Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It’s all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books (directly from their authors or Netgalley and Edelweiss, books you’re given as gifts, physical copies, ebooks and audiobooks.
Library:
NetGalley/Edelweiss:
From the publisher /Blog Tours:
Purchased:
Fingers crossed none of these will spend long time on my gigantic tbr and will quietly move to the read shelf very soon! Here is to wishful thinking 🙂
Happy Reading to all of us!
What did you add to your shelves this week? Do any of these books appeal to you?
Book & Author Details: Guardians of the Mask by Haley Kate Publication date: June 8th 2017 Genres: Fantasy, Historical
Synopsis:
An extraordinary golden mask is in the hands of an ordinary boy…
It’s a mask entrusted to great warriors and heroes, thought to be lost in the sands of time. It can summon immortal armies, grant unimaginable strength and heal mortal wounds.
The golden mask has reappeared. And now it’s in the hands of Rafe, a hard working, loyal and at times mischievous teenager who thinks he is of little importance.
But he is wrong. Rafe is chosen by the mask and destined to become as the warriors of legend.
With the powers of the golden mask, he is the only one who can keep the kingdom safe when it comes under threat.
But not everybody thinks the mask should be in the hands of a common boy. When an eccentric Prince finds out the mask is in the hands of a common boy, he decides to interfere with destiny.
Armed with his own dark forces, he threatens to bring the kingdom to its knees.
Haley Kate writes medieval fairytales and magical mysteries for tweens (and their parents). She also writes workbooks for schools to help reluctant readers engage with fiction.
For this challenge, use the first letter of each book title to spell the current month (skipping articles such as A or The). You can either use titles from your tbr or books that you have read/reviewed.
Jana has created a formal linkup which she posts on the second Saturday of the current month. She also has a theme for each of these lists, although you are absolutely free not to follow it at all (I’m not!)
Here is my list for December:
D –Daisy Darker by ALice Feeney
A family reunion on a tiny tidal island leads to murder in this delightfully twisty and atmospheric thriller with a wink to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, from Queen of Twists Alice Feeney, the New York Times bestselling author of Rock Paper Scissors
After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours.
The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows…
Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide goes out and all is revealed.
With a wicked wink to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Daisy Darker’s unforgettable twists will leave readers reeling.
E Elinor by Shannon McNear
A Journey Full of Hope… Escape into a riveting story based on the mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke.
Author Shannon McNear portrays history with vivid authenticity.
In 1587, Elinor White Dare sailed from England heavy with her first child but full of hopes. Her father, a renowned artist and experienced traveler, has convinced her and her bricklayer husband Ananias to make the journey to the New World. Land, they are promised, more goodly and beautiful than they can ever imagine. But nothing goes as planned from landing at the wrong location, to facing starvation, to the endless wait for help to arrive. And, beyond her comprehension, Elinor finds herself utterly alone. . . . The colony at Roanoke disappeared into the shadows of history. But, what if one survived to leave a lasting legacy?
C Can’t Look Away by Carola Lovering
From the author of Tell Me Lies and Too Good to Be True comes a sexy new suspense about the kind of addictive, obsessive love that keeps you coming back––no matter how hard you try to look away.
In 2013, twenty-three-year-old Molly Diamond is a barista, dreaming of becoming a writer. One night at a concert in Brooklyn, she locks eyes with the lead singer, Jake Danner, and can’t look away. Molly and Jake fall quickly and deeply in love, especially after he writes a hit song about her that puts his band on the map.
Nearly a decade later, Molly has given up writing and is living in Flynn Cove, Connecticut with her young daughter and her husband Hunter—who is decidedly not Jake Danner. Their life looks picture-perfect, but Molly is lonely; she feels out of place with the other women in their wealthy suburb and is struggling to conceive their second child. When Sabrina, a newcomer in town, walks into the yoga studio where Molly teaches and confesses her own fertility struggles, Molly believes she’s finally found a friend.
But Sabrina has her own reasons for moving to Flynn Cove and befriending Molly. And as Sabrina’s secrets are slowly unspooled, her connection to Molly becomes clearer––as do secrets of Molly’s own, which she’s worked hard to keep buried.
Meanwhile, a new version of Jake’s hit song is on the radio, forcing Molly to confront her past and ask the ultimate questions: What happens when life turns out nothing like we thought it would, when we were young and dreaming big? Does growing up mean choosing with your head, rather than your heart? And do we ever truly get over our first love?
