Tuesday, June 30, 2020

In Case You Missed It by Lindsey Kelk

A special thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rosalind Reynolds has just returned home and is ready for a fresh start. She's been away, working in America, for the last three years. Ros is not only in need of a new job, but also a new flat because her parents have rekindled their sex life and relegated her to the garden shed. It seems like everyone but her has moved on and it's making Ros nostalgic for the way things were. 

After sending out a mass text to let everyone know that she's back in England, Ros' phone is blowing up with messages from her old life three years ago. This includes one from a number that she thought she had erased—there's a text from the man who broke her heart.

Could a missed chance in life be a second chance in love?

Having been a fan of the I Heart series and We Were on a Break, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book! What I love most about Kelk is that she writes characters that could totally be your best mates. They are realistic, relatable, and a bit cheeky. She also has an impeccable ear for dialogue. 

Our heroine is charming, smart, and funny. Because all of her friends have moved on, Ros clings to the past—it is familiar and safe. Unfortunately, this also means reconnecting with her ex, Patrick. She is feeling the constraints of what's expected of her, especially with all of her friends doing more adult things with their lives. I think it's safe to say that most of us have experienced these societal pressures on some level at one point or another in our lives. Again, totally relatable. 

The supporting cast is just as strong and that's no small feat. I absolutely adored Sumi. She is the best friend that every girl needs! She's got your best interest at heart at all times, but she's not afraid to tell you the truth. 

Lindsey Kelk, can we be friends? Like seriously...I absolutely adore your writing. You are witty, warm, and fabulous. In Case You Missed It is absolutely delightful and I have a massive book hangover.


LINDSEY KELK is an author and journalist. She was also a children's book editor and columnist for Marie Claire. Lindsey is published in twenty-two countries and her novels, including the I Heart series, the Tess Brookes series, and standalone books, have sold over two million copies worldwide. She is also the co-host of two podcasts; Full Coverage, where she chats with experts about all things beauty and Tight and Fights, a wrestling podcast on the Maximum Fun network. 

Kelk lives Los Angeles, California, with her husband Jeff. 

Monday, June 22, 2020

The Swap by Robyn Harding

A special thank you to Goodreads First Reads, Edelweiss, NetGalley, Gallery/Scout Press, and Simon and Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The cruelty of adolescence has inflicted itself on Low Morrison. It doesn't help that she has hippie polyamorous parents, a name that becomes a suggestive punchline, and that she's unusually tall.

At her high school, Low sees a magnetically beautiful woman posting a flier for pottery lessons. Intrigued, Low signs up for one of Freya Light's classes where she completely falls under her spell. Freya, a former social media influencer, basks in the attention that she craves and has been missing.

But then Freya crosses a line when she starts telling Low her darkest secrets and deepest desires. Freya and her husband, Max, moved to escape a scandal that not only ruined Max's professional hockey career, but hers as well. Low mistakes the oversharing as friendship and becomes even more enamoured with Freya, dangerously teetering on obsession.

Jamie Vincent and her husband, Brian, have moved to the island to start a family. Her friendship with Freya has Low feel threatened. One night, the couples get together to do magic mushroom and the evening ends in a partner swap. But what they don't know is that Low saw everything that happened in the glass house, and she's not afraid to use it to her advantage.

As events spiral out of control, Harding delivers a thrilling tale about how toxic relationships can be.

The Swap is a deep dive into obsession, desire, and jealousy. But be careful, this book has got some teeth and will sink them into its reader. Harding's writing is sharp, evocative, and riveting.

The narrative shifts among the main characters with the exception of Freya which only adds to her appeal and perceived perfection. But what hides behind the celestial exterior is a dangerous darkness. Robyn's character development is nothing short of flawless. Her cast are insidious and electric, both likeable and loathsome.

It is hard to resist the allure of a Robyn Harding book. In this novel, she expertly builds tension and resentment through venomous relationships. Prepare to be shocked and consumed—this is an absolute must-read that will be one of the best books of the summer.

Congratulations, Robyn on another remarkable work.

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ROBYN HARDING is the author of The Party, Her Pretty Face, and The Arrangement. She has written and executive produced an independent film.

Harding lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her husband and two children.



Q & A with Robyn Harding*

GWR: If you could tell your younger self something about writing and becoming an author, what would it be?

