What I'm Reading Next (51)

 

December is such a struggle when it comes to reading.  Well, at least for me it is.  It's two-fold. I want to read all the holiday books, but I never have enough time! You know how it is during the holiday season. 

However, I am starting on things a bit earlier this year, so I am *hoping* I will have more time to relax and read this year.  Maybe it's wishful thinking? What about you? Do you find time to read during the holidays?  Here's what I hope to read this month:

 

All the Holiday Books

All of the holiday books I mentioned in this post

 

 

Jane and the Year Without a Summer by Stephanie Barron

This Jane Austen mystery comes out in Febraury. I am reading it ahead of time for a blog tour. I love reading Jane Austen themed novels year round, but there's something special about reading it over the holidays.

 

 

Never Fall For Your Fiancee by Virginia Heath 

I meant to read this novel last month, but never had the chance. I hear it's a great start to a historical rom-com series.  Have you read it? Let me know your thoughts.

Just Haven't Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens

I was also hoping to read this book last month, but didn't get around to it. This novel ask the question what if you pick up the wrong suitcase in the airport only to fall head over heels with its owner? Sounds perfect for the holidays!

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

This book has been on many best of 2021 lists and it's been collecting dust on my shelf. Maybe I will find time to read it before the year ends? *fingers crossed* Have you read it?

 

 

A Man of Honor by Barbara Taylor Bradford 

This is a prequel to the bestselling novel A Woman of Substance, which came out in the late 70s. I am hoping that I don't need to read the first book in order to appreciate this historical saga.   

What books do you hope to read this month? Let me know in the comments below.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

I'll be taking a blog break to spend the holiday with my family, but once I am back, I'll be sharing all the holiday reads, and hosting some great giveaways, too! I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday. 

Before I go, I want to remind you to check out the two picture book giveaways I have going on currently. One is for The Friendly Bookshelf and the other is for This Is Clare. Be sure to check them out and enjoy your long weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Blog Tour: The Christmas Wedding Guest by Susan Mallery

 

Pages: 432

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: September 28, 2021

Publisher: HQN Books

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "The Somerville sisters believe in love, but they’ve lost faith it will happen for them. Reggie hasn’t been home since the end of the world’s shortest engagement. When her parents decide to renew their vows, she buffs up her twinkle to help with the Christmas wedding. Unexpectedly, Toby, her first love, is back too, and the spark between them shines as brightly as ever. In the spirit of the season, will they let go of past hurts and greet the New Year together?  Done waiting for the one, Dena is pregnant and on her own—on purpose. But then a gorgeous, sad-eyed songwriter checks in to a room at her inn. Micah, unable to write since he lost his wife, finds inspiration in Dena’s determination to be a mom. One snowflake-speckled kiss and he’s a goner. But Dena is afraid to believe that a rock star could fall for a cookie-cutter small-town girl like her.  As the Christmas wedding draws closer, these two sisters just might unwrap the most treasured gift of all—love."

 

 

Reggie Somerville hasn't returned to her idyllic home town since her engagement broke off.  Her sister, Dena, is a local schoolteacher, newly pregnant, and is working on a charity knitting project with her students. To top it off, Dena and Reggie's parents are renewing their vows this holiday season, so Reggie will most definitely have to return home to Wishing Tree.  Reggie offers to help her mom with her vow renewal plans and to assist Dena with her class project as Dena is suffering from morning sickness.  Dena's situation isn't a conventional one. Dena decided to get pregnant as a single mother through artificial insemination and not only is she dealing with her pregnancy by herself, she is also teaching, and she runs the local B&B.  She is, quite simply, overextended. While Reggie is helping Dena's class project, she runs into her ex-boyfriend, Toby, who has moved back home to raise his son, Harrison.  Toby has also volunteered to help with the class project, so cue the awkward situation as well as the eventual butterflies between them.  Toby hasn't had it easy either and has a lot of baggage.  Then Micah shows up at the B&B, a well-known musician, to find some rest and relaxation with the hope he can find inspiration for his next song.  He is also healing from a tragic event, but Dena catches his eye.  Even though both Somerville sisters are bridesmaids this holiday season, it appears they will have their own chance for love in The Christmas Wedding Guest. 

I really liked the character of Reggie in The Christmas Wedding Guest. I liked her relationship with her sister, her parents, and even her dog.  When she returns home, she has to face her past and things become even more complicated when her high school ex-boyfriend re-enters the picture.  I really enjoyed how they slowly rekindled the spark while also addressing a lot of their baggage.  Toby's story is a sad one and I did feel badly for him as well as his son.  Dena, on the other hand, is an interesting character in that she is taking things into her own hands by deciding to become a single mom.  I like her determination; however, I didn't find her story (or her love interest in Micah) to be as interesting at Reggie's.