E Each of Us is a Universe by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo
A heartfelt middle grade novel about friendship with a touch of magic, perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Barbara O’Connor.
Ever since the day everything changed, Cal Scott has been running—from her mother’s cancer, from her father in prison, and from classmates who’ve never seemed to “get” her. The only thing Cal runs toward is Mt. Meteorite, named for the magical meteorite some say crashed there years ago. Cal plots to summit the mountain, so she can find the magic she believes will heal her mother. But no one has reached its peak—no one who’s lived to tell about it, anyway. Then Cal meets Rosine, a girl who’s faced her own impossibles and has a plan for the mountain and its magic. She convinces Cal they can summit its peak together. As the girls climb high and dig deep to face the mountain’s challenges, Cal learns from Rosine what courage looks like, and begins to wonder if the magic she’s looking for is the kind she needs.
M A Mirror Mended by Alix E.Harrow
USA Today bestselling author Alix E. Harrow returns to her world of Fractured Fables with a new version of Snow White that gives the Evil Queen what she deserves.
Zinnia Gray, professional fairy-tale fixer and lapsed Sleeping Beauty is over rescuing snoring princesses. Once you’ve rescued a dozen damsels and burned fifty spindles, once you’ve gotten drunk with twenty good fairies and made out with one too many members of the royal family, you start to wish some of these girls would just get a grip and try solving their own narrative issues.
Just when Zinnia’s beginning to think she can’t handle one more princess, she glances into a mirror and sees another face looking back at her: the shockingly gorgeous face of evil, asking for her help. Because there’s more than one person trapped in a story they didn’t choose. Snow White’s Evil Queen has found out how her story ends from what might be Zinnia’s own book of fairy tales and she’s desperate for a better ending. She wants Zinnia to help her and she needs to do it before it’s too late for everyone. Will Zinnia accept the Queen’s poisonous request, and save them both from the hot iron shoes that wait for them, or will she try another path?
B The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center’s next novel is unabashedly romantic, laugh-out-loud funny, and the perfect summer read.
She’s got his back. Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindgerten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka “bodyguard”), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker.
He’s got her heart. Jack Stapleton’s a household name—captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, famous for, among other things, rising out of the waves in all manner of clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. But a few years back, in the wake of a family tragedy, he dropped from the public eye and went off the grid.
They’ve got a secret. When Jack’s mom gets sick, he comes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah—against her will and her better judgment—finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover. Even though her ex, like a jerk, says no one will believe it.
What could possibly go wrong??? Hannah hardly believes it, herself. But the more time she spends with Jack, the more real it all starts to seem. And there lies the heartbreak. Because it’s easy for Hannah to protect Jack. But protecting her own, long-neglected heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done.
E Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
From international bestseller Thomas Olde Heuvelt comes Echo, a harrowing novel of obsession and the destructive force of nature.
Nick Grevers and his climbing buddy Augustin are drawn to the Maudit, a remote mountain peak in the Swiss Alps. Documentation on the mountain is scarce, its slopes are eerily quiet, and when they enter its valley, they get the ominous sense that they are not alone.
Something is waiting for them….
Not long after, Nick wakes from a coma to find Augustin dead. Nick’s face is maimed and wrapped in bandages. A long rehabilitation awaits, but Nick soon realizes that it isn’t just the trauma of the accident that haunts him.
Something has awakened inside him….
R The Red Palace by Jane Hur
A young palace nurse investigates a pattern of grisly murders in this romantic YA historical mystery from the author of The Silence of Bones.
Joseon (Korea), 1758. There are few options available to illegitimate daughters in the capital city, but through hard work and study, eighteen-year-old Hyeon has earned a position as a palace nurse. All she wants is to keep her head down, do a good job, and perhaps finally win her estranged father’s approval.
But Hyeon is suddenly thrust into the dark and dangerous world of court politics when someone murders eight palace nurses in a single night, and the prime suspect is Hyeon’s closest friend and mentor.
In her hunt for the truth, she encounters Eojin, a young police inspector also searching for the killer. When evidence begins to point to the Crown Prince himself, Hyeon and Eojin must work together to search the darkest corners of the palace to uncover the secrets behind the bloodshed.
Are these books on your tbr as well? If yes, why did you pick them?
Or perhaps you have already read them? If yes, did you like them?
Family secrets and fresh romance collide in this heart-pounding Richter series installment by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee.
