The Mother I Never Had by Gary Goldstein

About the book: 

Pub date:  10/11/22

It's tough enough for L.A. landscape designer Nate Cronin when his professor father, Jim, who raised him alone since birth, dies, leaving Nate an orphan at thirty years old. But when the provocative and mysterious Amy enters Nate’s life soon after, it sends him on a devastating journey to unravel the truth about his past, the veracity of Amy’s claims, and the history of the father he adored.

At the same time, Nate must come to terms with his commitment to his longtime girlfriend, Jennifer, a dance instructor whose patience with the resistant Nate frays as she attempts to help him navigate the psychological minefield set off by Amy’s arrival.

The Mother I Never Had asks readers to consider what they would do if they found themselves faced with a parent they never knew existed—and if they could accept the secrets and lies that kept her away for a lifetime. 

MY THOUGHTS

 Guys… I loved this book! ❤️ This is a book that captivates you from the very first page. Nate’s journey was not only heartbreaking… but it was so darn real. Nate is such a well developed character that I felt I knew him….

You are just living your life… making your way as an L.A. landscaper 🪴… you have your adorable dog Cody… which of course all the girls love.. 🐕… then life hits with a curveball… your father is ripped from your life…your longtime girlfriend is calling it quits..😬… and you find a new woman entering your life… one you NEVER saw coming..😳

The writing is amazing. I can’t even exactly put my finger on it .. but it is so easy to read this book.. it was like I was sitting and chatting with my dude Nate. 🤷‍♀️ In fact.. I didn’t even realize how emotionally invested I was until the end.. when I found myself having anxiety as I waited to see how this was going to unfold… I loved how this wrapped up. 😉

Such an amazing journey of life.. love.. loss… secrets 🤫… I found myself not wanting this story to end… you can bet I will be picking up @garygoldsteinla debut The Last Birthday Party! 🥳

About The Author:

Gary Goldstein is an award-winning writer for film, TV, and the theatre with more than thirty produced screen and stage credits. The New York native and longtime L.A. resident has also been a contributing film reviewer and arts feature writer for the Los Angeles Times since 2007. His first novel, the romantic comedy The Last Birthday Party, won a 2022 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for Excellence in Fiction.

Read more about Gary at www.GaryGoldsteinLA.com.

Twitter - https://twitter.com/GaryGoldsteinLA

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Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins

 

About the book: 

Publication date 10/25/22

In Marlowe Banks, Redesigned, Jacqueline Firkins wonderfully captures the messiness of failure, forgiveness, and embracing a second chance on life and love.

Marlowe Banks’s life has come apart at the seams. Her engagement ended abruptly. Her latest costume design was shredded by critics. Her student loans are overdue. Her parents have never been more disappointed. Desperate to hide from her failures, Marlowe flees New York City to embrace invisibility in Los Angeles as a menial Production Assistant on a popular TV show. While sorting socks and taking care of her boss’ spoiled Weimaraner, no one can confront her poor artistic choices or the end of her engagement, the end her ex refuses to accept.

When a costume mix-up requires Marlowe to step into in a scene, the camera catches a heated look between her and Angus Gordon, the show's arrogant bad boy, thrusting Marlowe into the spotlight. As the pair is forced together on set, Marlowe learns she's not the only one hiding. Walls come down for both of them, revealing a life Marlowe isn't sure she's ready for, and when her past comes calling, she has to decide if she's going to stay invisible or if it's time for a redesign. 

MY THOUGHTS 

Absolutely adorable!! He’s a 10 but…. Ummm but nothing!! 🤷‍♀️ Angus is a 10 inside and out!! Thank you @stmartinspress @smpromance for my gifted copy and introducing me to my newest book boyfriend!! ❤️ This book is absolutely adorable!! Publication date is October 25th!