The secondary characters were just ok in The Christmas Wedding Guest. Reggie and Dena's mother is a bridezilla. The worst. I am not kidding. There's no way as a grown adult I would have put up with her. I mean this is a vow renewal not a wedding at Windsor Castle.  Relax.  The stuff she put her grown daughters through is bizarre. I really didn't care for that part of the story or her antics.

Be forewarned that The Christmas Wedding Guest can be rather dark for a holiday novel. There's some issues throughout the novel that pop up that can be considered serious, so that took me by surprise a bit; however, it was balanced nicely by the possible love matches and the upcoming wedding.

The thing I liked the most about The Christmas Wedding Guest was the adorable town of Wishing Tree, Washington.  I loved the Stars Hollow vibe, the friendly neighbors, and their adorable traditions around Christmas and the first snowfall.  I thought it was very well done and reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. Who doesn't love when a charming town comes together to celebrate the holidays?

So, are you a fan of Susan Mallery? Is The Christmas Wedding Guest on your TBR list? Do you enjoy holiday reads? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This year I am hoping to feature more holiday books than ever before. I never really got into holiday books until last year. I gravitated towards them during the pandemic and haven't looked back!  Sometimes they are a nice escape where everyone get a happy ending (most of the time!), the snow always falls at the right time, and there's always something heartwarming about to happen.  Here are the holiday books I've had my eye on for this season:

 

1.  The Christmas Wedding Guest by Susan Mallery

This is the start of a new series and it's all about the Somerville sisters and their chance at love.

 

 

2.  Christmas in Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey

I love that Harvey has continued the Peachtree Bluff series with a holiday tale. 

 

 

 

3.  Celebration at Christmas Cove by Carrie Jansen

This novel is a a New England holiday romance and the start to a promising  new series. 

4.  The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

I am usually a fan of Andrews's summer novels, so I knew I had to get a copy of her holiday novella about Christmas magic and second chances. 

 

 

5.  The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

Jenny Colgan always writes such heartwarming reads and this one is set in Edinburgh. Don't you love the cover?

 

 

6.  Meet Me in London by Georgia Toffolo 

A pretend engagement set in London during the holidays. Yes, please! 

 

 

7.  An Island Christmas by Nancy Thayer

Nantucket at Christmastime sounds like a win. I love Thayer's beach reads and read Let It Snow a few years ago, so I am looking forward to this one.

 

 

 

8.  Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini

I am so intrigued by this holiday read inspired by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "Christmas Bells." This book has been on my TBR list for awhile!  I adore the cover, which initially caught my eye.

I don't think I will get to them all, but this is my very hopeful TBR list. What holiday books do you hope to read this year? Are any of these books on your list?  Let me know in the comments below.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Friendly Bookshelf

I love giving away picture books, but today's giveaway is extra special, because I love the message in this book.  I've partnered with The Children's Book Review and Blossom Children's Media Group to celebrate the publication of The Friendly Bookshelf by Caroline and Katherine Brickley.  The Friendly Bookshelf was written to build self-confidence and to promote inclusivity, which is so important and should start with the very young. Who doesn't love a picture book that reinforces kindness?

 

 

Learn More About the Book:

 

The Friendly Bookshelf is written by Caroline and Katherine Brickley, illustrated by Daniela Pérez-Duarte.   Ages 3+ | 32 Pages  Publisher: Blossom Children’s Media Group | ISBN-13: 9780997782714

Publisher’s Synopsis: "Meet Bibli, a brave little library bookshelf in search of a story about someone like him . . .Once upon a time, in a library like any other, there lived a little bookshelf named Bibli who carried a BIG question on his shelves: “Could there be a story somewhere about a bookshelf like me?” Bibli is told that bookshelves are supposed to hold stories, not have ones of their own. But everything changes when he meets Cassie, a girl longing for a friend just as much as Bibli longs for a story to relate to. Bibli learns that with kindness, confidence, empathy, and friendship, even your biggest dreams can come true—and that everyone has an important story worth sharing. The Friendly Bookshelf is a social-emotional learning (SEL) research-based book and the first-ever picture book about a bookshelf. Written to build self-confidence and self-esteem as well as encourage inclusivity, Bibli’s story empowers children to be brave, be a friend, and always be your-shelf! Readers will be inspired to go beyond the final page of the book and share their own stories, as well as be the pioneers of a kinder, more inclusive world where everybody (and every bookshelf!) belongs."

