to Bridget Jones's Diary. It’s a terrific send-up of the dating app culture, where sometimes it’s hard not to wish death on certain daters. But Gwen herself isn’t faultless either, which she reveals as the novel progresses. Although at times the book got too silly for the danger to feel serious, overall, it’s a fun ride. 

Women on the apps might want to stock up on a few copies of the book. Sending one over to an obnoxious guy who asks for nudes is a great way to make a statement.  

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

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Book Review: Summers at the Saint

By Melissa Smoot

Welcome to the St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia, where traditions run deep and scandals run even deeper. . .

Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as “the Saint.” If you grew up coming here, you were “a Saint.” If you came from the wrong side of the river, you were “an Ain’t.” Traci Eddings was one of those outsiders whose family wasn’t rich enough or connected enough to vacation here. But she could work here. One fateful summer she did, and married the boss’s son. Now, she’s the widowed owner of the hotel, determined to see it return to its glory days, even as staff shortages and financial troubles threaten to ruin it. Plus, her greedy and unscrupulous brother-in-law wants to make sure she fails. Enlisting a motley crew of recently hired summer help―including the daughter of her estranged best friend―Traci has one summer season to turn it around. But new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel threatens to come to light, and the tragic death of one of their own brings Traci to the brink of despair.

Traci Eddings has her back against the pink-painted wall of this beloved institution. And it will take all the wits and guts she has to see wrongs put to right, to see guilty parties put in their place, and maybe even to find a new romance along the way. Told with Mary Kay Andrew’s warmth, humor, knack for twists, and eye for delicious detail about human nature, Summers at the Saint is a beach read with depth and heart. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I have always enjoyed books by Mary Kay Andrews, and Summers at the Saint is no exception. Set in a luxury resort in a coastal town of Georgia, this story had all the makings of a perfect beach read. Although the book is over 450 pages, I could not get enough and finished it in less than two days. That is saying something since I also have a full-time day job! 

The main character, Traci Eddings, had grown up on the “wrong side of the causeway”, but was now the owner of the luxury resort where she started as a lifeguard as a teenager. When a tragedy strikes Traci’s family, she not only has to figure out who did it, but how to save the beloved hotel that has become her home, and the staff like family. Andrews really takes the time to fully develop the characters and the story line, so I didn’t feel like there were any unanswered questions when the book ended.

I spent many years working in the luxury hotel business, and I could relate to many of the obstacles and inner workings of spending 12-15 hours a day, sometimes six days a week, at a resort such as this. If you are looking for a top notch beach read this summer, look no further. You will not be disappointed in Summers at the Saint.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Mary Kay Andrews:

The Homewreckers

The Newcomer

Hello, Summer

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What's in the (e)mail...plus a giveaway

Melissa:

Hers for the Weekend by Helena Greer from Forever (NetGalley)

The Trade Off by Samantha Greene Woodruff from Lake Union (NetGalley)

A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber from Tor (print)

Sara:

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

Far From Home by T.A. Williams from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

Sly as a Fox by Wendy Koenig from Author Marketing Experts (ebook)

It Started with a Book by Camilla Isley from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

The Perfect Home by Natasha Boydell from Rachel's Random Resources (NetGalley)

Jami: 

Once More from the Top by Emily Layden from MB Communications (NetGalley)

A Season of Perfect Happiness by Maribeth Fischer from Dutton (NetGalley)

Melissa S:
Elizabeth of East Hampton by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding from Gallery (print)
Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins from Berkley (print)

A Friend Indeed by Elka Ray from Kaye Publicity (print)

The Unraveling by Melanie Hamrick from Berkley (print)

What could be in YOUR (e)mail:

Keep This Off the Record by Arden Joy. 

Arden has one audiobook to give away! And it's narrated by Mara Wilson!

See Melissa's review.

Synopsis:

Abigail Meyer and Freya Jonsson can’t stand one another. But could their severe hatred be masking something else entirely?

From the moment they locked eyes in high school, Abby and Freya have been at each other’s throats. Ten years later, when Abby and Freya cross paths again, their old rivalry doesn’t take more than a few minutes to begin anew. And now Naomi, Abby’s best friend, is falling for Freya’s producer and close pal, Will.

Both women are thrilled to see their friends in a happy relationship—except they are now only a few degrees of separation from the person they claim to despise…and they can’t seem to avoid seeing one another.

Keep This Off the Record is a fun and fresh LGBTQIA+ story about the freedom to be who you are, even if that means falling for the person you hate. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"Delightful! This modern-day twist on Much Ado About Nothing is sure to please both lovers of romance and Shakespeare." 

