Mother is Watching by Karma Brown

A special thank you to Dutton/Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Mathilde “Tilly” Crewson, a thirty-nine-year-old mother and art conservator, is tasked with restoring The Mother. The painting, believed to be the work of a female surgeon-turned-artist after a personal tragedy, is the rumored fourth piece in a collection of only three known works. But this newly discovered painting, scarred by fire, holds more than meets the eye.

Soon after receiving the painting, Tilly discovers she’s unexpectedly pregnant. But almost immediately, strange, inexplicable things begin to terrifying insect swarms, eerie visits from her long-deceased mother, and sinister whispers that invade her mind. As these malevolent forces intensify, Tilly comes to a harrowing the only way to sever the perilous bond she shares with the painting is to destroy it. But The Mother has plans of her own—and they’re darker than Tilly could ever imagine…

Set in near-future Georgia, Mother is Watching is compulsive, deeply atmospheric, and is as sinister as it is smart. Brown's horror debut delves into themes of bodily autonomy, female agency, and fractured identity. With its canvas of horror, feminist fiction, and dystopia, this is a masterpiece!

BUY NOW CANADA

BUY NOW USA

LISTEN NOW

KARMA BROWN is an award-winning journalist and author of the bestsellers Come Away With Me, The Choices We Make, In This Moment, The Life Lucy Knew, and Recipe for a Perfect Wife. Her first non-fiction book, The 4% Fix, published in 2020. Karma's writing has appeared in publications such as Redbook, SELF, and Chatelaine. She’s also one half of the writing duo behind The Holiday Swap and All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox and writes under the pen name Kristine Winters (The Christmas Cure). 

Brown lives just outside Toronto, Canada with her husband, daughter, and their adorably handsome labradoodle, Fred.

---

Q & A with Karma Brown*

GWR: Being a seasoned author, what is your favourite part of the publishing process? Is there anything that you still find difficult?

KB: I have two favourite parts, and two least favourite parts—balance! The hardest and most challenging aspects are the first draft, because I love editing and won’t let myself edit at that stage, and promotion. Meeting readers and having great conversations about the book are highlights, but as an 85/15 introvert/extrovert, I’m more comfortable behind my desk and laptop. The best stages are brainstorming the idea and gathering research, followed by editing, which is hands-down the phase I love the most. 


GWR: This is your first foray into horror. What attracted you to the genre? 

KB: I’m a lifelong horror fan—ghost stories by the cottage campfire, devouring Stephen King’s Pet Sematary when I was about 10, and watching iconic ‘80s movies like Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween and Poltergeist at sleepovers. Looking back, I realize the sensation of controlled fear—knowing it lived on the page or on the screen, but not in my real life—was as cathartic as it was entertaining. As an adult, horror is the genre I lean into when I need that catharsis, as well as escape, and it never fails me. It’s a safe way to work through fear. And creatively, I love the world-building in the horror genre. It pushes the boundaries of what you’re willing to accept and believe.

GWR: What’s are some of the key elements that are a must in a horror novel?

KB: I’m not sure there’s a right answer, so I’ll offer my personal ‘musts.’ First, a truly scary “monster in the house” (as Jamie Nash describes in Save the Cat! Writes Horror), though I’m flexible about what constitutes a “house.” As long as the premise fills me with dread, I’m in. Second, a protagonist I’m deeply invested in and am rooting for. Horror is full of emotional depth, which can be overlooked by readers who dismiss the genre as simply “scary.” Finally, I love an ambiguous ending. Our imaginations can be far scarier than anything resolved neatly on the page. 


GWR: The conservation of a painting is a unique take on the “spooky painting” horror trope. Can you talk about the research that you did?

KB: I was incredibly lucky to connect with a conservator at the Art Gallery of Ontario who specializes in paintings and was willing to talk with me. She prefers to stay backstage, so I won’t name her here, but she generously answered endless questions and emails, and even read an early draft of the book. She also took me behind the scenes on several occasions, giving me a first-hand look at how the work is done, and the scope of the job. We had many conversations over coffee about art, conservation, and being a young woman in the field. It was an unprecedented level of access, and I truly couldn’t have written this book without her. She helped me bring Tilly—and The Mother—to life, and it’s the most fascinating research I’ve ever done for a book.

GWR: How do you balance genuine fear with plot?

KB: For me, fear has to serve the story. If something is scary but doesn’t move the plot forward or deepen the characters, it loses its impact. A well-placed scare can absolutely ratchet up the tension, but it has to feel earned, otherwise it risks pulling the reader out of the story.  


GWR: Mother is Watching straddles the line between sci-fi and horror, with a utopian/dystopian overlay—how did this come about? 

KB: Initially I felt like a kid in a candy store. It was my first foray into writing horror, and I had so many beloved horror tropes and world-building ideas that it took time to whittle them down into a cohesive vision. I wanted the world to feel both utopian and dystopian, with feminist themes threading through the story, a protagonist with a fascinating job, and a unique “monster.” I also wanted to explore horror that feels plausible—where the terror comes not just from something supernatural, but from systems, technology, and ideas we already live with. I’m endlessly curious about what the future holds, and I have a healthy dose of fear about the unknown. This novel gave me space to explore all of that.    


GWR: Did you use any real-life fears as inspiration?

KB: Absolutely. The idea of possession has always terrified me. What would you do if someone was trying to take over your body and life, but no one else noticed? Losing my mind is right up there as well. And metaphorically, when I first became a mother I feared losing myself—and my ambition—to the label. Society places enormous pressure on women through the concept of the “good mother,” and some of those fears found their way into the story.


GWR: What questions did you ask yourself in the work? 

KB: One question I kept returning to was a simple one: Does this scare me?

GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be? 

KB: A Long Black. It’s made by pouring a double shot of espresso over hot water—unlike an Americano, where hot water is added to the espresso. The crema stays intact on top, but beneath that creamy, silky layer is something strong and dark. 


GWR: What are you working on now?

KB: More horror. Stay tuned!

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

Strangers in the Villa by Robyn Harding

A special thank you to the publisher, Grand Central Publishing, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sydney Lowe’s life in New York is shattered when her husband, Curtis, admits to a meaningless affair with a client. Begging for forgiveness and vowing to prove his devotion, Curtis suggests the couple retreat to a remote hilltop house in Spain to repair their marriage.

High above the Mediterranean, Sydney and Curtis are working on the isolated property and their relationship when a pair of Australian travellers turns up at their door in dire need of help. Lonely for companionship and desperate for free labor, Sydney and Curtis invite the attractive young couple to stay. But as the days pass, dark secrets come to light, the Lowes’ bond is tested, and not everyone will leave the villa alive. 

Harding's latest is a tightly constructed psychological thriller that utilizes shifting third-person perspectives and a two-part narrative. She masterfully blends escapism with entrapment to create a setting that's both atmospheric and suffocating. The short, punchy chapters—with cliffhangers aplenty—ratchet up the tension, making this book impossible to put down. 

Brimming with sharp twists, devastating secrets, and shocking revelations, Strangers in the Villa is a knockout from start to finish! 

BUY NOW CANADA

BUY NOW USA

LISTEN NOW

ROBYN HARDING is the author of fourteen novels including The Swap, The Party, Her Pretty Face, The Arrangement, The Drowning Woman, and The Haters. She has also written and executive produced an independent film.

Harding lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her family and two cute but deadly rescue chihuahuas. 

---

Q & A with Robyn Harding*

GWR: Being a seasoned author, what is your favourite part of the publishing process? Is there anything that you still find difficult?

RH: My favourite part is all the support and cheerleading I get from readers, influencers, booksellers, and other authors. It’s such a supportive community! But I still feel the pressure of whether a book will be well received and sell well or not. 

GWR: What was the inspiration for the novel?

RH: We took an amazing trip to Spain a few years ago and met an Aussie couple who had moved to a remote house in the hills above the Costa Brava. They were living their dream life, but my brain went: How could that go horribly wrong? 

GWR: Can you talk a little about your character development—do you let your characters tell you who they are, or do you decide their characteristics? 

