THE GOOD GIRL by Mary Kubica ✆ Cove Podcast: Episode 67

Greetings! 

This month's episode features Cove members Millenia and Roberta discussing the June 2016 Cove pick, THE GOOD GIRL by Mary Kubica—pick #187! 

✘✘✘ Have you read THE GOOD GIRL? Do you agree or disagree with our thoughts? Comment below and let us know what you think!

*Spoilers abound. Podcast is for those who've read the book.



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★ Blog Tour ★ A MATCH MADE IN HERITAGE VIEW by Annie Stiles — Author Interview + Excerpt + Amazon Giveaway!



*Enter to Win* 
a $10.00 Amazon eGift Card...
TWO (2) Winners!!




(Heritage View #1)
by Annie Stiles

Release Date: May 4, 2016
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing



Synopsis:

A socialite by chance not by choice, Gen runs away to a charming small town to reinvent herself as the girl-next-door and falls in love under false pretenses.

Despite having been raised by a man-eating, social-climbing mother, Genevieve Garnier is a hopeless romantic. She has successfully parlayed her sentimental nature into a prestigious Manhattan wedding planning business, but cannot make it down the aisle herself.

As another hectic wedding season winds down, Gen finds herself burned out and at a crossroads in life. She retreats to the charming Hudson Valley town of Heritage View to reinvent herself as girl-next-door “Jane,” complete with a charming cottage and apple pies baking in the oven. Gen is determined to simplify her life in Heritage View and keep her wedding business humming, without letting the two worlds collide. Michael Carlisle waltzes in and turns her plans upside down.

Michael is smart and successful, with enough guarded-heart intensity and magnetism to curl any woman’s toes. He stays out of the social fray in Manhattan, so he doesn’t recognize Jane as socialite wedding planner Genevieve. It’s a good thing, because he hates pampered socialites and avoids them nearly as much as he avoids girl-next-door types. That leaves our heroine 0-for-2. To make matters worse, it turns out that Michael is dear friends with the Hunter family, “Jane’s” new best friends. He has relationship baggage of his own to battle, but Michael can’t seem to stay away from Jane.

Will they repeat the mistakes of the past?





*INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR*

Annie Stiles!


Annie, congrats on your sweet, contemporary romance debut, A MATCH MADE IN HERITAGE VIEW! You’ve said that Heritage View is a fictitious town, loosely based on the area where you grew up. Can you tell us a little bit about how it came to be?

A: I grew up in the picturesque Hudson Valley of New York State. It’s an area that is near and dear to my heart. The region is rich with history and boasts lots of interesting, quirky towns that have great heritage and character. The tone can be quite varied, I think due to the influence of New York City blending with the flavors of New England and Upstate New York. They all come together in a really special way. That eclectic quality made it perfect for the creation of a fictitious town that I’ve begun to populate with wonderful characters. The setting has become one of the characters and I’m looking forward to sharing and exploring more of Heritage View as the series progresses.

Did you always want to write romance?

A: Yes and no. I’d say it was more of a daydream because I had a whimsical, fantasy idea of what that meant. I somehow saw it as separate from real life and college, jobs, getting married, and buying a house. It was a charming wish or a secret that I carried around in a little pocket in my heart labeled “maybe someday.” I joined RWA several years ago, not really understanding what it was all about. I started a book that was a version of what this one would later become. I got about ten minutes into it and then we started our family and that was that...or so I thought. I can’t explain it, but I wasn’t ready. After our youngest child started school, something changed and I suddenly felt ready. I sat down and wrote the book fairly quickly from scratch. It felt like a switch had been flipped and my heart was ready. I took the dream out of my pocket, dusted it off, and I’m on my way. It’s been a pleasure, and I’m very fortunate that my first novel has been published.

When you are not writing, and you have a free moment to read, what do you like to pick up?

A: Hmm. I am pretty devoted to the romance genre, though I also enjoy more book-club type fiction and historical fiction, as long as it isn’t too angsty. I don’t do scary movies or scary books. At this stage of life with young kids and hectic days, I tend to read right before bed. I’m usually half-asleep and I want to relax and be entertained. I love historical romance. Right now, Eloisa James and Lisa Kleypas are auto-buys for me. They are deliciously escapist and entertaining reads, but the writing is really sharp, intelligent and crisp. I have a huge TBR pile, but don’t we all? I’m the only person I know who hasn’t read any J.D. Robb books and I’m looking forward to starting them soon. For comforting, atmospheric books, Rosamund Pilcher and Marcia Willett are fantastic. I go through phases and I’m prone to glomming. I’m trying to organize my “read/to-read” list on Goodreads now. So much better than little scraps of paper all over the house.

What type of audience is best for A MATCH MADE IN HERITAGE VIEW?

A: Can I say mushy people? No? How about sentimental people? The optimistic dreamers, looking for a bit of a cozy, relaxing way to spend an afternoon. It isn’t real life per se, it’s life the way you might wish it could be. The houses are a bit quainter, the characters are a bit more charming, the problems are a bit easier to solve than in real life. It is your favorite squishy chair, or a chat with that old friend who knows you so well. It is an ideal story for the beach or lazing by the pool this summer.

What are you working on next?

A: I’ve finished Book 2 in the series and I’m polishing it now to submit to my editor. I’ll start Book 3 this summer.

Thank you for sitting down with us!





