Interview with Author Sarah Dass

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I just love bringing these author interviews to you. And I was so excited to interview Sarah Dass especially after reading her debut Where the Rhythm Takes You. It was sweet, sensual, summer fun. And if your missing traveling this one takes you to the beautiful island of Tobago. So check out this interview and get to know the author behind the book, read my review, and go place your order!

What was life like growing up in Tobago?

I think it must be like living in a lot of places. You go to school, learn, get a job, go to work… but Tobago is also quiet and small. It can sometimes feel cut off from the rest of the world. When I was growing up, it could get boring. I’ve come to like how peaceful it is now though, and I’ve realized that I had a pretty good childhood even if I didn’t appreciate it at the time.

Have you tried any of the more touristy activities like horseback riding or jet skiing? 

I have done horseback riding on the beach. No jet skiing though. There’s a lot I haven’t tried yet. I guess, it’s that silly mindset of it’s right there. I’ll get to it eventually.

Where did you get your love of reading and writing from?

My family is full of readers. There were a lot of books in our house when I was growing up. My parents were also really supportive of my writing. I think it would’ve been impossible for me not to pick it up.

What is Where the Rhythm Takes You about?

Where the Rhythm Takes You is a YA contemporary retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion set in Tobago.

In the story, seventeen-year-old Reyna gets a second chance at first love when her childhood best friend, Aiden comes roaring back into her life. He’s now one-third of the hottest music group, DJ Bacchanal, and a VIP guest at the sea-side hotel Reyna’s family owns. 

Since her mother passed away two years earlier, Reyna has been trying to fill the space her mom left by running the hotel. But Aiden’s return, after pursuing his music dreams abroad, forces Reyna to take a second look at the choices she’s made and she must decide whether to continue living for the past or follow her own dreams, wherever they take her.

How did you go about pitching Where the Rhythm Takes You?

The idea for the book came from a conversation with my agent. Persuasion is one of my all-time favorite books, so I loved the idea to retell it and set it in my home country. It took about a year and a half to write and revise before we submitted it to editors.

During your writing process did you ever feel like you had to change the setting or make it more palatable for the US audience?    

While writing the book, I was conscious of the fact that I intended to publish in the US, so there were certain times that I stopped to explain something I wouldn’t have otherwise. But I also tried to keep the setting as true to my experience growing up in Tobago as possible. I feel like this is a tricky line to walk, but I do think it should be up to the author in circumstances like this to determine their way of navigating it. They should definitely not be pressured by their agents or publishers to make something more palatable. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case for me with this book.

 

Did you base the resort in Where the Rhythm Takes You off a specific resort? I personally was picturing the Magdalena while reading. 

I had a few different resorts in mind when I wrote it. The Magdalena was one of them. 

What are your favorite recent reads?

Don't Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno, Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson, and I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day

Let's talk romance, what’s your dream date?

Probably something outdoors, like a walk through the botanical gardens.

You seem to enjoy gardening as well, Is this a new love or a long time hobby?

It’s an old hobby that I’ve picked up again. I’m really enjoying it, especially because I hadn’t realized how much of my time has been centered around my day job or author-related activities. It’s been good to have a hobby that’s separate from my writing.

If a genie offered you three wishes what would you wish for?

1. A way to instantly get story ideas out of my head and onto the page, and have it be just as brilliant as I imagined, no revisions required.

2. The ability to sing like Mariah Carey

3. The power of teleportation

Are you able to give us a preview for your next project?

Sure! It’s a Much Ado About Nothing retelling set in Trinidad. It’s not a direct sequel, but it’s in the same fictional universe as Where the Rhythm Takes You. Some familiar characters may pop up. Please look out for it!

You can follow Sarah Dass on Twitter @SarahDassAuthor and please pre-order this book! It releases May 11th, 2021! 

Pleasure Under the Sun by Lindsay Evans

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm back with another romance review. April has been a big romance reading month for me with 6 out of 12 books read being romance. That being said I'm going to jump into other genres for a bit so this will probably be my last romance review for awhile. I've discovered Hoopla has a decent amount of backlist Black romance from Harlequin and I'm a sucker for sexy Black folk on a cover.