--Jean Meltzer, International bestselling author

“If there is a fine line between love and hate, high school enemies Abby and Freya are happy to cross it. Readers will be happy too! Arden Joy lives up to her last name. Keep This Off the Record is a joy!” 

--Meredith Schorr, author of Someone Just Like You

“I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and this charming love story, complete with a delightful cast of characters, Jewish, and LGBTQIA+ rep, checked every box. With equal parts humor and heart, Arden Joy delivers a feel-good romance that reminds us to love ourselves for exactly who we are.” 

--Lindsay Hameroff, author of Till There Was You

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 May 15th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Crow Talk

By Allyson Bales

Frankie O’Neill and Anne Ryan would seem to have nothing in common. Frankie is a lonely ornithologist struggling to salvage her dissertation on the spotted owl following a rift with her advisor. Anne is an Irish musician far from home and family, raising her five-year-old son, Aiden, who refuses to speak.

At Beauty Bay, a community of summer homes nestled on the shores of June Lake, in the remote foothills of Mount Adams, it’s off-season with most houses shuttered for the fall. But Frankie, adrift, returns to the rundown caretaker’s cottage that has been in the hardworking O'Neill family for generations—a beloved place and a constant reminder of the family she has lost. And Anne, in the wake of a tragedy that has disrupted her career and silenced her music, has fled to the neighboring house, a showy summer home owned by her husband's wealthy family.

When Frankie finds an injured baby crow in the forest, little does she realize that the charming bird will bring all three lost souls—Frankie, Anne, and Aiden—together on a journey toward hope, healing, and rediscovering joy. Crow Talk is an achingly beautiful story of love, grief, friendship, and the healing power of nature in the darkest of times. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

This is my first Eileen Garvin read and I am not really sure what I have been doing with my life but adding the rest of her backlist to my TBR is first on my to-do list this week!

Garvins writing, the characters, the plot, and how I felt reading this book all made this a book I will remember for some time to come.

I found that this is a slower moving read.  I really took my time with it reading a few chapters at a time allowing myself time to really absorb the story and I recommend you do the same.  I also really loved all the details and facts about crows.  I see them all the time but now have a new understanding of the species and have shared a few of the facts with people around me.  The crow represented a lot of the themes of the story which I also really enjoyed and especially feel in love with Charlie Crow and Aiden.

I love characters that are harder to get to know and understand, but once you do they are characters that leave a lasting impression.  Both Charlie Crow and Aiden were that for me and I really can’t wait for you to meet them.  How both help other characters in the story reflect and grow was very heartwarming and thought provoking.  The characters explore themes of grief, healing, friendship, and what it means to find yourself again and they are so incredibly relatable. 

While this story was a slow burn, it really snuck up on me at the end and I found myself so overcome with so many feelings.  I really don’t remember the last story I read where that happened.  I found so much hope in this story and don’t think I will ever look at crows the same way again.

Thanks to Dutton for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase Crow Talk here.

More by Eileen Garvin:
The Music of Bees
How to Be a Sister

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Spotlight: The Restaurant in Pelican Crossing

 

Poppy Taylor has always been content with her life in Pelican Crossing, but as she watches her youngest daughter get married, she can't help but feel that there’s something missing. Never would Poppy have predicted the dramatic transformation that occurs as she reunites with an old love and makes a choice that will reshape everything.

Cam Mitchell has always felt a strong attraction to Poppy, and when she reveals her plans to make changes in her life, Cam sees it as his chance to finally reveal his feelings. But Cam's hopes are crushed when he discovers Poppy's past love is back in the picture.

Cam becomes increasingly sceptical of the man from Poppy's past – a feeling that escalates when he uncovers his shocking plans for Pelican Crossing.

With their town now at risk, Cam and Poppy must work together to save their home and find their own happy ending. But will their feelings for each other be enough to overcome the obstacles in their way?

For fans of small-town romances and heartwarming stories of second chances, Pelican Crossing is a must-read. A captivating tale of love, loyalty, and the fight to protect what matters most.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Barnes & Noble

After a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing romantic women’s fiction, feel good stories of second chances. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her trips to visit family in Scotland, in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them. Maggie has been called the queen of mature age fiction and her writing has been described by one reviewer as like a nice warm cup of tea. It is warm, nourishing, comforting and embracing.

From the small town in Scotland where she grew up, Maggie was lured to Australia by the call to ‘Come and teach in the sun’. Once there, she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of over thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!