Jacqueline “Jax” Simon knows how to expose secrets: she’s a skilled operative with MacBain Security and Solutions. When Jax hears her parents are divorcing, she races to London to find out why. She’s determined to learn the truth, especially when her investigation uncovers why her parents sent her to Richter, the German military school that made her a fighter.
Andrew Craig collects Jax at Heathrow Airport as a favor. He’s heard she’s a handful, but he didn’t know she’s dangerously gorgeous too. His instant attraction could change his life…or end it.
Jax doesn’t want to fall for Andrew, but soon he’s worming his way into her life. Together, they infiltrate Richter to discover if it has returned to its covert purpose: training children to be spies and assassins and blackmailing parents to look the other way. As the attraction between the two intensifies, so do the secrets exploding all around them. How deadly are those secrets—and who will survive?
Publisher: Montlake Publication Date: November 30th, 2021 365 pages Series: Richter (#3) 9781542029568, 1542029562 Previous books in the series: Changing Rules, A Thin Disguise.
My thoughts:
An Unexpected Distraction is the third book in Catherine Bybee’s addictive series that deals with former alumni of a super secretive military boarding school called Richter. The first book Changing Rules focused on Claire Kelly who was sent on an undercover mission to bust a child trafficking ring. I absolutely adored her best friend Jax Simon and couldn’t wait to read her story in An Unexpected Distraction.
All books in this fast-paced, gripping series can be read as standalones- a new reader gets enough background to understand how the protagonists are related to Richter, which for many years trained future spies, secret agents for various governments and private companies, and …assassins. We met one of them- Olivia Nought- in the second book A Thin Disguise. Claire and Jax were among the more fortunate ones- they were given a chance to be on the right side and good by working for Neil McBain’s Security and Solutions team. Neil was also the man behind exposing what was going on in Richter and sending the former headmistress Lodovica to prison. But the legacy of Richter still lives on and not all secrets have been revealed.
The book starts with Neil’s employees doing a teambuilding exercise- practising a scenario when one of them gets kidnapped. You get a good feeling of how how-close knit the team is and how much they trust each other. Then Jax gets a call from her brother Harry who is asking her to come to London and help him out with a family emergency.Things do not seem to add up and Jax’s professional skills are being called upon. All through this Jax is dealing with an unexpected distraction- her brother’s friend Andrew is gradually becoming more and more important to her and suddenly going back to her life in Californis doesn’t seem as appealing as it used to. As Neil reminds her, in Jax’s line of work distractions can be fatal, especially, since the case isn’t just about her own family, it has an unexpected connection to Richter.
I have to admit the first part of the book was unusually slow for what I’ve come to expect from Catherine Bybee. But then the pace picked up considerably in the second half and suddenly I was on the edge of my seat, gripped by the action-packed, thrilling finale.
The genre of romantic suspense calls for a fine balance of romance and mystery and Catherine Bybee is one of the best. Jax is a strong, independent woman, comfortable with her life choices, but even she has to deal with her own doubts and insecurities- do her family care for her and are just too reserved to show it? what is going to happen to her friendship with Claire now that Claire is getting married? Moving to California for work was a no-brainer for her given how much she loves her job and sunny weather, but does it mean there’s nothing tying her back to England? The book is written from Jax’s POV, so we do get to know Andrew only the way Jax sees him. Sometimes it felt as if there was only one protagonist and Andrew was just one of the secondary characters. Having said that, there are some very sweet and romantic moments interwoven with the mystery and its thrill.
While every book in the series is complete on its own, it’s clear there is more to the Richter story as the ending proves and I can’t wait to read the next instalment!
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Synopsis: Magic and I hadn’t exactly had a good start, but thanks to a spell that made me repulsive to men, I was seriously considering becoming a witch hunter.
A chance encounter with a charming stranger makes Phoebe dream of a happily-ever-after, until she learns that there’s a spell on her that makes her repulsive to men. Luckily her boss, Archibald Kane, and her new landladies are experts on magic. Only this one seems to confound them all.
Who has spelled her and why? Is it a challenge on Kane’s leadership of the mages? Or is there a more sinister game afoot?
Phoebe doesn’t mind the space men give her in the tube, but her cousin’s engagement party is coming up. How is she to celebrate, if she makes half the guests nauseous? And how is she to charm the man of her dreams when she suspects he’s part of the problem?