You can purchase a copy of The Friendly Bookshelf at Amazon and Bookshop.  To learn more about the book, visit the website.  

Enter the Giveaway:

 

 

Thanks to The Children's Book Review and Blossom Children's Media, I am hosting a giveaway for a copy of The Friendly Bookshelf.  Seven winners will receive a copy of The Friendly Bookshelf and a copy will be donated to the library of your choice.  The giveaway ends December 16, 2021 at 11:59 P.M. MT.  

 

The Friendly Bookshelf Giveaway   

Good luck,

Book Review: The Last Debutante by Georgie Blalock

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: August 24, 2021

Publisher: William Morrow

Other Books By Author: The Other Windsor Girl

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "When Valerie de Vere Cole, the niece of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, makes her deep curtsey to the King and Queen of England, she knows she’s part of a world about to end. The daughter of a debt-ridden father and a neglectful mother, Valerie sees firsthand that war is imminent.  Nevertheless, Valerie reinvents herself as a carefree and glittering young society woman, befriending other debutantes from England’s aristocracy as well as the vivacious Eunice Kennedy, daughter of the U.S. Ambassador. Despite her social success, the world’s troubles and Valerie’s fear of loss and loneliness prove impossible to ignore.  How will she navigate her new life when everything in her past has taught her that happiness and stability are as fragile as peace in our time? For the moment she will forget her cares in too much champagne and waltzes. Because very soon, Valerie knows that she must find the inner strength to stand strong and carry on through the challenges of life and love and war."

 

Valerie, although she is niece to the Prime Minister, isn't your typical debutante.  Her father has debts up to his eyeballs and her mother isn't involved in her life.  Nonetheless, she is about to be presented to the King and Queen of England to join the ranks of the many debutantes.  However, times are changing.  War is coming and with it brings many changes. Some of the old traditions may not survive these changes.  Meanwhile, Valerie enters the world of high society and becomes friends with all sorts of women including Eunice Kennedy, daughter of Joe Kennedy, the U.S. Ambassador. Can the debutantes survive this changing world? Georgie Blalock's The Last Debutantes begs readers to ask that very question and the novel explores the ups and downs of the last season of debutantes.

Valerie is a character who you can't help but feel for in The Last Debutantes. Her mother isn't great, her father has a ton of issues, but its her connections to the Chamberlains that keep her afloat in the precarious world of high society.  Thankfully, her aunt clues her in on what to expect, how to behave, and gives her some tips on how to survive. Slowly, Valerie gains more confidence and even befriends many of the other girls.  Perhaps she has more in common with them than she thought? It also appears that, like her family, each family she encounters is hiding a secret.  Valerie quickly learns that family secrets amongst the members of society can be used as weapons.  Also, as the story progresses, Valerie has a chance for love, but the young man isn't necessarily suitable for her. Will any of this matter once war arrives? Will all the old traditions and standards fall to the wayside?

Blalock develops a glittering debutante world very well in The Last Debutantes.  It's a world that's filled with balls, champagne, fancy jewels, and opulent dinners. Fans of Downton Abbey will especially appreciate the pomp and circumstance. I also really liked how Blalock included real-life people, such as Eunice Kennedy, as I am a fan of the Kennedy family and find her to be fascinating.

The last debutantes of 1939 before the war showed up on their doorsteps makes for an interesting tale, but I have to admit that The Last Debutantes was missing that something special to really set it apart from the other historical novels I've read this year.

So, are you a fan of Georgie Blalock's novels? Have you read The Last Debutantes? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

Blog Tour: The London House by Katherine Reay

 

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: November 2, 2021

Publisher: Harper Muse

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars  

 