RH: I’d tell myself that being an author is not a career with a smooth trajectory. It’s a rollercoaster of ups and downs and you have to be willing to adapt, change, and grow. I’d tell myself that some people won’t like my work and that’s okay. Just focus on the part you love—the writing.

GWR: Describe your writing space and what your process looks like? Are you a pantser or plotter?

RH: I have an office/spare room where I do my writing. One wall is painted a pale lemon colour because yellow is supposed to stimulate creativity. I work at an adjustable desk so I can alternately sit and stand.

I’m a combination of plotter and pantser; a “plantser” as Karma Brown calls it. Using screenplay structure, I lay out a rough framework and then I write toward the major plot points. But I don’t outline in great detail.

GWR: What character was most challenging to write?

RH: Low was the most challenging to write, but also the most fun. She’s so odd and dark and creepy—but I love her. I’m a huge fan of Zoe Heller’s novel “Notes on a Scandal.” Low is the teen version of Barbara Covett (played by Dame Judy Dench in the movie).

GWR: How did you choose which characters' perspectives to write from? Did you consciously leave out Freya's?

RH: I’m a big fan of writing (and reading) multiple points of view. I chose the POVs in The Swap organically (I wasn’t originally going to include the men), but I purposely left out Freya’s perspective. I felt that she would be most fascinating viewed through the eyes of the other characters who alternately adore and despise her.

GWR: How did you select the names for your characters? (I thought Freya's Instagram handle was very clever!)

RH: Thank you! Naming characters can be challenging. A couple of years ago I went to Iceland and that trip inspired the name Freya. Sometimes, I scroll through social media to see if a name pops out at me. I try to make the names age appropriate—I wouldn’t name a teenager Dorothy or call a boomer Brittany.

GWR: The themes of The Swap—toxic relationships, desire, the impact of social media—are all relatable, yet your take on them was exciting and fresh. How hard was it to come up with the themes and where did you draw inspiration from?

RH: I write about topics that fascinate me: complicated female friendships, envy, social media celebrity, sex, obsession... And I’ve recently heard about a lot of people having open relationships and practicing polyamory. It got me wondering: How would that really work? Or more appropriately (for a suspense novel): How would that not work?

GWR: The pottery making was interesting to read about, do you have any experience or other artistic talents besides writing?

RH: I took a pottery class last year and I loved it. Was I a natural? No. Were my pieces usable? Not really. But it was a ton of fun. I can draw a little but I’m left-handed, so that has made some arts and crafts (knitting, sewing, pottery) difficult for me. That’s my excuse, anyway.

GWR: What are you working on now?

RH: I’m just starting a new book about a family that is being harassed by a gang of faceless teens. The family members all profess their innocence and deny any knowledge of why they’re being assaulted, but each of them has a dark secret. And one of them has brought this attack upon their home.

*A version of this post was published on STYLE Canada.

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell

A special thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To say that Owen Pick’s life is falling apart is an understatement. He is a thirtysomething virgin who lives in his aunt's spare bedroom. After he is accused of sexual misconduct, Owen gets suspended from his job as geography teacher. Although he strongly denies the allegations, the evidence against him keeps piling up. With nothing else to do, Owen spends his days online. He stumbles across a forum for involuntary celibates and meets Bryn, a dark and charismatic character.  

Living across the street from his aunt's house is the Fours family. The mother, Cate, is a a physiotherapist; Roan, the father, is a child psychologist; Georgia is their teenage daughter; Josh is the youngest and is a mama's boy. The Fours doesn't bother with Owen—not only do they find him creepy, Georgia swears that he followed her home from the train station once. 

On Valentine's night, seventeen-year-old Saffyre Maddox goes missing. The last person to see her alive was Owen Pick and he is the police's number one suspect. But she also has a connection to the Fours: Saffyre is a former patient of Roan's and she became very attached to him. When he terminated their sessions, Saffyre felt abandoned and so she she started spying on Roan and his family—she knows more than she should and things are not what they appear to be. 

In a word, brilliant!

Dark, compulsive, and at times disturbing, Jewell has written another spectacular book. She is a master at creating suspense that is both atmospheric and compelling. Told from multiple points of view, the narrative is propelled through highly-developed characters whose motives are revealed in their intricacies.

Invisible Girl asks the question: How well can you really know someone? It is too easy to form an opinion that is not only based on beliefs, but also on outward appearances and perceptions. Many of the characters are keeping secrets—Jewell capitalizes on this and and plays on perception to pull off a clever twist. 