RH: I start by writing character profiles so that I really know who they are. How did they grow up? What’s their relationship history? What are their strengths and insecurities? This background informs how they behave as they move through the plot.


GWR: Tell us a little bit about your writing process. Do you hear your words as dialogue, or do you visualize the scenes? 

RH: I love this question! When I write, I’m almost like an actor in a film. I’m inside my characters, feeling what they feel, and seeing through their eyes.

GWR: Intuition verses craft—when do you know to make the hard turns?

RH: I use screenplay structure to make sure I’m hitting the write beats and keeping up the pacing, but I don’t outline in detail. I do a lot of re-reading as I go to intuitively know what needs to be revealed and when.

GWR: How do you write an effective red herring when you are so close to the material?

RH: Sometimes I don’t even know who the guilty party is until I’m well into the novel. Other times I know from the outset. I think knowing your characters well allows you to create red herrings.   

GWR: Strangers in the Villa is a tightly constructed psychological thriller that uses shifting third-person perspectives and a two-part narrative. How did this structure come about? 

RH: As a writer, I like to stay interested and challenged, and telling a story in unique ways is so much fun for me. I love getting excited different characters’ heads and telling the story through their voices. I’m really inspired by filmmakers who make movies in unusual or unexpected ways. 

GWR: The villa was the perfect setting with its idyllic location and winery potential that was juxtaposed with the physical remoteness and claustrophobic isolation. Why did you choose Spain?

RH: physical remoteness and claustrophobic isolation. Why did you choose Spain?

I’d spent about ten days in this exact location. It was so gorgeous and idyllic, but also very isolated and removed from my real life. Not knowing the language and customs seemed like a good way to add a layer of tension. 

GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be? 

RH: Spanish Vermut!


GWR: What are you working on now?

RH: I’m writing another thriller set on a private island in the Pacific Northwest. I’m having a lot of fun with it! 

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

Liberty Street by Heather Marshall

A special thank you to the publisher, Doubleday Canada, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

1961: Emily Radcliffe works as an editorial assistant at Chatelaine magazine, surrounded by the best female reporters in the country, whose articles tackle the controversial topics no other women's publication dares to touch. When a bombshell letter from an inmate at the notorious Mercer Women's Prison lands on Emily's desk, she sees the scoop of a lifetime—one that could launch her career as a journalist. But after going undercover to investigate the inmate's shocking claims, Emily discovers that getting into the prison is the easy part; the real challenge will be getting back out . . .

1996: Unidentified female remains are discovered in an unmarked grave in a small-town Ontario cemetery, and Detective Rachel Mackenzie is tasked with unraveling the mystery. But when the investigation leads her to the now-shuttered Mercer Women's Prison, the family trauma she's kept buried for years threatens to surface.

Liberty Street is a riveting novel about one journalist's harrowing journey into an infamous real-life 1960s women's prison—and the detective who uncovers her story decades later. With its startling prose and vivid characters, Marshall's latest shines a light on the institutional horror and abuse that was the fate of women who were deemed incorrigible under the Female Refugees Act. 

Inspired by true events, Liberty Street is at once poignant and dazzling—an unforgettable, intertwining story about resilience, mental health, and the power of female connection.

BUY NOW CANADA

BUY NOW USA

LISTEN NOW

HEATHER MARSHALL is the #1 bestselling author of Looking for Jane and The Secret History of Audrey James. She worked in politics and communications before turning her attention to her true passion: storytelling. 

Marshall lives near Toronto with her family and their giant golden retriever.  

---

Q & A with Heather Marshall*

GWR: How long did it take you to write Liberty Street, and how many drafts were there before publication?

HM: The idea solidified for me in the summer of 2021, before my debut Looking for Jane had even been published, and when I was just beginning work on my second novel The Secret History of Audrey James. I made some notes at that point, but because I was working on my second book, Liberty Street was put on the back burner for a while, but I still did bits of research here and there, and I knew I was excited to write it eventually! 

As for drafts, my writing process is a bit more fluid than some other authors, so I don’t often do a lot of drafts; I sort of do the first one with a lot of intention, and then edit from there. Once I was freed up to really start writing after I finished The Secret History of Audrey James, I wrote the first draft of Liberty Street in about a year.

GWR: What was the genesis of the novel?

HM: This one, as many of my ideas do, came from falling down an internet rabbit hole. I was on maternity leave with my first child, who loved to nap in my arms. So I spent a lot of time reading, and doing research with my thumbs on my phone. I don’t even recall exactly how, but I came across a reference to the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women that was in Toronto’s Liberty Village until the late 60s, and it rang a bell. I realized I knew about it from a memoir I’d read in university, written by a woman who was incarcerated there. It felt like another piece of Canada’s history, and women’s history, that the average reader might not know about, and I love to shine a light on those little-known bits of our shared past. So I decided to run with it. 

GWR: Do you let your characters tell you who they are, or do you decide their characteristics? 

HM: I always love this question, because I get to share a personal hubris. When I was taking weekend and evening writing workshops and sort of ‘studying’ the art of writing, I saw an author talking about how the characters just take over and make their own decisions, and at the time, I thought ‘what silly nonsense is that? You’re the author! You make the decisions!’. And then it happened to me. Sometimes you think you’ve got one of your characters figured out, and then they come tap you on the shoulder and tell you you’re doing it wrong, and then all of a sudden they’re leading the way on their own adventure, It’s definitely surprising, but also fun, when that happens. But I finally understood what that author had been saying. Sometimes I feel more like a conduit than a creator when the characters start to take over the writing process. 

GWR: Liberty Street takes a deep dive into other issues—mental health, autonomy, institutional abuse, female solidarity—why was it important to include these elements int the story?

HM: Well, a big part of the reason was historical accuracy. The women at this institution were horribly abused and exploited, and stripped of their autonomy by both the patriarchy and some truly mind-boggling laws that allowed for it to happen. And I think whenever women are under attack, throughout history we’ve always seen them come together to fight back. That’s one of the things that gives me hope for the future, despite the terrible times we’re living in, and it’s one of the best reasons to be aware of—and respect—history. It can teach us a lot about what we’re capable of, for better or worse. 

Female solidarity is a big theme in all my novels because it’s just so important and inspiring, and  if you pay attention, you’ll see it everywhere. 

In terms of mental health, I knew that was a theme I wanted to explore in both timelines in this novel, because it’s so relatable, for a start, and also because the history of how women have been treated in relation to their mental health is so disturbing. I really wanted to try to spark some conversations about that, specifically postpartum mental health.

GWR: Tell me about the research you did?

HM: The research process for this book was really fun and interesting, though at times very distressing. I jumped through a lot of hoops to try to access as many of the records from the Andrew Mercer Reformatory as I could, but many are sealed and protected by privacy laws. I got my hands on redacted copies that still provided general information without any inmates’ names, and I was able to see records that were a bit older and no longer sealed. I also turned to memoirs, coroner’s reports, blueprints of the prison from the city’s archives, and publicly available articles from the Toronto Star.

GWR: Can you talk about dual-timeline narrative—how did this come about? 

HM: Honestly, I’m a sucker for a dual-timeline narrative, plain and simple. In my teens and early adulthood when I started reading longer and more complex novels, I found the dual timeline so enjoyable as a reader, and as a writer—particularly of historical fiction—I find it allows for the most coverage of the story, and lets me show an evolution of the themes over time: how far we’ve come in some ways, and how far we still have to go. Writing more than one point of view also lets me sort of write two novels in one, which is creatively satisfying, and I also just think there’s always more than one side to any story, so it’s nice to be able to wrap around a bit, and show other angles of a storyline. 

GWR: Like Looking for Jane, this novel features women’s rights and bodily autonomy through the lens of historical context—why are these topics so important for you to write about?