“The way you’re wielding that wooden spoon, I can see that I’ve startled you.” He held his hands up in mock surrender, the twinkle in his eyes making way for a smile that completely spoiled his attempt at appearing contrite. “I mean no harm. You have no cause to spoon me to death.” He was teasing her openly now, and Jane stifled the unwelcome romantic image that he’d just unwittingly conjured. 
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” With a nervous chuckle, she lowered the spoon she was still unconsciously grasping. “Force of habit, I’m afraid. I’m from the city.” Why had she told him that? Wasn’t incognito her goal? Clearly, the FBI wouldn’t be soliciting her for undercover work anytime soon. She smoothed her disheveled apron moaning internally at the cheesy move in light of his obvious sophistication. Buck up, camper, you are acting like a freshman in high school. 
“Ah, yes. I should have recognized the paranoia and aggression. Comes with the territory, huh? Whereabouts?” 
At her blank expression, he prompted, “Where are you from?” 
“Where? Err, New York.” So much for witty repartee. Good grief. Really, Gen? 
His smile was openly curious and more than a hint amused, the effect so potent as to be more than a bit butterfly inducing. Her brain sounded an alarm of recognition. Her heart began to sink. Not particularly original, but clichéd or not, butterflies in her stomach were her own early-warning system. Butterflies in the stomach were not technologically advanced and rather akin to plucking petals from a daisy in sophistication but nevertheless, flawlessly accurate at predicting trouble of the masculine variety. Did women still swoon nowadays? Swooning was like fainting, right? She’d have to remember to look it up. Gen had read about swooning women a million times, but this was the first time in her life she had understood the impulse. 
“Yeah, the city.” He winked at her. “I think we’ve established that.” 
“I—” 
“Let’s start over.” He moved forward a step and held out his hand to her. “Hi, Jane. I’m Michael.”


** BUY EXCLUSIVELY ON AMAZON! **




Annie Stiles was practically born with a book in her hand, but the writing came later.

A daydreamer by nature, Annie always secretly wanted to be a romance novelist. It wasn’t until her youngest child started kindergarten that she buckled down and turned that dream into reality. She is fascinated by characters on the page and in real life, and talks with her hands so much that people have been known to duck.

When not on her laptop, she likes to putter in her garden. Annie lives in the beautiful Capital-Saratoga region of New York State with her college sweetheart husband and their two children. They are all owned by two cats.

Annie writes satisfying, character-driven contemporary romance. Rose-colored glasses are standard issue.






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SAVING ABBY by Steena Holmes ★ Book Review ★


by Steena Holmes
Publication Date: May 31, 2016
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Paperback: 272 pages

Synopsis:

All children’s book illustrator Claire Turner ever wanted was to be a mother. After six years of trying to conceive, she and her husband, Josh, have finally accepted that she will never be pregnant with a child of their own.

Yet once they give up hope, the couple gets the miracle they’ve been waiting for. For the first few months of her pregnancy, Claire and Josh are living on cloud nine. But when she begins to experience debilitating headaches, blurred vision, and even fainting spells, the soon-to-be mother goes to the doctor and receives a terrifying diagnosis. Since any treatment could put their unborn baby’s life at risk, the Turners must carefully weigh their limited options. And as her symptoms worsen, Claire will have to make an impossible decision: Save her own life, or save her child’s?

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Steena Holmes brings us an unforgettable story of one woman’s courage and love.

Praise:
"What a wonderful read! The characters are so lovable and the plot with its twist and turns keeps you guessing." —Joyful, Amazon Reviewer


*Cove Member Nicole Reviews*

SAVING ABBY!


Claire and Josh have an incredible marriage, a joint career writing and illustrating children's books and a passion for travel that unfolds throughout the book. 
The one thing they are missing, that they believe would make their lives complete, is a baby. 
Many months and frustrating cycles later they are rewarded with a pregnancy that starts off rocky and creates some health questions for Claire that unfold and test all of the relationships in the book. 
To protect her unborn baby, Claire is forced to make some very trying decisions that will affect their lives from there on out. 
I thought Ms. Holmes writing was fantastic, but the story was a little slow going in the beginning. As we learn about Claire's medical issues and the discussions around how to proceed for the sake of all involved, it picks up. 
The ending was not a surprise at all but the story is told well and wraps up with a warm feeling, even though you might not like how it ends. 
I can recommend this novel and I'll definitely be looking for more from this author in the future!



*BUY LINKS*




About the Author

After writing her first novel while working as a receptionist, Steena Holmes made her dream of being a full-time writer a reality. She won the National Indie Excellence Book Award in 2012 for her bestselling novel Finding Emma.

Now both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Steena continues to write stories that touch every parent’s heart in one way or another.

To find out more about her books and her love for traveling, you can visit her website at www.steenaholmes.com or follow her journeys over on Instagram @steenaholmes.



LITTLE BLACK LIES by Sharon Bolton ✆ Cove Podcast: Episode 66

Greetings! 

This month's episode features Cove members Millenia and Roberta discussing the May 2016 Cove pick, LITTLE BLACK LIES by Sharon Bolton—pick #186! 

✘✘✘ This book has a very disturbing theme of missing, abused and murdered children...

Have you read LITTLE BLACK LIES? Do you agree or disagree with our critiques? 

Comment below and let us know your thoughts!

*Spoilers abound. Podcast is for those who've read the book.




👉 Download Audio 👈