Chock-full of secrets, obsessions, and misconceptions, this is Jewell at her finest and I highly recommend this book.


LISA JEWELL is the internationally bestselling author of eighteen novels, including the New York Times bestseller The Family UpstairsThen She Was Gone, as well as I Found YouThe Girls in the Garden, and The House We Grew Up In.

In total, her novels have sold more than 4.5 million copies across the English-speaking world and her work has also been translated into sixteen languages so far.

Lisa lives in London with her husband and their two daughters.

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis

A special thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When she was sixteen, Emmie Blue released a red balloon attached with her name, email address, and a secret. Having discovered the balloon on a beach in France, Lucas Moreau immediately emailed Emmie, thus sparking a life-changing friendship.

Fourteen years later Emmie has another secret: she is desperately and hopelessly in love with Lucas and as a result is neglecting her life. Emmie has stopped trying to find out who her father is, has given up on trying to salvage any sort of a relationship with her mother, and barely knows the elderly lady that she rents a room from.

When Lucas tells Emmie he has a big question to ask, she's sure it is the declaration of love that she's been waiting for. But instead, Lucas drops a bombshell on her.

What an endearing and lovely book! I'm such a sucker for British rom-coms and although there are definitely elements of this being a romantic comedy, it is so much more.

With a narrative structure that relies on flashbacks—versus alternating perspectives or a past to present format—the story is fully fleshed out and well-paced. Through the multi-layered plot, Emmie experiences growth in all of her relationships. Even the one with herself! There is an underlying darker storyline that seeps through. It is a little unexpected given the cute cover and lighthearted synopsis but it helps propel the narrative.

The characters are complex and layered, yet also full developed. They give the story an emotional depth that took me by surprise. Although there's some cheeky comedic bits, there are some tender and beautiful moments too. For fans of My Best Friend's Wedding, I highly recommend!

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LIA LOUIS was the 2015 winner of Elle magazine’s annual writing competition and has been a contributor for a blog for aspiring writers. She previously worked as a freelance copywriter and proofreader and is the author of Somewhere Close to Happy and Dear Emmie Blue.

Louis lives in the United Kingdom with her partner and three young children. 

Friday, June 12, 2020

The Half Sister by Sandie Jones


A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
  
A family in the throes of grief is upended when a stranger arrives at their door. 

Every Sunday, sisters Lauren and Kate have lunch with their newly widowed mother. At one of these lunches, a woman by the name of Jess shows up asking to see Henry, her father. She is armed with DNA test results and claims to be their half sister. 

Kate and Lauren must come to terms that their parents have a dark past. As the fallout starts, it becomes clear that they all have lives built on lies and their family is not as perfect as it appears.

The Half Sister is told from the perspective of two sisters: Kate, a celebrity gossip maven who is desperate to have a baby with her adoring husband, Matt; and Lauren, a frazzled mother of three with an abusive husband, Simon. Jones writes Kate as being paranoid and distrusting, whereas she pens Lauren as more sympathetic towards Jess. 

It is human nature to make assumptions and Kate and Lauren do this to each other. We all want what we perceive other people to have without actually knowing how much of it is real. What we see externally we compare against our assumptions and perceived ideas of happiness, success, etc. Lauren and Kate really need each other but are divided by their notions of one another. 

Like The Other Womanmothers play a huge role in the story. More specifically, how mothers prioritize the health and well-being of their children over everything in their lives. Women get lost along the way.

While the book is being categorized as  thriller, this is misleading. At best it is a family drama with a bit of suspense—it just doesn't quite thrill. Unfortunately, the miscategorization of this book is not the only problem. The narrative is rather repetitive and the characters lack depth. Things are touched on and not given the page time they deserve. For example, Simon was a necessary evil and contributed to the overall plot, but I wanted more from Simon and Lauren's storyline—perhaps this was a conscious choice due to the sensitive subject matter. I also wanted to learn more about Harry and felt that he wasn't fleshed out enough. 

That being said, Jones is a wonderful writer. She engages her reader in short succinct chapters and redeems herself with the ending. 


SANDIE JONES has worked as a freelance journalist for over twenty years, and has written for publications including the Sunday Times, Woman’s Weekly and the Daily Mail. Her debut, The Other Woman was a Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club pick.