HM: For me, bodily autonomy is everything. It’s quite simple: if we don’t have control over our own bodies and lives, then we are not free. We have nothing. And I think unfortunately, because cultures and governments around the world are constantly attacking women’s bodily autonomy in all kinds of ways, this theme is both universal and timeless. I hope one day it won’t be as relevant, frankly. Hopefully one day our rights to our own bodies and lives will be a given, the way they are for men. But for now, it’s still something we are constantly fighting for, so I’ll keep writing about it.

GWR: What do you hope readers will take away from Liberty Street?

HM: As with all my novels, my biggest hope is that my writing sparks meaningful conversations. The most gratification I get as a writer is when I hear from readers and book clubs that the themes, characters, or story got them talking, thinking, or seeing something from a new angle. So I hope for the same from Liberty Street. I hope people start talking openly about the things we’re used to whispering about. 

GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be? 

HM: This is absolutely the hardest question you’ve put to me. I might go with strong coffee: it’s bold, dark, gives you a jolt, and, I hope, leaves you wanting another cup. 

GWR: What are you working on now?

HM: I can’t say too much yet (though I’m aching to!), but it’s another dual timeline story that takes place at a real-life women’s college in the 1950s and present day. It has a feminist dark academia vibe, and deals with MeToo themes: men trying to control women’s voices and bodies. In movie terms, it’s like Dead Poets Society meets She Said. I’m very immersed in it right now, and hope to be able to share more soon!

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

Loves of Our Lives: Poems for Hopeful Hearts by Josie Balka

A special thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

From the coziness of lifelong friendship to the aching intensity of lost love, Loves of Our Lives is a poetic journey through the heartfelt relationships that make us human.

In her highly anticipated second collection, social media sensation Josie Balka masterfully puts words to the indescribable, weaving her signature blend of raw emotion and vivid imagery into poems that speak straight to the soul.

Featuring eighty poems, some already beloved by her followers and others exclusive to this collection, Loves of Our Lives spotlights six types of love—familial, toxic, romantic, friendship, self-love, and lost love—and invites reflection, offering solace and celebration in equal measure in this love letter to love itself. 

Loves of Our Lives is an exploration of love in all of its forms. Balka's beautiful words stitch together the exciting and exhilarating parts of love with the more complex and heartbreaking moments. The themes—friendship, loss, grief, aging, acceptance, love in its various forms—are not only relatable, but they allow readers to take away what resonates with them. 

This book makes the perfect gift to celebrate those that have touched your heart.

BUY NOW CANADA

BUY NOW USA

LISTEN NOW

JOSIE BALKA is a voiceover artist, poet, and New York Times bestselling author of I Hope You Remember. She holds a diploma in radio, television, and film from Niagara College and has worked for some of the largest media companies in North America as an on-air personality. She can often be caught recording viral poetry in her sound-proof closet. 

Balka was born and raised in Toronto and currently lives in Calgary, Canada. 

---

Q & A with Josie Balka*

GWR: How did you start writing/become a poet?

JB: I’ve always been really into writing. Before this most of my writing was done in the form of songs rather than poems. I’ve played piano my whole life and picked up guitar the first year of high school and have always been really interested in putting my words to music. I’d write the occasional poem here and there, but never with the intention to show anyone I the way I would post my music. Then one day, I decided to video me recording a poem I’d written in my voiceover studio in our basement, and people seemed to resonate with that style even more than they did with the music I’d been posting for many years, so I went with it. It is such an amazing outlet, whether it’s to music or not. 

GWR: What does your process looks like?       

JB: My writing process doesn’t really have any rhyme or reason. Often, I’ll come up with a concept or a line at a time when I am not able to write, so I’ll jot it down in my notes app. The next time I have a few minutes I sit down and read over all my first lines I’ve written down over the last little while and expand on the ones that are inspiring to me at the moment. The inspiration kind of comes out of nowhere, and any time I’ve tried to force it it never comes out properly. 

GWR: The themes of this book—friendship, loss, grief, aging, acceptance, love in various forms—are not only relatable, but they allow your reader to take away what resonates with them. Do you use writing as a way of coping/an opportunity for healing, or do you write situationally? 

JB: I only ever write about things that I’ve been through personally, so every time I write it is definitely a form of coping and healing from things I have already been through. I find the most healing part of it to be when I put it online and find out that the thing I went through that felt very unique to me at the time, isn’t unique at all. It’s in those moments that the loneliness starts to dissipate, and I really can cope knowing that I’ve never been as alone as I’ve felt. I also write situationally, depending on what I’m going through at the time. 

GWR: How did the structure come about? Did you write poems to put in these buckets—romantic love, lost love, family love, toxic love, friendship love, and self love—or did the categories present themselves?

JB: My team and I had a bit of a brainstorm about all the types of love you experience in your life and decided on the names of the chapters. Then I went through a bunch of my unpublished work and divided them up to fit in the columns, and then continued writing based on what was still needed to fill the chapters. In my first book, we came up with the chapter idea after I had handed in the manuscript, so having these categories to write about kind of simplified the process for me and helped me not lean too heavily into one specific topic. 

GWR: Where do you draw inspiration from?

JB: I always draw inspiration from my own life. I haven’t tried to write about things I haven’t been through in some capacity. Sometimes I will ask for poem requests online, but I will only pick the ones that I also resonate with. I find it to be the most authentic that way in my particular case! 

GWR: When did you realize that your words were sparking connection and community? 

JB: Honestly, it happened fast. Probably after the first poem I ever posted back in late 2023. It really did motivate me to keep going, and I’m so glad I did. 

GWR: What do you hope readers will take away from Loves of Our Lives? 

JB: I hope readers walk away with the realization that pretty much everything we do is rooted in love, and how important it is. The way you love your people, your daily routine, your pets, yourself. All of it matters so much in everything we do. I hope that, if forgotten, it reminds them that there is so much love all around them all the time, including the love they give themselves. That they’re not alone in their hurt and their losses, but are also not alone in their joy. 

GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be? 

JB: Ooooohhhh good one, um, maybe a glass of cold white wine, in a nice wine glass though, not an ugly one. The glass really matters here, haha. 

GWR: What are you working on now?

JB: I’ve had a huge shift in my life as of recently. I lost my dream job of 11 years this past month so as I navigate this major change and take on writing full time, things are looking a little different. Right now I’m working on a new routine and lots and lots of writing. I have a few ideas tucked away, and a ton of time to work on them. I’m excited for what comes in 2026! 

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

The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea

A special thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Andi Zeigler lives a double life. By day, she’s the no-nonsense, steadfast personal assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada’s wife. By night, she slips out of her heels and writes romance novels under a top-secret pen name. But when her steamiest book, The Prime Minister & Me, unexpectedly becomes a bestseller, rumours of a real-life affair between her and the PM start swirling out of control.

Enter Nolan Crosby, the PM’s new close protection officer (aka bodyguard) – and Andi’s failed one-night stand from three years ago. Nolan’s in town very temporarily to care for his mother, who’s battling early-onset Alzheimer’s. But when the scandal erupts, Andi ropes him into a fake-dating plan.

As loyal employees, they’ll pretend to date for the summer, just long enough to put the scandal to bed and save their boss’s reputation. In an unexpected plot twist, Andi and Nolan discover that keeping their romance strictly fictional might be easier said than done.

Lea's latest contemporary romance opens with a hilarious meet-cute—Andi, thanks to a jumpsuit, has an awkward encounter in the bar bathroom the same night that she finds out that her best friend is dating her ex. Fast forward three years and she is now the personal assistant to the prime minister's wife (and secret romance writer). Andi is introduced to the PM's newest bodyguard, only to discover that she already knows Nolan from the disastrous one night stand from three years ago.  

This fake-dating rom-com checks all the boxes: well-developed characters with fully fleshed out backstories, incredible chemistry, a glimpse into the publishing industry, slow-burn with plenty of spice.

The Bodyguard Affair is full of humour, heart, and heart. 

BUY NOW CANADA

BUY NOW USA

LISTEN NOW

AMY LEA is the international bestselling author of romantic comedies for adults and teens, including Set on You, Exes and O’s, and Mindy Kaling’s Book Studio selection Woke Up Like This. Her acclaimed works have been featured in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, Elle Magazine and has been long listed as a CBC Canada Reads finalist. They have also been optioned for film and sold to over a dozen foreign territories.