Visit Maggie online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Visit all the stops on Maggie's blog tour:

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Book Review: Eat Dessert First

By Melissa Smoot

Can a plus-sized, big-hearted baker discover the recipe for happiness?

Abbey Reilly has heard “you have such a pretty face” enough times to know that it’s code for “if only you’d lose weight.” Giving up her architectural career to care for her ailing mom and working in a bakery to make ends meet, she is convinced no one will ever find her attractive. So she’s stunned when a handsome regular customer not only shows interest but asks her on a date.

Devastated when she learns her would-be beau is married, Abbey resigns herself to a lonely future. But the insecure woman can hardly believe her luck when she draws the attention of a dreamy guy at a bachelorette party… until his horrible ex plots revenge.

Will Abbey claim the confidence she deserves and find a keeper who recognizes her true beauty?

With light humor and loving insight, Michelle Paris weaves a delightful tale of learning to believe in yourself. Juggling elder parent care, tight finances, and hating the image in the mirror, Abbey Reilly will charm any reader fond of rooting for an underdog. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

This is the second book I have read by Michelle Paris, and I really loved it from start to finish. Her main character, Abbey, with her kind heart and all-around sweetness, seems like someone I would want to be great friends with. After leaving her beloved job as an architect in Philadelphia and moving back to her small town in Maryland to take care of her ailing mom, Abbey takes a job as a baker to help make ends meet. Her love for her family and her determination to take care of her mother made her very relatable to me. 

When Abbey meets Jax Lawrence, Abbey’s life seems to get more and more complex. She deals with her mother’s illness, her younger sister’s selfishness, and some questionable characters popping back into her life. Her relationship with the handsome and rich, Jax Lawrence, starts to make her question her own self-worth. Caroline, the owner of Sweet Caroline’s bakery, where Abbey works, finally gets Abbey to see that there is so much more to her than her size. 

You will fall in love with the characters in Eat Dessert First. Well, most of them. I know that so many people can relate to feeling inadequate or a lack of self-confidence. This is an absolute must read!

Thanks to Michelle Paris for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Also by Michelle Paris: New Normal (reviewed here)

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Spotlight and Giveaway: And Now There's Zelda

We're pleased to feature Carolyn Clarke's latest novel, And Now There's Zelda, which will be available on May 9th! This is a follow-up to And Then There's Margaret, but it can be read as a standalone. It may contain spoilers for its predecessor though. It sounds like something fans of the movie Why Him? will enjoy, but with the reverse situation. Carolyn has one signed copy for a lucky reader!

Dealing with a controlling, manipulative, and self-absorbed mother-in-law can be a challenge. But when your child brings home a fiancé who’s completely unworthy, and the shoe is suddenly on the other foot, do you take the high road, or get down and dirty? 

It’s been five years since Allison Montgomery’s beloved father-in-law, George, passed away and her cantankerous mother-in-law, Margaret, moved in. After nearly killing each other during their initial adjustment period, Allie and Margaret have finally buried the hatchet and have even launched a thriving home staging business together. 

Today, Allie is enjoying life. That is until her twenty-two-year-old son, Cameron, unexpectedly brings home Zelda, his new fiancé. The problem is, no one has ever met or even heard of her. And when Zelda’s first impression raises more than a few red flags, Allie finds herself in unfamiliar territory. 

Facing the prospect of becoming a mother-in-law far sooner than expected, and to someone unworthy of her darling baby boy, Allie’s protective instinct kicks in. And who better to turn to for guidance and support than Margaret, her former nemesis and master of the mothers in-law’s dark arts. 

"A funny, uplifting story about one woman's lesson in letting go-even though this means she has to make peace with her mother-in-law AND a potential daughter-in-law who just might be her sweet son's biggest mistake." 
– Maddie Dawson, Washington Post bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners

"A roller coaster ride of three generations finding their place in the world, laced with acute observations, great descriptions and a satisfying denouement." 
– Maddie Please, bestselling author of The Old Ducks' Club

"And Now There's Zelda is a funny and warm-hearted take on contemporary life for the contemporary woman." 
– Cary J Hansson, bestselling author of The Midlife Trilogy

Carolyn Clarke is the founder and curator of HenLit Central, a blog focused on 'life and lit' for women over 40. AND NOW THERE'S ZELDA is her second novel after AND THEN THERE'S MARGARET (2022). She has been an ESL teacher for over sixteen years and has co-authored several articles and resources with Cambridge University Press, MacMillan Education and her award-winning blog ESL Made Easy. She lives in Toronto, Canada with her partner, Tony, her two daughters and bulldog, Sophie. 

Visit Carolyn online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

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 May 12th at midnight EST.

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