She lives in London with her husband and three children. 

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

A special thank you to Edelweiss and Avon Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Danika Brown is a workaholic PhD student that doesn't have time for a relationship, nor has had much luck with either sex. Partaking in some witchyness with her best friend, Sorcha, Dani asks the goddess, Oshun, for a casual partner to ahem...release some of her stress on a regular basis.

Zafir Ansari is the security guard in the building Dani works at. Seven years ago, he was a professional rugby player but stopped playing because of the depression he suffered when his father and brother were killed in a car accident. When not at work, Zaf volunteers his time to coach a youth rugby team. He has also started his own nonprofit, Tackle It, to destigmatize mental illness and teach young athletes how to stay in touch with their emotions.

When a video surfaces of Zaf rescuing Dani from a fire drill gone amiss, they become a social medial sensation—they even have their own hashtag, #DrRugbae. Zaf asks Dani if they can pretend they are a couple because it is good publicity for his nonprofit and she agrees with the hopes of Zaf becoming her plus one in the bedroom. But there's a problem: Zaf is actually a secret romantic and he is determined to tackle Dani's cold heart. Could this be the universe telling her to take a hint?

Talia Hibbert is back with her second instalment of the Brown Sisters!

In Take a Hint, Dani Brown, Hibbert's main characters are well-developed, complex, and not without their flaws: Zaf has a tragic past that he must learn to embrace, and although Dani's work ethic is admirable, she had difficulty with her work/life balance. Dani also struggles with relationships—she doesn't like letting people in. In a leading man, Zaf is the perfect combination of being sensitive and vulnerable, yet intelligent and strong. 

These sexy and diverse romances are exactly what we need more of. This book was just as good as, if not better than, Get a Life, Chloe Brown. It too captured my heart with its engaging, hilarious, and steamy prose (fans self). I'm also a total sucker for a fake romance.  

Talia, you are a true talent! I was utterly charmed and I can't wait to read Eve's story. 


TALIA HIBBERT is an award winning author who believes that people of marginalized identities need honest and positive representation. Her interests include makeup, junk food, and unnecessary sarcasm.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Anna K: A Love Story by Jenny Lee

A special thank you to Libro.fm Audiobooks and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook listening copy.

At seventeen, Anna K. is at the top of Manhattan and Greenwich society, and the apple of her father's eye. Although, she prefers the company of her horses and Newfoundland dogs over her perfect, yet boring, boyfriend, Alexander W. 

Anna may be scandal-free, but those around her seem to attract more drama than they can handle: Anna's brother, Steven, and his girlfriend, Lolly, are in the midst of a sexting scandal; Kimmie, Lolly's younger sister, is struggling to be a regular teen after an accident derailed her Olympic ice dancing dreams; and Steven's best friend, Dustin, is madly in love with Kimmie however, the feelings are not mutual. 

Anna orbits around her friends and manages to stay out of trouble. That is until the night she meets notorious playboy, Alexia "Count" Vronsky, at Grand Central Station. He Anna's polar opposite—the quintessential bad boy with the reputation to match. They fall madly in love, with neither of them having actually experienced true love before. When a shocking revelation threatens to tear them apart, Anna is forced to question who she really is and if anyone really knows her at all, including herself.

Decadent and soapy, Lee's modern retelling of Anna Karenina is a slow burn, high-society, teen drama/love story. And while I agree with the Gossip Girl comparisons (revolving around the lives of privileged upper-class adolescents living in Manhattan's Upper East Side), I found Anna K totally unique, a fresh take on the beloved classic. 

Despite its huge cast, every character is well rounded and highly developed with each having a distinctive voice. Lee utilizes multiple points of view to further flesh out the story which takes place over a school year. Although there is plenty of fluff, Lee tackles some weightier topics: addiction, familial and cultural expectations, socialism, sexism, depression, and the effects of social media.  

Anna K is a reimagined story about first love and first heartbreak. Highly recommend! 


JENNY LEE is a television writer and producer. Jenny has previously published humour essay collections and middle-grade novels, and Anna K is her debut YA novel. 

Lee lives in Los Angeles with her husband and 135-pound Newfoundland, Gemma.

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Honeymoon Alone by Nicole Macaulay

A special thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For 26-year-old teacher Lucy Gray, life revolves around her family, friends, and her grade three students. Lucy is dependable and responsible, she always puts everyone's needs before her own. 