Lea resides in Ottawa with her husband and two goldendoodles. 

---

Q & A with Amy Lea*

GWR: Is there a particular author/work that inspired you to become a writer or the way you write?  

AL: There are so many authors and works that inspired me to become a writer along the way. One of the very first was Meg Cabot and her Princess Diaries series. I adored her humor and wanted to bottle her hilarious voice and sprinkle it into my own works. In my adult years, Christina Lauren’s books were the authors that made me stop and think, “This is what I want to do!” Their hooky premises, accessible style, and cackling banter inspired me to open my lap top and write immediately.

GWR: What does your writing process look like? Are you a pantser/gardener or a plotter/architect?

AL: My writing process differs in every book! My first published book, Set on You, was written by the seat of my pants with no plan. Since then, I’ve attempted to be a responsible adult who outlines (and sometimes it works)! Other times, my color-coded, detailed outline gets launched out the window and I chase whatever shiny idea my brain is hyper focusing on. 

GWR: Does any of Andi’s publishing journey mirror your own? 

AL: Andi’s shame and fear about being discovered as a secret romance writer mirrors my journey and inspired this book. Like Andi, I worked a very serious government job by day while writing romcoms at night. For the longest time, I kept my writing life hidden. I’d always wonder, What if someone finds out? Would I get fired? Would they read Chapter 17 and never make eye contact with me again? That fear and the absurdity of it sparked this entire book.

GWR: What was the inspiration for The Bodyguard Affair?

AL: In addition to my job in government by day and romance writer by night, I was also inspired by watching the movie Love, Actually. One of the side plots is Hugh Grant’s character as this young, hot PM with an assistant, which I thought was such a cute, forbidden dynamic. I wasn’t sure I wanted to tackle a Prime Minister hero, so I decided it was the perfect opportunity to try out the bodyguard trope.

GWR: Why was it important for you to set your book in Canada and touch on Canadian politics? 

AL: I love reading books set in Canada! We have towering mountains, flat prairies, deep forests, beaches, and all four seasons. It’s the perfect playground for romance. And since I’ve lived in Ottawa for 13 years, the political backdrop felt natural. Ottawa is known for beautiful government buildings, political drama, and amazing shawarma.

GWR: What were the most important characteristics and dynamic that you wanted Andi and Nolan’s relationship to have? 

AL: Both Andi and Nolan genuinely like who the other person is, professionally and personally. They care about each other’s ambitions. They want each other to win. The romance grows out of that foundation of two people who see one another clearly and are each other’s biggest cheerleaders. 

GWR: The Bodyguard Affair features some of the best romance tropes—fake dating, friends-to-lovers, office romance, forced proximity—what is your favourite trope to write and what is your favourite to read? 

AL: My favourite trope to write is enemies or rivals to lovers because of the fun banter and tension! Fake dating is also one of my favourites to write because of the awkwardness, forced closeness, and accidental feelings. But I also LOVE reading friends to lovers because I find it so tender and emotional, usually because the characters have such a sweet bond that turns romantic. The end payoff is unmatched.

GWR: How do you balance complex subject matter—ailing parent, abandonment—with the lighter elements of a romance novel? Why do you think a rom-com has the ability to bring up more difficult things? 

AL: Real life can be messy, stressful and scary. But it also has joy and humour peeking through the cracks. I try to reflect that balance. When I write heavier moments, I aim to weave in softness, levity, and hope to remind readers that joy still exists alongside it. Rom-coms let us tackle tough subjects while still promising a satisfying, emotionally safe landing. 

GWR: What made you decide to write the book from a dual point of view? Was it easier or more challenging to explore the parallel storyline?

AL: Every book I’d written before this was single POV, so naturally I thought, Why don’t I make things harder? Lol, just kidding. Kind of. The truth us, Nolan’s perspective felt essential. His caregiving responsibilities and emotional history needed space, nuance, and interiority. His storyline wouldn’t hit the same if we only saw it from the outside. That said, balancing two voices, two arcs, and two emotional journeys is tough, but rewarding. 

GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be? 

AL: The Bodyguard Affair would be a Tim Hortons caramel iced cap with a shot of espresso. It’s very Canadian, sweet, yet strong, and guaranteed to make your heart race.

GWR: What are you working on now?

AL: I am currently working on my Adult 2026 romcom with Berkley, as well as my next Young Adult romcom with Amazon. I am beyond excited for both of them!

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

In the Bones by Tessa Wegert

A special thank you to the author, Tessa Wegert, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s almost summer in Cape Vincent, and as the heat rises, ex-professional ice hockey superstar Mikko Helle arrives, ready to move into his extravagantly renovated waterfront home. Mikko is 30, handsome, and wealthy. He’s a stranger in town. There’s no reason to suspect Mikko is anything other than he seems.

Local married mother-of-two Nicole Durham works her connections hard to get hired as his cleaner. She needs this job—and not just because of the money. Nicole is desperate to expose a secret, and she’s running out of time.

But when Nicole disturbs an intruder while cleaning, New York State Police Investigator Tim Wellington discovers that the luxury mansion is hiding its own unthinkable truth. Deep in the basement lie the bones of a young woman, identity unknown.

The celebrity athlete. The local. The thief. Everyone is hiding something—but someone in the North Country’s a ruthless killer, and one of the three knows exactly who it is. 

The arrival of a celebrity athlete on a remote peninsula in New York’s Thousand Islands unearths dark and deadly buried secrets in this heart-pounding blend of suspense and mystery, the first in the new North Country series—Agatha Christie meets Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley. Although In the Bones can be read as a standalone, reading the Shana Merchant series not only provides the atmospheric escape of a thriller, but it offers insight into many of the characters. This background information fully fleshes out the cast only for Wegert to yank the table cloth right out from under the reader without disturbing the masterfully crafted plot. Highly recommend!

BUY NOW CANADA

BUY NOW USA

LISTEN NOW

TESSA WEGERT is the critically acclaimed author of the Shana Merchant mysteries, as well as the North Country series. Her books have received numerous starred reviews and have been featured on PBS and NPR Radio. A former journalist and copywriter, Tessa grew up in Quebec and now lives with her husband and children in Connecticut, where she co-founded Sisters in Crime CT and serves on the board of International Thriller Writers (ITW).

---

Q & A with Tessa Wegert*

GWR: How did you start writing/become a writer?  

TW: I grew up in a house packed to the gills with books, so I fell in love with reading and creative writing early on. For a long time I focused on short stories, and got so into it that I won some awards, but I didn’t attempt to write a novel until I had two little kids (perfect timing, right? Ha!). The first book I wrote, which was a speculative thriller, got me my first agent, but it took several more years and practice books for me to land a contract. The timing was very lucky...I’d written an homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, and it went on submission just as the contemporary locked-room mystery craze was starting to gain steam. That mystery—called Death in the Family—was picked up in a two-book deal, and it ended up kicking off the Shana Merchant series, of which there are now six instalments. 

GWR: What does your writing process look like? How many hours a day do you write? Are you a pantser/gardener or a plotter/architect?

TW: Honestly, it’s a mixed bag. I write almost every day, but the timing and location vary, so while I try to get a few hours in every morning, I’ll also type up scenes while sitting in the rink during my son’s hockey practice, while I’m waiting for dinner to finish cooking, or at midnight when the house quiets down. I always have an initial outline, but have found over the years that my stories benefit from a more flexible approach. With several books, I’ve changed the identity of the killer within days of my deadline, and I think that made the mystery more unexpected (if I don’t know whodunit until I’m in deep, the reader isn’t likely to know either). 

GWR: How do you decide what point to start the story at and how much detail you’re going to provide?

TW: I aim to start the story when the action’s about to ramp up—like with The Coldest Case, which starts with a woman arriving by snowmobile at the police station to report a man missing from an isolated island, or In the Bones, which begins with a woman stalking a celebrity hockey player who’s about to move into his summer home. When it comes to decisions about details, I like to withhold quite a few of those to keep readers in suspense. There’s enough action that they’re engaged and curious, but they don’t have all the puzzle pieces quite yet. 