Goodreads says, "Uncovering a dark family secret sends one woman through the history of Britain’s World War II spy network and glamorous 1930s Paris to save her family’s reputation. Caroline Payne thinks it’s just another day of work until she receives a call from Mat Hammond, an old college friend and historian. But pleasantries are cut short. Mat has uncovered a scandalous secret kept buried for decades: In World War II, Caroline’s British great-aunt betrayed family and country to marry her German lover.  Determined to find answers and save her family’s reputation, Caroline flies to her family’s ancestral home in London. She and Mat discover diaries and letters that reveal her grandmother and great-aunt were known as the “Waite sisters.” Popular and witty, they came of age during the interwar years, a time of peace and luxury filled with dances, jazz clubs, and romance. The buoyant tone of the correspondence soon yields to sadder revelations as the sisters grow apart, and one leaves home for the glittering fashion scene of Paris, despite rumblings of a coming world war.  Each letter brings more questions. Was Caroline’s great-aunt actually a traitor and Nazi collaborator, or is there a more complex truth buried in the past? Together, Caroline and Mat uncover stories of spies and secrets, love and heartbreak, and the events of one fateful evening in 1941 that changed everything.  In this rich historical novel from award-winning author Katherine Reay, a young woman is tasked with writing the next chapter of her family’s story. But Caroline must choose whether to embrace a love of her own and proceed with caution if her family’s decades-old wounds are to heal without tearing them even further apart."

 

 

Caroline Payne is living a normal life in Boston until she receives a phone call which changes her family's life.  The call is from Mat, her friends from college, whom she used to have a crush on.  Mat is writing an article and has come across information that applies to Caroline's family, in particular, her great-aunt.  He has uncovered some family secrets about her great-aunt and namesake, Caroline Waite.  She worked for the British government during WWII, but there was a bit of a scandal. She left her government job, pretty much disappeared, and as rumor would have it, she left to be with her Nazi lover.  Cue the shock.  Well, this is even more shocking as Caroline thought her great-aunt Caroline died from polio at a young age.  How could she have been working for the British government? Are Mat's claims accurate? In order to figure out her family's secrets (and hopefully clear her aunt's name), she travels to London to not only visit her mother, but to visit her family's house with the hopes that she can read some of the letters her grandmother and aunt wrote through the years.  Perhaps the answers are in there. She also hopes to find out the truth of what happened to help her father heal as this secret has caused some major stress over the years.  Katherine Reay's historical family drama, The London House, is filled with mysteries and family secrets that span decades. 

I really liked Caroline from the start of The London House.  She always thought her Aunt Caroline died young, but as she uncovers family secrets, she realizes that her grandmother and great-aunt were very close and that she did not die in childhood.  That was a coverup, but what for?  Her grandmother and great-aunt exchanged letters for years and once Caroline starts poring over them, the truth slowly floats to the surface.  On the periphery is Mat, who is essentially wanting to write a very revealing and reputation damaging article about her aunt. Even he comes along to London, with Caroline's insistence, to help her get to the bottom of this before he writes his tell-all article.  As they spend more time together, they start to get closer again.  

I adored the setting of The London House, specifically the ancestral home of Caroline's family. I felt like there were secrets around every turn and treasures lurking in every closet. I loved the idea of looking through a long-lost relative's letters to figure out a family secret.  It was a neat way to relive the past and gain a different perspective.  My only issue with The London House was the amount of letters. If you don't like stories told in this manner, take this into consideration, although I will admit this was a nice break from the usual dual time line historical novel. 

Oh, the secrets in The London House!  Caroline eventually comes across the truth and it's both heartbreaking and courageous. It definitely tugged on my heartstrings. So if you are a fan of historical fiction and love a good family drama, I urge you to pick up a copy of The London House.

Are you a fan of Katherine Reay's novels? Is The London House on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below. 

   

Book Review: The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

Pages: 400

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: July 6, 2021

Publisher: Riverhead

Source: Library

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "It is a perfect July morning, and Elle, a fifty-year-old happily married mother of three, awakens at "The Paper Palace" -- the family summer place which she has visited every summer of her life. But this morning is different: last night Elle and her oldest friend Jonas crept out the back door into the darkness and had sex with each other for the first time, all while their spouses chatted away inside.   Now, over the next twenty-four hours, Elle will have to decide between the life she has made with her genuinely beloved husband, Peter, and the life she always imagined she would have had with her childhood love, Jonas, if a tragic event hadn't forever changed the course of their lives.   As Heller colors in the experiences that have led Elle to this day, we arrive at her ultimate decision with all its complexity. Tender yet devastating, The Paper Palace considers the tensions between desire and dignity, the legacies of abuse, and the crimes and misdemeanors of families."