It might take the Archmage to break the spell—if only they could find him. A spell may be needed to save them both.
Publisher: Crimson House Books Publication Date: August 15th 2021 Amazon UK / Amazon US
My thoughts: Saved by the Spell is the second book in Susanna Shore’s new series of paranormal cozy myteries set in London. Earlier this year I reviewed the first book Hexing the Ex (this has got to be one of the most popular titles in the genre-hmm, I wonder what it says about the human nature…). We got introduced to the protagonist, Phoebe Thorpe, a recent graduate in History of arts who is working in an antiques shop. When her hapless flatmate floods their tiny flat, they get evicted and Phoebe has to look for a new place, which miraculously she finds on the same day. Even more miraculously, despite its premium location, this room above ‘a magic shop’ is something Phoebe can afford. Stranger things happened, but surely not in Central London…The landladies are very sweet, meals are included in the rent (you see what I mean?) and the flatmates all seem very friendly. Of course, our naive Phoebe has no idea she is about to enter the world of witches/mages/dangerous warlocks, vampires and werewolves- well, all the usual suspects are there, plus a hellhound or two. I don’t want to give away the mystery at the heart of Book 1 in case you want to start from the beginning of the series, but Phoebe does find out that somebody very close to her isn’t exactly what she thought they were and although there’s no romance as such in the book, there is plenty of potential for it.
I enjoyed reading Book 2 even more than the first one. Just when Phoebe starts thinking she might have had her own very special ‘meet cute’, she discovers a strange thing- she has become extremely repulsive to all men. This magic spell, which turns out to be usually cast by super-protective magical fathers (and a few jealous husbands as well), is making her work quite difficult – not only with the shop customers, but also with her boss Archibald Kane. Convenient as it is for giving her extraordinary amounts of physical space during her morning commute in public transport, the spell has to be broken. It soon becomes clear that the mystery goes beyond the romantic life (or lack of it) of one non-magical human, and what is at stake is a political leadership of London magical community.
There were quite a few twists (some were easier to predict and see through than the others) in this action-packed cozy. Phoebe continues to charm with her irresistible mix of innocence/naivety and desire to protect people around her. Her landladies, her flatmates Ashley and Luca, and, of course, the archi-gentleman Mr Kane are all unique characters that grow on you the further you get into the book.
Light, uncomplicated, clean, Saved by the Spell is great for anyone who loves paranormal mysteries and is looking for a quick read. Can’t wait for the next story in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crimson House Books for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
About the Author: Susanna Shore is an independent author of more than twenty books. She writes the Two-Natured London paranormal romance series, P.I. Tracy Hayes series of light mysteries set in Brooklyn, and House of Magic paranormal mystery series. She is also an author of some contemporary romances and thrillers.
You can find her on Twitter @SusannaShore and more about her books on her webpage susannashore.com, where you can also find short stories and a sign-up page to her newsletter.
Happy Publication Day to How Not To Fall in Love by Jacqueline Firkins!
From the Blurb:
A hardened cynic and a hopeless romantic teach each other about love in this swoony and heartful romance that’s perfect for fans of Tweet Cute and The Upside of Falling.
Harper works in her mom’s wedding shop, altering dresses for petulant and picky brides who are more focused on hemlines than love. After years of watching squabbles break out over wedding plans, Harper thinks romance is a marketing tool. Nothing more. Her best friend Theo is her opposite. One date and he’s already dreaming of happily-ever-afters. He also plays the accordion, makes chain mail for Ren Festers, hangs out in a windmill-shaped tree house, cries over rom-coms, and takes his word-of-the-day calendar very seriously.
When Theo’s shocked to find himself nursing his umpteenth heartbreak, Harper offers to teach him how not to fall in love. Theo agrees to the lessons, as long as Harper proves she can date without falling in love. As the lessons progress and Theo takes them to heart, Harper has a harder time upholding her end of the bargain. She’s also checking out her window to see if Theo’s home from his latest date yet. She’s even watching rom-coms. If she confesses her feelings, she’ll undermine everything she’s taught him. Or was he the one teaching her?
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
About the author:
Jacqueline Firkins is a playwright, screenwriter, and comics artist who’s been creating worlds and characters as a set and costume designer for the past twenty years. She’s on the fulltime faculty at the University of British Columbia where she also takes any writing class they’ll let her into. When not writing, drawing, or sewing, she can be found running by the ocean, listening to earnest love songs, and pretending her dog understands every word she says.