GWR: What draws you to darker themes? Why thrillers?

TW: I’ve grappled with this question a lot, and I think it comes down to fear. Writing mysteries and thrillers lets me channel my darkest fears and anxieties into a medium I can control, which is pretty cathartic. I’m also really curious about people and what makes them tick. Thrillers are risk-free escapism, and they pull back the curtain on the facets of human nature that we don’t always get to see. 

GWR: In the Bones is told from multiple points of view and feature familiar characters from the Shana Merchant series.  Were you consciously allowing readers to see Shana through a different lens? And what was it like to get inside those supporting characters’ heads? 

TW: This was such a fun book to write, because it’s the first in what’s essentially a spinoff series. It was definitely a conscious decision to diverge from Shana’s point of view, which is what you get with books in the Shana Merchant series, and provide a fresh perspective on her life and world. In the Bones allowed me to dig into secondary and new characters in a way that I couldn’t when I was in Shana’s head. I loved telling this story through disparate voices, and making decisions about who would reveal key aspects of the plot. 

GWR: Your books are set in the Thousand Islands and have a small-town vibe that is as claustrophobic as it is atmospheric. What role does setting play when constructing a mystery?

TW: Setting is hugely important to me, to the extent that I always start a book with atmosphere and mood rather than plot and let the setting drive the story. I’m so jealous of those writers who can visualize a twist before writing the first word! Typically, I see the crime—which is closely linked to setting—long before I know the killer, and the solution reveals itself as I get to know the characters and their motives. The Thousand Islands region is the gift that keeps on giving, because there are so many places where an interesting story stepped in local culture and socioeconomic dynamics can play out. So far, I’ve centered mysteries around priceless private island, controversial wind farms, street festivals that attract hordes of tourists, a tiny icebound community, and a waterfront home with a deadly secret, and there are so many more places I have yet to go.

GWR: What’s the one element of a thriller that is a must?

TW: High stakes, whether physical, emotional, or moral. Readers need to feel that turn of the screw and sense the danger mounting. The action and pressure has to be earned, though, so if I could add a second must-have, it would be a believable motivation. 

GWR: How do you write an effective red herring when you are so close to the material?

TW: The most effective red herrings are the ones that aren’t just surprising to readers but also throw the protagonist off kilter as they experience suspicion, betrayal, and doubt. I look for candidates among the cast of credible suspects I’ve written, and count on beta readers to confirm that the strategy worked. It’s all about misdirection and withholding just enough. Mystery and thriller readers can be pretty brilliant, so I have my work cut out for me.

GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be? 

TW: Ooh, I love this question (and researched the heck out of it, haha). In the Bones would be a Death in the Afternoon, which was apparently created by Hemingway. It’s made with absinthe and champagne: cryptic and bold, with an intense finish. 

GWR: What are you working on now?

TW: I’m currently drafting Book Two in the North Country series! It involves cross-border drug smuggling and a high-profile missing persons case, and it’s due to release in late 2026. 

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

The Christmas Cure by Kristine Winters

A special thank you to to the publisher, Simon and Schuster Canada, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

He wasn’t on her Christmas wish list, but he’s just what Santa ordered.

When Libby Munro returns to her hometown of Harmony Hills—a holiday-obsessed village that feels like stepping into a Christmas card—she’s longing for an escape. A respite from her hectic job as a big-city emergency room doctor, and a change of scenery after a painful break-up. Maybe Harmony Hills’s festive charm will help her rediscover the holiday spirit.

What she doesn’t expect is Liam the dreamy, green-eyed owner of the local bakery, whose smile rivals the glow of the town’s legendary Christmas tree. Or a run-in with Liam’s excitable pot-bellied pig, Mary Piggins, at the rumoured-to-be-magical tree-lighting ceremony. Libby’s knocked unconscious in the chaos and wakes up to find herself thrust into the specifically, to Christmastime, one year ago.

As she relives last Christmas, Libby begins to wonder if this is a second chance to change her life. With every snowflake-filled moment, the undeniable spark between her and Liam grows brighter. But if she’s going to rewrite her future, she’ll need to figure out what changes the past is asking her to make—and whether she’s ready to embrace the pull of home, and the promise of true love.

The Christmas Cure has a Groundhog Day-esque premise and all the festive feels of a Hallmark movie. Harmony Hills is as cosy as a mug of hot chocolate—the quintessential small town and the perfect setting for a holiday romance. With a pig that will steal your heart, this holiday gem is full of humour, cheer, and the magic of Christmas. Winters has gifted readers the perfect holiday rom-com!

BUY NOW CANADA

BUY NOW USA

LISTEN NOW

KRISTINE WINTERS is the pen name of Karma Brown, an award-winning journalist and author of the bestsellers Come Away With Me, The Choices We Make, In This Moment, The Life Lucy Knew, and Recipe for a Perfect Wife. Her first non-fiction book, The 4% Fix, published in 2020. Karma's writing has appeared in publications such as Redbook, SELF, and Chatelaine. She’s also one half of the writing duo behind The Holiday Swap and All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox. 

Brown lives just outside Toronto, Canada with her husband, daughter, and their adorably handsome labradoodle, Fred.

---

Q & A with Kristine Winters*

GWR: As an author who has written in different genres, do you approach each book the same way? 

KW: Generally speaking, yes. I typically write a synopsis first, once I have a good handle on the idea (and decide it has legs). Then I’ll do some early research and brainstorming. After that, more in-depth research and brainstorming…until I’m itching to start writing. I wait until the momentum is strong to avoid false starts, because the first draft is my nemesis and I need to show it who’s the boss. There have been a few exceptions to the pattern—notably my non-fiction book, The 4 % Fix, which required its own process (and even though it was about finding creativity at 5 a.m., it refused to be written at 5 a.m...). 

GWR: Tell us about your writing process. Are you a pantser/gardener or a plotter/architect?

KW: I call myself a “plantser.” I have a solid outline and have done a lot of work on character/setting and plot details before I commit a single word to the document, but once I start writing I let things flow. Sometimes a book will closely resemble my outline, sometimes it looks wildly different by the time I type The End.

GWR: What was the inspiration for The Christmas Cure?

KW: It was inspired by one of my early novels, the one I signed with my agent for. It came close to selling, but we couldn’t quite get it over the line. It was not a holiday rom-com, but did feature a small-town doctor returning to her charming but gossip-happy small town after a tragedy. I loved the small-town vibe (it’s one of the tropes I enjoy the most), and even though that book has been shelved for over a decade now, the protagonist and the cast of characters has stuck with me. Plus, I’m a sucker for anything time-travel, especially with a Groundhog Day vibe.

GWR: Who is your favourite side character?

KW: Mary Piggins, no question. I adore that calamitous pig!

GWR: This novel is as much about a romantic relationship as it is about female connections (sisters, mother/daughter, best friend/high school best friend). What were the most important characteristics and dynamics that you wanted Libby and Liam’s relationship to have, as well as Libby’s with her sister, and her friends, Helena and Claire?

KW: I wanted Liam to be solidly in the “green flag guy” category, and for Libby to see what might be possible if she let go of the past. Miscommunication is a tricky trope in rom coms, so I tried to minimize that as much as possible between Liam and Libby. 

In terms of the relationships between the women, my goal was for those connections to be strong and supportive, but also showcase a hint of gentle truth-telling to help Libby find her way. 

GWR: The Christmas Cure features some of the best romance tropes—small-town romance, holiday romance, fated mates—what is your favourite trope to write and what is your favourite to read?

KW: My favourite tropes to write and read are similar. I’m a fan of enemies to lovers, small-town romance, anything involving warring chefs or food competitions, forced proximity, and, obviously, holiday-themed romance!

GWR: You really captured the magic and whimsy of Christmas—why do you think holiday books are so beloved?