Soo it’s the middle of spooky season and I am just over here reading a rom com! 🤫🤷‍♀️ I just couldn’t wait to start this one … guys… I absolutely loved it!! 😍

Marlowe decides her life is literally falling apart and it’s time to make a change… so off to Los Angeles she goes… leaving her problems and her ex behind… ✌️

She lands a job as a production assistant… and finds herself face to face with badboy Angus Gordon…. he’s 🔥🔥🔥 and he knows it!! 😎 Marlowe can’t stand to be around him… yet she can’t stand to be away… 😏… is there more to Angus than meets the eye? 😉

I LOVED both of these characters!! They are so well developed that I felt like I knew both!! I adored the banter and wit!! I really didn’t want it to end! ❤️ 5 cute as can be stars!! ⭐️ This is my first @jfkillsdarlings book and now I definitely need to read her other books!! 😍

❤️❤️ Is this on your list?? Do you love a good witty banter? Do you have a book boyfriend?? Do tell!!! Your secret is safe with me!! 🤫

Jacqueline's a writer, costume designer, and lover of beautiful things. She's on the fulltime faculty in the Department of Theatre & Film at the University of British Columbia where she also takes any writing class they’ll let her into. When not obsessing about where to put the buttons or the commas, she can be found running by the ocean, eating excessive amounts of gluten, listening to earnest love songs, and pretending her dog understands every word she says.

Home Sweet Christmas by Susan Mallery

About the book: 

Pub date: 10/5/22

With twinkling humor and heartfelt Christmas spirit, two friends find love in a town called Wishing Tree…

Until Camryn Neff can return to her “real” life in Chicago, she’s in Wishing Tree to care for her twin sisters. She’s not looking for forever love, not here. But handsome hotelier Jake Crane is a temptation she can’t resist, so she suggests they pair up for the season. No golden rings, no broken hearts. At his side, she sees her hometown through Christmas-colored eyes. The cheer is cheerier, the joy more joyful. She thought she had put her future on hold…but maybe her real life was here all along, waiting for her to come home.

New in town, River Best is charmed by Wishing Tree’s homespun traditions and warmhearted people. When she’s crowned Snow Queen, she’s honored but wary. Dylan Tucker, her king, seems like the stuff of sugarplum dreams, but she can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something big. As they perform their “royal” duties—tasting cookies, lighting trees—Dylan’s good humor and melty kisses draw her to the brink of love. But she can’t let herself fall until she uncovers his secret, even if her lack of faith means losing him forever.

My thoughts

That’s it!!! I am packing up and moving to the town of Wishing Tree ! 🌲 I am absolutely in LOVE with this book!! Huge shoutout to @hqnbooks @htpbooks for this gorgeous gifted copy!! 🥰 Pub date was this past Tues!! 10/4! Seriously… you will want to add this to your holiday reading list!! 🎄🧣 ⛄️

This small town had my heart ❤️ from the very first page! Can I crawl into this book and live?? Please?! 😂 Not only was the town full of all the right feels… the characters were all so likable! ❤️

Ultra wealthy Helen is determined to find a wife for her son Jake… um trust me.. hottie 🔥 Jake probably doesn’t need her help..😂 .. anyways🤷‍♀️… Helen launches Project Jake’s Bride 👰‍♀️… and let the fun begin! I adored Helen and LOVED her mettling!! 😉

What else did I love??? How about a Snow ❄️ King 👑 and Queen 👸…Cookie Tuesdays?? 🍪 A heartwarming story of a family coming together after the loss of their mother… a rescue dog 🐕 named Tinsel… Jake Crane 🔥… Okay.. I admit I may have a new book boyfriend..😂 I am a bit obsessed with Jake..🤫🤷‍♀️

I really couldn’t have loved ❤️ this book any more. I closed the book and felt so… good … it’s such a fun, heartwarming story that just made my heart happy!!

I seriously can’t get enough of @susanmallery books!! I want to read her entire backlist!! Do you have a favorite that I should add? I adored The Christmas Wedding Guest last year. ❤️

❤️❤️❤️ Is this on your holiday TBR? Do you ever just want to crawl into a book? THIS TOWN!! I LOVE it!! What is your favorite cookie?🍪 I could totally get onboard with cookie Tuesdays!! 😉

Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.

Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.