It’s Monday! What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, a place to share and discuss what we’ve read in the past week and what we’re in the middle of or are planning to read this week.
What I read / listened to last week:
Rich People Problems – the final instalment in the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. This was another brilliant buddy read with Yesha- check out her brilliant review of Rich People Problems, which provides a very insightful analysis of the writing, the characters, and the overall narrative arc. She defines this book as ‘bittersweet fiction’ and I couldn’t agree more.
What I am reading/listening to now:
Take me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off meets Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist in this romp through the city that never sleeps from the New York Times bestselling author of Since You’ve Been Gone, Morgan Matson.
Two girls. One night. Zero phones. Kat and Stevie—best friends, theater kids, polar opposites—have snuck away from the suburbs to spend a night in New York City. They have it all planned out. They’ll see a play, eat at the city’s hottest restaurant, and have the best. Night. Ever. What could go wrong?Well. Kind of a lot?
They’re barely off the train before they’re dealing with destroyed phones, family drama, and unexpected Pomeranians. Over the next few hours, they’ll have to grapple with old flames, terrible theater, and unhelpful cab drivers. But there are also cute boys to kiss, parties to crash, dry cleaning to deliver (don’t ask), and the world’s best museum to explore.
Over the course of a wild night in the city that never sleeps, both Kat and Stevie will get a wake-up call about their friendship, their choices…and finally discover what they really want for their future. That is, assuming they can make it to Grand Central before the clock strikes midnight.
What I’m reading /listening to next:
Darkness Falls (Kate Marshall #3) by Robert Bryndza. I jumped into this series from Book 2 Shadow Sands and now can’t wait to read the sequel.
Kate Marshall’s investigation into a journalist’s disappearance sends her down an unexpectedly twisted path in a riveting thriller by the author of Shadow Sands.
Kate Marshall’s fledgling PI agency takes off when she and her partner, Tristan Harper, are hired for their first big case. It’s a cold one. Twelve years before, journalist Joanna Duncan disappeared after exposing a political scandal. Most people have moved on. Joanna’s mother refuses to let go.
When Kate and Tristan gain access to the original case files, they revisit the same suspects and follow the same leads―but not to the same dead ends. Among Joanna’s personal effects, Kate discovers the names of two young men who also vanished without a trace.
As she connects the last days of three missing persons, Kate realizes that Joanna may have been onto something far more sinister than anyone first believed: the identity of a serial killer hiding in plain sight. The closer Kate comes to finding him, the darker it’s going to get.
How did your last week go and what are you reading this week?
Book & Author Details: A Christmas Love Song by Andee Reilly Publication date: November 8th 2021 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
He gave her a song. She gave him Christmas.
Once a huge pop star, Jake Wilder hasn’t written a hit song in over ten years. Stuck playing small-time venues where only his most dedicated fans remember him, a comeback seems improbable. But even those gigs are quickly drying up, and if Jake doesn’t do something soon, he’ll slide into permanent has-been oblivion. In a twist of fate, a record executive with a soft spot for retro artists, holds a competition in search of pop musicians to write a new Christmas classic.
Longing to become a serious and respected journalist, Mackenzie Stone scoffs at her latest assignment to write a profile about a washed-up pop singer. She would prefer to cover hard news rather than light stories assigned by her editor who seems unwilling to give her a chance. Determined to write a noteworthy story and at the same time prove herself, it’s up to Mackenzie to help inspire Jake to compose a Christmas classic.
As Jake struggles to overcome his anxieties and write a great song, Mackenzie digs for a story of substance. Together they find love while also discovering the true meaning of Christmas.
Mackenzie Stone stormed into her editor’s office at The Sunrise Press. “Mr. Hughes, you do realize I have a degree in journalism and political science.”
He let out a harsh breath. On several occasions, he’d asked her not to raise her voice, especially in front of the rest of the staff. Not that he’d ever fire her. She was hands down his best reporter.
There were exactly two things she hated: being told what to do and getting assigned fluff pieces.
“I’ve said it a million times.” He looked up from the plant he was watering. She admired his green thumb since she could barely keep her Chia pet alive.
“The political news comes straight from The Associated Press. Our focus is on community events and human-interest stories,” he said.
“And you think what’s going on in the rest of the world isn’t of human interest?” She slapped her hand on the desk for effect. He jumped. Too gentle to be in the cutthroat business of big league journalism in her opinion. Though The Sunrise Press was hardly big league. How he lasted over forty years at the paper was a miracle.