At her sister's 80s themed wedding, Lucy gets ditched by her fake date (a coworker who is pretending to be her boyfriend) after he makes out with her cousin in the photo booth. The only highlight is the psychic who advises Lucy to follow fate and listen to what the universe is telling her. 

Lucy decides last minute to take a trip to London—the very trip her sister booked as a honeymoon plan B. The only problem is that she has to pretend to be her sister. That should be easy, right?

In London, Lucy's getaway is more complicated to pull off that she imagined. As the lies are piling up, she struggles to follow the signs. Lucy is learning that leaving everything to chance can not only be dangerous, but can also jeopardize her happily ever after.

With relatable and endearing characters, new author Nicole Macaulay has penned a charming book! Her writing is sharp and funny—there is so much witty banter. Although the premise is a bit silly and contrived at times, it does err on the side of whimsy so I'll overlook it. 

Honeymoon Alone is quirky, endearing, and perfect for the holidays. But be warned: you will want to go to England after reading it. 

NICOLE MACAULAY has a Bachelors degree from Boston College and a Masters of Fine Arts from Emerson College. She worked in television, news media and currently works in marketing. 

Macaulay lives in Rhode Island with her husband, four children and an adorable tuxedo cat named Jack.

Friday, June 5, 2020

What You Wish For by Katherine Center

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Samantha Casey adores the Kempner School and its namesake owners, Max and Babette. She loves being the librarian at their elementary school—it is a beautiful Victorian building that is brimming with creativity and warmth.

The school suddenly loses its beloved leader and a new principal is named to take his place. He turns out to be Duncan Carpenter, a former colleague of Samantha's that she had such an unrequited crush on, she had to move away and start over. 

Duncan is nothing like he was. Gone is the funny and charming man, in his place is a militant leader obsessed with safety—he is destroying Max's legacy by turning the school into a prison. Sam is determined to save Kempner, the place that has become her home, before it becomes a thing of the past. 

Things You Save in a Fire was my first Katherine Center book and I was blown away.The pace and flow of the narrative was spot on and the writing was effortless and completely captivating. What You Wish For did not quite have the same effect. The story starts off as being very repetitive, going in circles, so it takes more time than necessary for story to flesh out. There is also a campiness about it which I especially noticed with Alice—she didn't add any real value to the narrative and I wanted more out of her relationship with Sam. These reasons are the difference between three and four stars.

But you really can't fault Center's writing. It is beautiful and careful when dealing with some of the more serious scenes, yet lighthearted and delightful. And I adored Samantha Casey immensely. Not just because she's a librarian with what sounds like a wicked sense of retro style, but because she is quirky and just plain good

This book is exactly what we need more of: finding joy. Thank you, Katherine, for this enchanting read that's full of heart, hope, and whimsy. I can't wait to read what you publish next!

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KATHERINE CENTER is the bestselling author of How to Walk Away and Things You Save in a Fire, as well as Happiness for Beginners and The Lost Husband (a movie starring Leslie Bibb and Josh Duhamel).

Center lives in Texas with her husband and two children. 

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Size Zero by Abigail Mangin

A special thank you to Edelweiss, NetGalley, and Visage Media for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pushing boundaries is nothing new at Fashion Week so when kidnapped model Ava Germain stumbles on the runway wearing a coat made out of a dead body, the initial reaction is that it is a deconstructionist art piece. But then it becomes apparent that the garment is real human skin.

When the body is identified as Annabelle Leigh, the teenager that disappeared a decade ago, her former boyfriend once again becomes the obvious suspect. Cecil LeClair, now a monk, makes his return to Manhattan to try and clear his name before he takes his solemn vows. As the the heir to his mother Margaux’s LeClaire Model Management, Cecil as Annabelle's killer has always been the most popular theory.

Cecil teams up with Ava to search for Annabelle's killer and clear his name. Can Cecil find the truth in a world built on lies?

Starting with one of the most shocking and horrific openings, Size Zero is a disturbing satirical comment on the disfunction and cruelty of the fashion industry. Campy and deliciously soapy, Mangin's writing is visually stunning, but exhausting. Unfortunately, the whole thing became overdramatic, desperate, and ridiculous—I grew tired of Size Zero rather quickly.

I applaud her efforts as a first time author and hope that this book finds its audience.