KW: The coziness of the holiday season is hard to beat. Lit fireplaces, warm blankets, gently falling snow, twinkle lights, midnight black skies with stars and chilly air, nostalgic traditions and holiday carolling, family gatherings, everything decorated to within an inch of its life…add a sweet romance in there, and you’ve ticked a lot of boxes.

GWR: Why was it important to you to set the book in Canada? (Yay!)

KW: In my mind there is no better setting for a snowy holiday romance than Canada. It’s a vibe! Also, I was very excited to put ‘toques’ in my story, and use ‘u’s with reckless abandon. Canadian spelling for the win.

GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be? 

KW: Hot chocolate with vanilla whipped cream, milk-chocolate shavings, and a dash of edible glitter on top. It’s Hallmark-style sweet and cozy.

GWR: What are you working on now? And will there be more Kristine Winters books?

KW: I’m currently on a much-needed break, and am looking forward to releasing two books over the next few months. The Christmas Cure this fall, and then my debut horror novel (Mother Is Watching), coming spring 2026. It’s been a busy couple of years, but I can’t wait for these releases. Even though they are quite different genres, both were a joy to work on. I’m grateful to the readers who follow me wherever this journey takes me! 

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

Christmas at the Ranch by Julia McKay

A special thank you to the publisher, Penguin Random House Canada, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

She hasn’t been in love in ten years, but she’s about to get back in the saddle.

With the holidays around the corner and her father recently imprisoned for financial fraud, disgraced journalist Emory Oakes doesn’t know where to turn. She’s only certain of one thing: She needs to get away.

Fate takes the wheel, leaving her stranded in snowy Evergreen, the picturesque town where she spent her happiest Christmas as a teen—and chronicled every moment in her journal as she fell in love with handsome local, Tate Wilder, at his family’s idyllic horse ranch—until it all went wrong.

Emory isn’t ready to face Tate, but kismet and Christmas magic have other ideas. As the love they’ve denied for a decade rekindles, the betrayals that kept them apart resurface, as does Emory’s family scandal. Yet Tate Wilder and his ranch feel more like home than anywhere ever has. Will Emory and Tate’s alchemy fizzle or will their Christmas wishes come true? 

This swoony second chance holiday romance is about a woman who escapes a family scandal by fleeing to the charming, nostalgic place where she both fell in love for the first time and had her heart broken. Set against a perfect snowy setting, Christmas at the Ranch is a story of love, hope, and the magic of Christmas. With themes of forgiveness and second chances, this is the perfect holiday escape.

BUY NOW CANADA

BUY NOW USA

LISTEN NOW

JULIA McKAY is the pen name of Marissa Stapley, a New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the Reese's Book Club pick Lucky (soon to be an Apple TV+ limited series starring Anya Taylor-Joy). She has also co-written several bestselling holiday romances, including The Holiday Swap, All I Want for Christmas, and Three Holidays and a Wedding. 

Stapley divides her time between city life in Toronto and lake life in Haliburton, where she writes about love, second chances, and the magic of the holidays.

---

Q & A with Julia McKay*

GWR: What inspired you to write holiday romances? 

JM: There’s just something about the holidays that makes my storytelling heart come alive. The lights, the traditions, the way love and nostalgia seem amplified—it’s irresistible! I’m also fascinated by the contrast the season brings: joy and celebration isn’t all there is to the holiday season. It can also be full of loneliness and family unrest, which can stir up old tensions or heartbreak. That mix of comfort and complexity gives me so much to explore as a writer. And, of course, I adore capturing the cozy magic of a small Canadian town blanketed in snow.

GWR: What sparked the idea for Christmas at the Ranch? What is the story behind the story? 

JM: The story was born from my deep love of cottage country—and my own little slice of it. The lake in the book is inspired by the one where I spend my summers (and sometimes snowy holidays), where the ice makes the most haunting, beautiful sounds as it shifts and cracks. I’ve also been an equestrian most of my life, so weaving in a ranch setting and that bond between humans and horses felt natural. Christmas at the Ranch is my love letter to winter in Ontario—snow, family, healing, and second chances all included.

GWR: You’ve also co-authored holiday romance books writing as Maggie Knox (with Karma Brown) and with Uzma Jalaluddin—is there a trope that you haven’t explored yet that you would like to?

JM: I have a soft spot for Opposites Attract, and I think an office romance might be next on my wish list. That seems like it could be great fun—especially when the mistletoe gets involved.

GWR: What elements are a must in a holiday novel?

JM: Even the most laugh-out-loud or glamorous holiday story needs emotional truth underneath,  that spark of connection and hope that makes readers feel deeply invested in the love story. Setting is key, too: snow-covered streets, glowing windows, twinkle lights, and the smell of something baking in the background. And of course, a satisfying happily-ever-after...because if not at Christmas, when?

GWR: I loved the juxtaposition of Toronto and cottage country. What is it about the small-town setting of Evergreen that makes it the perfect backdrop for a Christmas romance?

JM: Evergreen is everything I love about small-town Ontario: it’s full of charm, community, and a little mischief. People know one another’s business—for better or worse—but that also means they show up when it counts. The natural beauty of the snow-covered lake and forests creates a built-in sense of wonder, and the town provides the perfect opportunity to introduce a quirky cast of supporting characters, something I always love to do.

GWR: You utilized a dual timeline as well as an epistolary element through the inclusion of Emory’s diary entries—how did this structure come about? 

JM: I wanted readers to feel the depth of Emory and Tate’s history,  to sense how the past still echoes in the present. The diary entries allowed me to weave in emotion, secrets, and reflection in a really intimate way.

GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be? 

JM: For a cocktail, I’d say Ranch Water: traditionally made with tequila, water, and lime, but made festive with a splash of cranberry juice, a few frozen cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary. It easily becomes a mocktail by skipping the tequila and adding a dash or two of bitters.

GWR: Can you share what are you working on now?

JM: I’m currently finishing my next romance novel, which I’ll be able to share more about soon—but for now, I can say it’s set in small-town Ontario and full of cozy vibes, second chances, and seasonal magic. On the other end of the spectrum, I’m also deep into writing the sequel to Lucky. It’s a busy but very exciting time!

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

Hello, Juliet by Samantha M. Bailey

A special thank you to the author, Samantha M. Bailey, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ivy Westcott fled LA as her acting career imploded. In a flash, she lost her first love and chosen family—her Hello, Juliet castmates. But she never discovered who turned her closest friends against her. Now the whole world knows her as #PoisonIvy.

A decade later, Ivy is horrified when a celebrity exposé thrusts the Hello, Juliet cast back into the limelight, dredging up the old scandals she hoped to escape. Desperate for a fresh start and some financial stability for her mother and manager, Ivy agrees to participate in a top-secret reunion episode.

Ivy’s poised for a comeback, but past betrayals become a present danger when she and the man who once broke her heart find their costar dead.

Determined to find justice and clear her name, Ivy must tear down the facades of cast and crew to uncover chilling secrets that have plagued the Hollywood set from day one. Or she could be the next to die. 

Hello, Juliet is a soapy thriller about the perils of fame. Told in a dual timeline from Ivy's point of view, it is a searing behind the scenes look at show business. 

With its shocking twists and satisfying epilogue, Hello, Juliet is Bailey's best book yet.

BUY NOW CANADA

BUY NOW USA

SAMANTHA M. BAILEY is the USA TODAY and #1 international bestselling author of Woman on the Edge, optioned for series adaptation, Watch Out for Her, shortlisted for Canada Reads 2025, and A Friend in the Dark, an Amazon Charts bestseller. Her novels have sold in twelve countries. 

Bailey lives in Toronto with her family.

---

Q & A with Samantha M. Bailey*

GWR: Readers may not know this about you, but you started writing what was once referred to as “chick lit.” How did you make the transition to thrillers?

SMB: After my first two books died on sub, and it was clear that chick lit was a hard sell, I started writing women's fiction. Then I had kids, and as my fears and worries grew, my books got darker. My debut, Woman on the Edge, was actually a dark women's fiction, and it was my amazing agent who encouraged me to turn it into a thriller. I'd always wanted to write thrillers, and her advice was one of the best things to ever happen for me. I found my true passion.