She took in a deep breath. Her father always said her temper would lead to trouble. There was also the whole red-headed stereotype. More than once she’d been called hot-headed and told it had something to do with her flaming red hair. This narrow-minded assumption usually irritated her even more.
“All I’m asking for is a serious story. I need something with grit.” Mr. Hughes set down the watering can and scratched his head, pushing his gray hair so it stood up in all directions. She stopped herself from smoothing the wayward strands and, while she was at it, straightening the sagging shoulders of his cardigan sweater. He was like the unkempt, sweet old grandfather she wished for as a kid.
He finally said, “Take it easy, Lois Lane. You’ll get your chance at the Pulitzer someday.”
She brushed off the Lois Lane comment. Profiling Superman would be a lot more interesting than the story he had assigned her. “The whole world’s going to pot, and you want me to profile some washed-up pop star named Jake Wilder?”
“Everybody loved him. You know that song,” he said. “‘We looked out at the city lights that night’,” he sang. “‘The connection we both felt, it seemed so right’.”
Not bad. She was getting too distracted and needed to drive the point home that nobody would care about this story. “Yeah, well I had to Google him, and so will the mere handful of people who may want to read about him.”
“Believe it or not, young lady, pop music didn’t begin with Lady Gaga, or whoever it is you’re listening to these days.”
“But there are plenty of washed-up stars to profile. Why him?” “I think the term you’re looking for is retro.” She imagined that’s how Mr. Hughes referred to himself as well. “If you Googled him, then you should know the answer,” he said. “He’s a local boy. Born and raised in Pasadena. Probably grew up right down the street from you.”
Her family knew everybody in their private, very exclusive neighborhood. She would’ve heard if they had a celebrity, even a former one, in their midst.
“He hasn’t even cinched the deal.” She’d been informed earlier about the details of the contest. Jake Wilder was only one of several artists competing for the shot. “His Christmas song could be a disaster and the story a huge waste of our time.”
“Let me worry about that,” Mr. Hughes said.
“This is so lame.” She slumped into the chair across from him. For five years she’d been compiling a portfolio of important stories that might land her a job at one of the major newspapers. This Jake Wilder nonsense wouldn’t make the cut.
“I got a call from Jake’s manager today. He said we’d have exclusive access to the whole process—from Jake accepting the challenge, to writing the song, to waiting for the call,” he said, punctuating every stage with an animated hand gesture. He was excited about the story, and she knew she’d lost the battle.
“I don’t even like Christmas.” She hoped he wouldn’t remember her desk was covered in Christmas decorations.
He leaned his head back and laughed. “Everybody around here knows the truth. You’re crazy about Christmas.”
Mackenzie had to admit. There was a story. She only had to dig it up.
Author Bio:
Andee Reilly was born and raised in Los Angeles. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of California, Riverside, Palm Desert. After many years of teaching writing and literature at California State University, Channel Islands, Andee moved to Maui to pursue her dream of teaching at the University of Hawaii, writing full-time, and surfing the beautiful waves of Hawaii. To learn more, visit http://www.andeereilly.com
Book & Author Details: East of Everywhere by Susan Pogorzelski Publication date: November 11th 2021 Genres: Coming of Age, Young Adult
Synopsis:
It’s been almost a decade since the end of the war, when the telegram first arrived at their house on Lennox Lane.
Four years since the apartment on Harker Street, where food was scarce and nights were long and their mother slept away her grief.
Three months since Janie was forced to leave her little brother, Brayden, and best friend, Leo, behind at Anthers Hall.
Two weeks since she stole a bicycle and ran away from the new children’s home on the other side of the state.
One day since she arrived in Montours City.
No one knows her secrets in this small town. If Janie is going to make it back to her brother and the only place she’s ever called home, she needs to keep it that way. But when a hard-hearted widow, a boy in a boxcar, and a dog named Panda weave their way into her life, Janie begins to wonder if what she’s searching for isn’t better off laid to rest.
Susan Pogorzelski is the award-winning author of Gold in the Days of Summer and The Last Letter. When she’s not writing novels of nostalgia and the magic of everyday life, she works as a consultant and editor at Brown Beagle Books, is an intuitive energy practitioner at Susan Dawn Spiritual Connections, and is the founder of LymeBrave Foundation. She lives in South-Central Pennsylvania with her beloved family and pets.
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