 

 

Elle's family has a house in the back woods of Cape Cod. It's not some beautifully modern beach house though; it's pretty worn down from the past fifty years, but it has been a source of solace for Elle though the years. Her childhood wasn't easy.  Her parents divorced and are entirely dysfunctional.  The step-sibling she has had to endure is a horrific person; however, the one person who was always there for her was Jonas.  She met Jonas on the Cape as children.  No matter what Elle was going through when she was growing up, Jonas had her back even when things got really bad.  Fast forward to many years later on the Cape and Elle is married with kids of her own as well as Jonas. Their families are friends and they still spend a lot of time together.  Elle and Jonas share a lot of secrets that stem from their childhood and while at a dinner party (with their spouses present!), they wander off and start an affair after years of never pursuing a real relationship.  After this encounter, Elle can't help but wonder what if? She loves her life with her devoted husband and her dreamy kids, but what if she took a different path and married Jonas? Miranda Cowley Heller's The Paper Palace is an all-consuming type of read that left me somehow caring about the characters despite their deplorable actions.

Elle is one of the those characters that I tend to judge right away and sort of write her off as being a horrible person, but slowly Heller made me care about her in The Paper Palace. I cast my judgment aside and tried to understand where she was coming from. What happened in her past to make her this way? Well, buckle in, because Heller shares quite a story that eventually comes together to show us a more complete picture of Elle.  While I usually didn't agree with her actions, I could sympathize.  Elle experienced so much trauma! There's so many secrets! 

The way that Heller tells The Paper Palace is really well done. It's sort of like an onion and she peels off each layer slowly. Through flashbacks, readers get more of an understanding as to what Elle experienced in a broken home with dysfunctional parents.  Her mother's new boyfriend and his son, Conrad, really blew up Elle's life.  Some of the scenes made me cringe (especially with Conrad), but it was all necessary to fully understand Elle. Thankfully, Elle always had her sister to lean on and wasn't entirely alone.

The setting of The Paper Palace was so well done. Heller truly brought the Back Woods of Cape Cod to life as well as the dilapidated beach house fondly known as the "Paper Palace".  It was very atmospheric with its ponds, dense foliage, and overgrown trees casting shadows despite the summer sun.

While the first half of the novel was pretty slow going, things definitely pick up and Heller takes you on quite an eye-opening ride.  So, if you enjoy family dramas with a lot of secrets and one that will keep you guessing, check out The Paper Palace. I definitely have me eye on what Miranda Cowley Heller writes next as this is just her debut.

So, have you read The Paper Palace ? Is it on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

 

Book Review: The Wicked Widow by Beatriz Williams

Pages: 288

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: October 26, 2021

Publisher: William Morrow

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Wicked City

and The Wicked Redhead

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

 

Goodreads says, "June 1925. Audacious Appalachian flapper Geneva "Gin" Kelly prepares to trade her high-flying ways for respectable marriage to Oliver Anson Marshall, a steadfast Prohibition agent who happens to hail from one of New York's most distinguished families. But just as wedding bells chime, the head of the notorious East Coast rum-running racket--and Anson's mortal enemy--turns up murdered at a society funeral, and their short-lived honeymoon bliss goes up in a spectacular blaze that sends Anson back undercover...and into the jaws of a trap from which not even Gin can rescue him. As violence explodes around her, Gin must summon all her considerable moxie to trace the tentacles of this sinister organization back to their shocking source, and face down a legendary American family at a rigged game it has no intention of losing.  June 1998. When Ella Dommerich's ninetysomething society queen aunt Julie ropes her into digging up dirt on Senator (and Presidential candidate) Franklin Hardcastle in order to settle old family scores, she couldn't be less enthusiastic. Pregnant Ella's recently ditched her unfaithful husband and settled into cozy--if complicated--domesticity with her almost-too-good-to-be-true musician boyfriend, Hector. But then the Hardcastle secrets lead to a web of shady dealings Ella's uncovered in her job as a financial analyst, and the bodies start to tumble out of the venerable woodwork. With the help of her ex-husband and her mysterious connection to a certain redheaded flapper, Ella digs up more than mere dirt...only to discover herself standing alone between a legendarily ruthless family and the prize it's sought for generations.  What ugly secrets lurk in the opulent enclaves--and bank accounts--of America's richest families? And can two determined women from two different generations thwart the murderous legacy of the demon liquor?"

 

It's 1998 and Ella Dommerich is pregnant except (if readers remember from The Wicked Redhead) things with her husband, Patrick, aren't good. She is moving in with her boyfriend, Hector, who is pretty much the perfect boyfriend despite her very complicated circumstances. Ella is having a tough go with morning sickness, but despite that, things are looking pretty good.  Her Aunt Julie asks for her help by investigating Senator Frank Hardcastle, who is a presidential candidate.  Aunt Julie has it against him for something he did to their family years ago. Then readers travel back to 1924 and are reunited with Geneva Kelly who lives in the townhouse that Ella and Hector currently reside in, but many years previously.  Geneva, otherwise known as Gin, is married to Oliver Marshall and things are looking up since we last saw her, except for the fact that Louis Hardcastle, a bootlegger, blames Oliver for his son's death as Oliver is a Prohibition officer.  Cue all the drama, especially as Ella uncovers some Hardcastle family secrets.  The third installment in The Wicked City series, The Wicked Widow by Beatriz Williams, will most certainly keep fans of the series flipping the pages.