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ABIGAIL MANGIN has a BFA from NYU and is originally Harrisburg, PA. 

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle

A special thank you to Edelweiss, NetGalley, Harlequin, and Park Row Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you also to Harlequin for the opportunity to be a part of the Blog Tour.

Charlotte grew up on the wrong side of the tracks so when she marries Paul, a wealthy widower, their small lakeside town can't help but gossip. Despite what the people of Lake Crosby say about her upbringing, and the death of his first wife—it is rumoured that Paul drowned her—they live a charmed life. But when Charlotte discovers a young woman's body floating in the same spot where Paul's wife died, things begin to unravel.

It seems at first that this is just a horrible coincidence. But the woman is no stranger, Charlotte saw her husband talking to her the day before. She is stunned when Paul tells the police that he has never seen the woman before. This lie causes the first fracture in their new union, but Charlotte is determined to keep it from breaking apart.

As Charlotte begins to uncover things that Paul has been hiding from her, she realizes how little she knows about her new husband. In her heart, she truly believes that he is a good man. So then why is her head telling her that there is something he's hiding in the lake?

Off the heels of the highly successful Dear Wife, Kimberly Belle is back with another mesmerizing psychological thriller. She ratchets up the suspense with a repertoire of secrets, lies, and perfectly executed twists.

Set in an idyllic and atmospheric locale, the isolation adds yet another layer of doubt—it is the perfect location for this narrative! Told with alternating storylines from the past and present, Charlotte is an indelible heroine that readers will get behind.

There's not one, not two, but three deaths that twits the plot up in knots. Bell completely blindsides her audience with her stunning conclusion. Rich in character development and plot, Stranger in the Lake will be on all the best of lists this summer.

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KIMBERLY BELLE is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of several suspense novels. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Agnes Scott College and has worked in fundraising for nonprofits at home and abroad.

Belle divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam.



Q & A with Kimberly Belle

Please give your elevator pitch for Stranger in the Lake.

Stranger in the Lake is a story about Charlotte, a rags-to-riches newlywed whose shiny new life takes a disastrous turn when a stranger’s body washes up under the dock of her Appalachian lake home—in the exact same spot where her husband’s first wife drowned.

Which came first: the characters or plot line?

Plot, always. My stores are very plot driven, and they always begin in my head with a what-if scenario. What if a woman marries way, way up and then her brand new husband is accused of murder? What if it looks like he’s guilty? How much of a role would her newfound wealth—and her fear of losing it—play in her decision to stick by him? That was basically where I began building the plot for Stranger in the Lake. Character came much later, after I’d thought through all the plot points and had them mapped out into an outline. Only at that point in the process do I really start thinking about what kind of person is best dropped into that situation, someone with plenty of blind spots and issues to work through, problems the plot will really shine a spotlight on. For Charlotte, it’s money and everything that comes along with it—security, status in the community, respect. She will have to untangle all these internal issues before her story can be resolved.

Why do you love Charlotte and why should readers root for her?

I love Charlotte because she is a survivor. She was born into the worst possible family, an absent father and an emotionally abusive mother who left her home with a baby for long periods of time, but instead of turning bitter or following in their footsteps, she emerged stronger. She figured out a way to grow into a smart and kind and loving and trusting—maybe too trusting--person. She wants so much more out of life than what her parents offered, and she’s not afraid to work for it.

What's the "story behind the story" for Stranger in the Lake?

I’ve wanted to write a lake story for a while now. There’s just something about a big body of water--the dark swirling currents, the beautiful but remote setting… It’s the perfect place to set a suspenseful story because you just know something bad is going to happen there.

At the same time, I spend a good deal of family time in the Highlands/Cashiers area of North Carolina. It’s a place of stunning beauty, but where there’s a huge gulf between rich and poor. Wealthy outsiders have come in and completely transformed the area, carving out golf courses and building shops and restaurants and million dollar homes on the lake…and then you have the people who have lived there for generations—the ones flipping the burgers and scrubbing the toilets. This polarity makes for some very interesting dynamics, because when there’s money involved, when people have too much or their basic needs aren’t being met, morals can become questionable. This is something I really dug into for this story.

The narration of Dear Wife was so unique, what can you say about the narration/structure of Stranger in the Lake that isn't going to spoil anything?