GWR: What was the inspiration for Hello, Juliet?

SMB: I'm addicted to TV and fascinated by celebrity. I'd always wanted to set a book in Hollywood and the world of soapy, glossy shows, especially the behind-the-scenes drama. The inciting incident came to me first. When Ivy Westcott returns to the set of the teen drama she starred in, and fled a decade earlier, to film a reunion episode, she finds the body of one of her former co-stars in her old dressing room. 

GWR: This is your fourth published novel (Samantha is also the author of Woman on the Edge, Watch Out for Her, and A Friend in the Dark). Does your writing process change book-to-book?

SMB: Yes and no. I usually start with the premise and characters then create a detailed outline. At the same time, I draft chapters to see if the premise is propulsive and has enough forward momentum. I also compose countless emails to myself, jot ideas on any paper I can find, record ideas when I'm on the go. My process is all-consuming. I'm trying, though, to find a better balance and shut off my brain at the end of the day and on weekends, depending on how tight my deadline is. 

GWR: Do you pair your characters to the book—who would survive the scenario—or do you write them situationally?

SMB: While I generally know by the time I finish the outline who survives and who doesn't, I'm much better at rewriting than drafting. So, it often takes a few drafts for me to truly understand my characters, what they want, who they are, and what's at stake for them. I follow their lead so the story unfolds as organically as possible.

GWR: How do you write effective red herrings when you are so close to the material?

SMB: Good question! By rewriting and working with excellent editors. It will be a few drafts before I can effectively place red herrings, reveals, and twists, because it's not until I'm fully immersed in my characters' worlds that I can see where I need to add those details.

GWR: Tell us about the research you did for the novel. 

SMB: It was the most fun I've ever had writing a book because it was the first time I could travel for research. I spent five glorious days in LA with Meredith Schorr, my author BFF. We went everywhere Hello, Juliet takes place. We strolled Santa Monica Beach and the pier, went to Culver City, West Hollywood, and took a bus tour of all the hot spots, including a dangerously steep drive up Mulholland Drive, where we stopped to gaze at the Hollywood sign. We spent a lot of time on Sunset Boulevard, where we had dinner with Jon Lindstrom, my fellow thriller author, who's also currently an actor on General Hospital and Beyond the Gates. He also drove us up and down the Sunset Strip, so I could hop out and take photos inside iconic bars, like Whiskey a Go Go.

GWR: Hello, Juliet is told in a dual timeline, but from only one character's point of view and with the use of social media—how did this structure come about? 

SMB: Painfully. Ha ha. I generally do a dual timeline/dual POV, but this is my first novel with a dual POV for one character, told ten years apart. It took a lot of hair pulling and teeth gnashing to fit it all together. And the social media was really exciting to write but also tricky because I had to go back to 2014 to make it as accurate as possible. Because it's a book about the dangers of fame and how quickly public perception can change, social media needed to be included. 

GWR: Give us your best Hollywood pitch. Who would you cast?

SMB: I don't envision actors when I'm writing because I need to see my characters as themselves, if that makes sense. But Melissa A of @mel_thebookfairy made a fantastic cast list. She chose: Gracie Lawrence for Ivy, Cassie Randolph for Lauren, Callum Kerr as Jesse, Kyle Allen as Caleb, Victor Webster for Mack, Linda Cardellini as Elizabeth, Fiona Rene for Detective Tanaka, and Jenna Dewan as Rachel. A dream cast! 

GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be? 

 

SMB: I'm going to say a cosmopolitan because it's fun and pretty with a tart bite.

GWR: Can you share what you are working on now?

 

SMB: I'm working on book five, currently untitled, and it's slowly taking shape. I can't give too much away because it's still in the early stages, but it might be my wildest and most ambitious book yet. 

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

The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy

A special thank you to the author, Holly Cassidy, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All Callie wants for Christmas is to hibernate. She's still reeling from being dumped by her childhood sweetheart, and under no circumstances will she go home for the holidays considering her ex will be right next door with his new, perfect partner. Callie is officially in grinch mode, but her meddling sister, Anita, won’t let her give up on life, love, and Christmas quite so easily.

Anita stages a Christmas intervention for Callie with a homemade Advent calendar challenge—cheerful tasks to push Callie out of her comfort zone and into the holiday spirit, inspired by a childhood tradition. Callie reluctantly plays along, but when she comes face-to-face with a charming baker who just might be the spoonful of sugar she needs, her strict rules on love and the holidays are tested.

As they strike a deal to do the activities together, could the twenty four little doors on Callie’s Advent calendar not only open up one, but two closed-off hearts?

Full of Advent activities—carolling, sledding, hot chocolate, eggnog, and even ugly Christmas sweaters—this holiday rom-com will you have you decking your halls and jingling your bells. The Christmas Countdown is the perfect gift!

HOLLY CASSIDY is the pen name for internationally bestselling author Hannah Mary McKinnon. Her suspense novels include The Neighbors, Her Secret Son, Sister Dear, You Will Remember Me, Never Coming Home, The Revenge List, and Only One Survives. 

McKinnon was born in England, grew up in Switzerland, and now lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and three sons. 

---

Q & A with Holly Cassidy*

GWR: How long did it take you to write The Christmas Countdown, and how many drafts were there before publication? 

HC: It took about 4 months to write and self-edit the first draft I shared with my editors. After that we had a large round of structural edits, followed by two smaller ones. Once those were done, we went through another few rounds to cover line, copy, and proof edits. I’m so happy with the result and adore Callie and Marco’s story.

GWR: What was the inspiration for the novel? 

HC: At the end of my first Holly Cassidy rom-com, The Christmas Wager, the protagonist Bella describes a homemade calendar she has prepared for her boyfriend, Jesse. That tiny segment was the inspiration for The Christmas Countdown although the books are standalones and feature a new setting and an entire new cast of characters. It was fun to have one of my books inspire another.

GRW: Do you have a favourite chapter or scene? 

HC: I loved the carolling and sledding scenes—and of course the one where Callie follows Dazey Rocket onto the roof, which made me laugh out loud. I adored everything that touched on Switzerland. I grew up in Interlaken and lived in Switzerland for decades before coming to Canada in 2010. Incorporating my heritage was wonderful. For example, the Mailänderli and Basler Brunsli cookie recipes are straight from my high school home economics book, which I still have and use.

GWR: What were the most important characteristics and dynamic that you wanted Callie and Marco’s relationship to have? What about Callie and Anita’s?

HC: I wanted the relationship between Callie and Marco to be a friends-to-lovers arc with a grumpy/sunshine dynamic. They’ve both been hurt by other people and are wary of opening their hearts to anyone. It was important for me to demonstrate those vulnerabilities, and how they can affect us. 

Regarding Callie and her sister, Anita, I wanted to show a different side of Callie, not only her romantic one. She and Anita get along well, but like most siblings, there’s friction at times. Anita’s far more outgoing and spontaneous and thinks Callie should move on from her ex, stat. It was interesting to have siblings who are so different yet have a close and ten­der bond. It gave the story and the characters more depth.

GWR: The advent calendar was so creative—where did you get the ideas?

HC: It’s based on an Advent calendar I made for our three sons when they were young. Each year, I’d syphon off Halloween candy, which I’d pop into twenty-four little bags I’d string up on the banister. I’d add one little note to the bags, always alternating between a task and a treat. A task would be things for the boys to do such as laying the table or paying someone a compliment. A treat would be us reading an extra bedtime story together or them staying up 15 minutes later. This became the basis for the Advent calendar Callie and Anita’s mum made for them when they were small, and which Anita levelled-up to help Callie find her zest for life again. It was a lot of fun taking something so simple for my past and building an entire world around it.

GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be? 

HC: Oh, fun question. How about the “Grinch Cocktail” mentioned in the book, made from midori liqueur, rum, lemon lime soda, and maraschino cherries? Delicious!