Gin is one of my favorite feisty heroines. I have really enjoyed following her adventures in The Wicked City series. You can always count on Gin to be bold, entertaining, and she will always get the job done. She makes for an action-packed book.  However, in The Wicked Widow, readers get this from Gin, but they also see her a little more vulnerable as things don't go as planned for her life. Her husband, Oliver, is in trouble, and this time there isn't much she can do.

The Wicked Widow is a dual timeline novel shared between Ella and Gin.  Readers fast forward many years to the late 90s and revisiting Ella's story.  While she isn't nearly as adventurous as Gin, her story is still an interesting one as she is not only pregnant with her philandering husband's child and living with a new boyfriend, she is also knee deep in a mystery surrounding the famous Hardcastle family.  Her Aunt Julie has her do some digging and they uncover more than enough secrets.

The Wicked Widow is action packed. It has romance, bootlegging, Prohibition officers, mysteries, and wealthy family drama.  I hope that Williams continues Gin's story, because I think there is definitely more to explore. If you are new to The Wicked City series, I recommend it to fans of historical fiction that enjoy feisty and outgoing heroines who will keep you glued to the book.

So, are you a fan of Beatriz Williams? Have you read The Wicked City series? Let me know in the comments below.

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Meant to Be

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

 

Meant to Be by Emily Giffin

Pub. Date: May 31, 2021

Goodreads says, "The Kingsley family is practically American royalty, beloved for their military heroics, political service, and unmatched elegance. When Joseph S. Kingsley III is born in 1960, he inherits the weight of that legacy. Growing up with all the Kingsley looks and charisma, Joe should have no problem taking up the mantle after his father’s untimely death. But he is also a little bit reckless, and can’t seem to figure out how to channel the expectations of an entire country.  No one ever expected anything of Cate, on the other hand. She, too, grew up in a single-parent household—just her and her mom scraping by in their small apartment. As a teenager, though, Cate is discovered for her looks. Modeling may be her only ticket out of the cycle of disappointment that her mother has always inhabited. Before too long, her face is everywhere, though she is always aware that she’d be a pariah in her social circles if anyone knew her true story.  When Joe and Cate’s paths cross, their connection is instant. What remains to be seen is whether their relationship will survive the glare of the spotlight that follows Joe everywhere. And just as they find themselves in the make-or-break moment, the tragedy that seems to run in Joe’s family right alongside all that privilege will repeat itself.  In a beautifully written novel that recaptures a gilded moment in American history, Emily Giffin tells a story of a love that may or may not have the power to transcend circumstances that seem arrayed against it . . . and the difficulty of finding your way to the place you belong."

 

I am a big fan of Emily Giffin and I love the sound of her latest novel. It sort of reminds me of the Kennedy family. What do you guys think? 

 

Giveaway: This Is Clare

It's been awhile since I've shared a giveaway with you guys, so I am especially excited to host this giveaway today for a new picture book, This Is Clare by Lindy Nelson.  It just came out last week and it's all about a dog owner and her adventures with her pet in China. Dog lovers will enjoy this one!  I've partnered with The Children's Book Review and Lindy Nelson to host a giveaway for a copy of This is Clare and a virtual question and answer session with the author.  

Learn More About This Is Clare:

 

Publisher’s Synopsis: "Come follow a lady and her hound. New adventures with new friends will abound. Learn some English and verse with Lindy and Clare. We’re in China; we hope to see you there!"

 

This Is Clare is written by Lindy Nelson and illustrated by Ingrid Lefebvre.   Ages 4+ | 38 Pages   Publisher: Mascot Kids | ISBN-13: 978-1643073606    You can purchase your own copy of This Is Clare at Amazon.  

Enter the Giveaway:

Thanks to The Children's Book Review and Lindy Nelson, one lucky grand prize winner will receive a copy of This Is Clare along with a virtual question and answer session with the author via Skype.  Nine other winners will receive a copy of This Is Clare. The giveaway is over December 2, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT. 

 

 

This Is Clare Giveaway

Good luck,