Stranger in the Lake is told largely through Charlotte’s point of view, with occasional snippets of a story many years in the past. This makes the structure much more straightforward than Dear Wife, and when I began I thought it would be an easier story to tell. Fewer heads for me to crack open for the reader, fewer viewpoints for me to keep string together just so. But once I started writing, I discovered sticking to one point of view made telling the story more difficult. Everything every other character thinks has to be filtered through Charlotte, through her reactions and internalizations. For this and a bunch of other reasons, Stranger in the Lake took me longer to write than Dear Wife.

Which character in the novel is most like you and why?

This is a tough one! I’d like to think I have Charlotte’s tough skin and that I share her sense of loyalty, but I’m not sure I could have survived everything she has. My research taught me that far more people follow in their parents’ tragic footsteps than break the cycle like Charlotte did, and I can’t say for certain which side of the equation I would have fallen on. I do also share Paul’s drive, his innate desire to create beautiful things, but I think (hope?) that’s where the similarities between us end. I guess that’s the answer here, that like most authors I put little pieces of myself into every character—the good, the bad, the ugly.  My characters are the best and the worst of me.

How can everyone find you online during promotional rounds for Stranger in the Lake, since the traditional type of tours won't be possible?

A little pandemic can’t keep this author down! I have lots of online events planned, chats with bloggers and fellow authors and bookstores I’d planned to visit before this thing hit, and lots more in the works. The most up-to-date list is at www.kimberlybellebooks.com/events—and make sure to check back often. I am adding more every day.

What was your last 5 star read?

I have a couple recent ones. I tore through the paperback of Heather Gudenkauf’s This Is How I Lied, and I just listened to Kimberly McCreight’s The Good Marriage. Both were absolutely fabulous! And Heather and I will be doing a joint virtual event on my release day, June 9th. Details are on the events page of my website.

What is one thing about publishing you wish someone would have told you?

Just one? Hmm, I guess if I have to choose, it would be to trust the creative process. Every story is different, from the idea to the structure to the ease with which the words move from my head to my laptop to finished product. With every new story, I have an a-ha moment when I realize all the methodologies and processes I’ve used in the past won’t work with this one. I have to let all those “rules” go and let the story lead the way. Getting to The End is the hardest thing in the world, but also the most satisfying. There is no better feeling than to hold a finished copy of your book in your hand. It makes all those sleepless nights worth it.

Do you have any specific writing rituals?

When I’m writing, I have a hard time sitting still—kind of strange for a job that requires many hours in a chair with a laptop. But it is a laptop so I move around a lot, floating around the house from my office to the kitchen to the living room to the outdoor patio. I change spots depending on my mood or the way the sun is shining through the window. Sometimes figuring out how to untangle a plot knot is as simple as a change of scenery.

What can you tell us about your next project?

I am currently working on a story about a home invasion. It’s a premise that has always terrified me, and it hits awfully close to home as it happens a lot here in Atlanta. I even know a family that survived one. I’ve pulled in a few details of their experience for this story, then mixed in plenty more from my imagination. No title yet, but out sometime in 2021. 

The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season by Molly Fader

A special thank you to Edelweiss, NetGalley and Graydon House HarperCollins/HarperCollins Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you also to Harlequin for the opportunity to be a part of the Blog Tour.

Hope arrives at her aunt's estate—the Orchard House—late one night with her young daughter and a terrible secret. She is worried that her aunt, whom she barely knows, will turn them away.

Peg has lived in the Orchard House all of her life and like Peg, it is starting to show its age. She agrees to take in her Hope and her daughter if, in exchange for room and board, Hope helps with this season's cherry harvest. Out of options, she agrees.

Working alongside her headstrong aunt, her daughter, Tink, and a kind man who she can't stop thinking about, Hope begins to feel the promise of a new life. But the past always seems to have a way of catching up with you...

Fader's narrative is told in alternating third person limited points-of-view between Hope, Peg, and Tink. These strong women are the backbone of the story, however, their strengths are also their downfall. Peg is a complicated character and her relationships with Hope and Hank play out over the course of the story. Hope is on the run and her relationship with her daughter is strained.

I enjoy Fader's writing. She is engaging and her characters are authentic—they have distinct voices and personalities and are fully developed. Her excellent ear for dialogue translates well to the page. There are some heavy topics (domestic abuse, depression, and addiction) and Fader handles them with the care they deserve.