GWR: What are you working on now?

HC: My next Hannah Mary McKinnon thriller is tentatively called A Killer Motive and slated for publication in the fall of 2025. It’s about a guilt-ridden true crime podcaster, Stella Dixon, who promotes her show A Killer Motive on the radio. A disgruntled listener asks why there hasn’t been another podcast episode about her brother, Max, who vanished from a beach party Stella took him to six years ago. Days later, Max’s alleged abductor contacts Stella, and after she dismisses him as a crank, Max’s best friend disappears. The abductor challenges Stella to find him or he dies. If she succeeds, she’ll finally learn the truth about Max’s whereabouts…but she can’t breathe a word to anyone. I think it features my most twisted protagonist yet!

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

Heart on My Sleeve by Jeanne Beker

A special thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jeanne Beker’s name is synonymous with style and grace in fashion. Recognized by many as the beloved host of Fashion Television and the The NewMusic, Jeanne has spent an entire career interviewing celebrities and uncovering their most private selves. Now, in Heart on My Sleeve, Jeanne reveals who she is in an all-new way.

This is not just a memoir but a wardrobe of memory. Jeanne walks us through her recollections of specific pieces of clothing and jewelry, precious items that have made an indelible impact on her. She invites readers to think more deeply about how what we wear—whether it’s a thrift-store find or high-end couture—acts as a touchstone to our most treasured recollections, reminding us of who we once were or of loved ones we hold dear.

With Jeanne as our style guide, we get up-close and personal with a star-studded cast, including Paul McCartney, Madonna, Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Moss, Oscar de la Renta, Beyoncé, and Keith Richards. But equally important, Jeanne introduces us to the family members and loved ones who form her closest entourage—including her wise Yiddish mother and her industrious father, both Holocaust survivors; her childhood neighbour Mrs. Jaskolka, a style maven ahead of her time; her two trailblazing daughters; and her many warm and exuberant friends who have seen her through the best and worst of times.

Jeanne proves that a life lived with style and substance is always in fashion. Bold, colourful, and authentic, this is Jeanne Beker at her very best and brightest. 

Style maven Jeanne Beker delivers an uplifting and inspiring memoir that is a love letter to fashion as well as a chronicle of not only some of her incredible pieces, but of her experiences and wisdom. Beker's writing is candid, engaging, and authentic. 

Heart on my Sleeve is more than an account of Jeanne's many successes and accolades. It is also a testament to her perseverance, resilience, and spirit. You will enjoy her company immensely—it is as much of a treasure as she is.

BUY NOW

LISTEN NOW

JEANNE BEKER was the host of the hit show Fashion Television, which aired in over 130 countries for twenty-seven years and was one of the most successful shows in Canadian TV history. Prior to that, she hosted the groundbreaking show The NewMusic and was a founding member of MuchMusic. A seasoned newspaper and magazine columnist, Jeanne was editor-in-chief of FQ and SIR magazines from 2003 to 2009. Currently, she is a frequent keynote speaker and style editor for TSC, where she hosts her eponymous show Style Matters. 

Beker has received honorary doctorates from St. Mary’s University and OCAD University. She was named to the Order of Canada in 2013, inducted into the American Marketing Association’s Hall of Legends in 2015, and received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2016. 

Jeanne lives in Toronto, Canada. 

---

Q & A with Jeanne Beker*

GWR: You were a pioneer in music and fashion journalism—what was this like to be such a trailblazer in Canadian television? 

JB: We were flying by the seat of our pants, no question, making it up as we went along. We didn’t really think of it as trail blazing at the time—we were just hell bent on being original and making great TV. We had no role models, of course, and it certainly was liberating to be able to be that unconventional. But it wasn’t always easy because not everyone understood what we were doing—or trying to do. 

GWR: When it comes to fashion, you have covered the gamut. What was your favourite trend? Do you have a least favourite? 

JB: I’m not really a big fan of the notion of “trends” to begin with, though I realize they often dictate the way people choose to dress. But in the early 90’s, the idea of “doing your own thing” came on strong again—the way it did in the ‘70s—and it was wonderful to see so many fashion enthusiasts break rules, and not worry about what everybody else was wearing. Once upon a time, fashion was definitely about doing what everybody else was doing—but self expression came into play in a big way, and that, to me, was the absolute healthiest direction to take. We saw a lot of exuberance in fashion in the ‘90s because of that mindset—and happily, it’s a kind of “trend” that never did really go away. I’ve also always loved the vintage vibe, and vintage dressing is certainly a wonderfully sustainable way to go. 

In terms of “least favourite” trend—well, that’s a tough one because I’m one of those people who never says never. Certain things are jarring when they’re first introduced, but our eye gets very used to some of these things very quickly, so I’m good with all of it!!! 

GWR: What are some of your wardrobe staples?

JB: Several pair of great fitting black pants, in a variety of fabrics, that can be dressed up or down; a well tailored black jacket; a few colourful silk shirts; a few little black cocktail dresses (sorry for all the black! LOL); as many cashmere sweaters as I can get my hands on; a great fitting pair of blue jeans; a leather moto jacket; a handful of silk scarves; high heels that are relatively comfy to wear (because nothing makes me feel as sexy as a pair of heels!); and empowering accessories—whether they’re bold, or sentimental, or whimsical, or just beautifully designed.  

GWR: In Heart on my Sleeve, you thread together moments from your life by writing about pieces from your wardrobe that have special meaning, weaving in life lessons and experiences. How did you come up with the concept of telling your story through the lens of fashion?

JB: Although I appreciate being known for many things, I guess “fashion” is what most people associate me with, because SO many people grew up watching me on Fashion Television! But I was thinking of a way to get into my story-telling, and I thought about how my own wardrobe was so rife with so many memories. For some crazy reason, I almost always remember exactly what I was wearing on any adventure. Maybe it’s because I often look at what we wear as “costume”—the way we dress can help us feel our best, most authentic selves, and communicate so much about who we are to both others, and ourselves. I thought that by reminiscing about my cherished wardrobe pieces, I might encourage others to do the same. At any rate, all these pieces served as great springboards for my story telling, and gave me—and hopefully will give my readers—some fun insights into past eras, and the role fashion often played. 

GWR: How did you decide on which items to feature? 

JB: Well I felt I had to have a pretty good story to offer with each piece. There have been untold cherished pieces in my wardrobe over the years, but not all were worthy of featuring because they didn’t have a particularly compelling story to go along with them. Many of the pieces I wrote about I still actually own! Some are relegated to mere memories….and some I still have photos of. My talented daughter Bekky O’Neil did the illustrations in the book, so you’ll at least get an idea of what all these wonderful pieces looked like. And there are several old photos in the book as well, to really take you back. 

GWR: Heart on my Sleeve is not a chronicling of your successes but rather a testament to your resilience, your spirit, and your perseverance. Why did you choose to write it this way? 

JB: I feel that at this time in my life it’s really important to share as many life lessons as possible. The stories in this memoir, which are not in any chronological order, hopefully all offer some kind of lesson— from having faith, confidence, and compassion, to dreaming big, fearlessness, and the power of positivity. 

GWR: What is the best piece of advice you’ve received? 

JB: The advice my dad always gave me, which was his personal motto:  Don’t be afraid.  And never give up. 

GWR: What do you hope readers take away from Heart on my Sleeve?  

JB: I hope they understand how a little girl with stars in her eyes, who always kept an open mind and an open heart—and worked extremely hard—managed to realize countless fantasies during a brilliantly exciting era in pop culture. I hope readers will understand the role authenticity has played in my life, and how fashion, as superficial as it often is, can be a catalyst for self discovery and great communication.   

GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be?

JB: A cross between hot ginger tea and a vodka martini, straight up, with olives!

GWR: Can you share what you are working on next?

JB: I’m co-curating a huge, fashion-themed exhibit with Canadian designer Paul Hardy which will be presented at Calgary’s Glenbow Museum (currently under renovation) when it re-opens in 2026. Incredibly exciting for sure! Details will be announced in the next few weeks.  

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