The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season is about three generations of women that come together at the family orchard to face secrets, and learn about the power of hope and forgiveness.

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MOLLY FADER is an award-winning author of more than 40 romance novels under the pennames Molly O'Keefe and M. O'Keefe. The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets was her first women's fiction novel.



Q & A with Molly Fader

What message do you hope readers take away from The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season?

Oh wow! So many!  I hope they think about about the power of memory in their own lives. That memories are what make us—good and bad.  Mothers are fallible in a million ways and most are just trying their best. Grace and forgiveness feel better than resentment.  When times are tough—get yourself some chocolate cherry brioche? :)

What's the story behind the story/how you came to write this novel?

Well, the opening scene literally just arrived in my head. Mom with a dead cell phone driving through the dark dark Michigan night. She’s absolutely out of options. Her daughter isn’t speaking to her. And she’s been beaten up.

As far as opening scenes go it’s one of my absolute favorites. Women out of options, out of pride, trying SO HARD to do the next thing… I love it.

Do you have any specific writing rituals (outfit, snacks, pen, music, etc.)?

I wake up early, make the coffee and go. Sometimes the internet is a little too distracting so I need to turn it off. But most days, that’s how it works. Some days—when I go on retreats or I’m really behind—I work in the morning, go for a long walk, come back and have a beer before writing some more.  When I was a newbie writer I had a few more tricks I needed—there were books I wrote listening to the same album on repeat, but now I can’t have any music. I’ve written some books in different rooms in the house because for whatever reason, that’s where the writing magic happened. The McAvoy Sister’s was written almost entirely in my daughter’s bedroom… I have no explanation for it.

Which character do you most relate to and why?

Honestly, all of them in different ways and in different parts of the story.  I have never been in the situation that Hope has been in but there have been parts of motherhood when I find myself in situations outside of my control and I have to treat my kids like adults. Or expect them to act like adults. And I know it’s not fair, but it’s what happens sometimes. I can also really relate to how she can find a million reasons to beat herself up as a mother—but struggles to see what an amazing job she’s doing. I think most mothers understand that reality.

I also understand Peg’s reluctance to open herself up to more pain. And how what she thinks is keeping her safe is actually a prison.  And I can also appreciate her—if I don’t talk about it, it didn’t happen—stance. I think that’s a very real part of human nature.

And frankly even Tink—I LOVED how she used what power she had to make her point clear.  The story about Tink and the broken leg, that came from real life. My kid’s friend spent most of a year wrapping his leg up in an ace bandage and telling everyone it was broken, it was like he was conducting a very specific social experiment on us. And then one day…done.

What can you tell us about your next project?

Oh, I’m so excited about it. The title is always changing…so we’ll skip that part and get right to the good stuff...

Sarah Beecher has died and everyone in Greensboro, Iowa has shown up for her funeral. She was a beloved Administrator and Nurse at the Nursing School who has lived almost the entirety of her life in this small town. Her daughter’s are there—each battling some real life demons but supporting each other, despite old resentments and feuds. They are absolutely firm in the knowledge that Sarah Beecher had no secrets.

Into this funeral walks Kitty Deveraux—legendary star of stage and screen. And she’s there to tell Sarah’s daughters  their mother was not who they thought she was.

And neither are they.

It’s got two timelines! Family secrets! Twists!  Seriously, I enjoy it so much. AND it’s based in part on my mother’s experience at St. Luke’s Nursing School in Iowa.

Have you been to the cherry festivals in MI?

I have! I’ve been to the cherry festival in Traverse City. I competed in a cherry pit spitting contest and ended up spitting the pit on my shoe. I was an embarrassment to my kids and husband. Luckily  there was plenty of cherry ice cream  (thank you Kilwin’s!) around with which to console myself after that poor showing.

Actually I spent part of almost every summer of my life in Michigan. First along Southern Lake Michigan: St. Joseph’s and South Haven.  And then in Northern Lower Michigan: Traverse City, Boyne City and Petosky.  A few summers on Beaver Island.  I have enjoyed The Cherry Festivals, The Tulip Festivals, a million Beer Festivals, and the odd Elvis Festival.

Why did you decide to use a cherry orchard?

I wanted to set the book in Michigan. I knew I wanted it to be rural and agricultural and lots of hard work.  And after all the summers in Michigan—picking up bags of fresh washed cherries from road stands all over the state—a cherry orchard seemed perfect!