Pleasure Under the Sun was my first read by Lindsay Evans and upon further reading it was also her debut book. I came in expecting a whirlwind romance story with exotic locals and lots of opulence. I wouldn't really call Seven a playboy.  He has money but he's very humble about it and was instead tagging along with a much wealthier friend who was throwing elaborate parties with harems of women.

I expected insta-lust but Seven was doing the most to try and woo financial advisor Bailey Hughes. He was smitten the moment he met her and inviting himself back the same day to her office uninvited with an impromptu picnic. He convinced himself they were destined to have a future together from day 1 and I just never quite saw it.

Bailey was reluctant about jumping into a new relationship after her last one crashed and burned. Her late parents were artists and she had a lot of hang-ups about her lack of a stable childhood. So she threw herself into work with the goal of becoming partner at the firm to gain financial stability. And she's known for being very closed off and at sometimes cold. I thought this was valid but neither her sister nor Seven seemed to truly understand. And her issues were often brought up but written in a way like she should just get over it. I didn't think this book had the depth to tackle that especially in such a short amount of time.

Seven meets Bailey's visiting sister by randomly seeing her walk by a café he's sitting at and her sister just decides to play matchmaker and they come up with this elaborate plan to basically kidnap her and force her on a private Caribbean cruise. Seven makes her think she's going to a charity event for a mutual friend when he arranged instead of them to take a the yacht to a location he doesn't disclose. She puts up a fight for a couple of hours before just accepting it. 

I just could not get behind the romance. They barely knew each other but he took her to meet and stay with his family in Jamaica like that was normal. It was odd to have this forced family time in between what felt like a very casual sex type of situation. And all the sex scenes were written like, "I shouldn't, but I must! And I'm angry but I can't resist!" And then there was this unnecessary set of scenes where his twin brother's woman tried to fight her. Seven just came across as very controlling but it was brushed off because he's Jamaican. And I felt like Bailey was a boss who had to dim her light and conform for a man.

I just couldn't gel with this book because it seemed unsure of what it wanted to be and I felt like the character development was unequal between them despite both having POVs. This book wanted to be deeper than it was but the writing wasn't there to hit the mark.

Amber Undercover by Em Norry

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm back with a middle grade release by a Biracial UK author. I've mentioned before that I've read very few books by BAME authors and that I feel most of the ones circulated in the US are memoirs and/or stories about race. Luckily buying online means gaining access to books we wouldn't be able to otherwise. 

This story follows Amber Roberts your average teen who spends time going to school and hanging with her best mate Vi. One day Vi and Amber do a trial run for a new escape room and Amber is called back after the company is impressed with her performance. The reveal the escape room as a front for The Agency and reveal they'd like to train her to become a spy. 

At the same time Amber's parents reveal that they're  having another child. After spending 14 yrs as an only child and being assured she doesn't need siblings it's a drastic change for her. Already she feels they're pushing her away to make room for the new baby. Having trouble grappling her feelings she copes by distancing herself from her mother.

Then her best friend Vi is suddenly friends with her nemesis and she feels like her friendship is breaking down. While at the same time Vi is jealous Amber never has time for her anymore. 

Immediately thrust into this new world of special gadgets and secret trainings, Amber is surprised when she's assigned her first real mission so soon. She's to post as a student at a special school for gifted students in Norway. The girl who has never been outside her hometown gets to spend three weeks out of the country working undercover. Of course she's not too happy when she gets assigned a babysitter in the form of Luca, another teen agent who has been with the agency for four years. Amber has to get out of her comfort zone while trying to fit in at this school among the children of the wealthiest people in Europe. 

This easy read is perfect for the age 10-12 crowd. It's fun escapism that's not trying to send heavy handed messages. Though the ending was a little quick for my liking it had a very episodic feel that left room to expand this into a series if a series isn't already in the works. 

Forbidden Promises by Synithia Williams

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm working on reading at least one book I own from the backlist a month and this was one I got as a free download last year. It sounded messy from the synopsis so I was intrigued.

Youngest daughter India Robidoux has returned just as her brother Byron is kicking off his campaign for senate. She's in between jobs and visiting her family for the first time in awhile. Papa Robidoux is the patriarch dead set on controlling the family image and running his children's lives. It's business before everything else and he wants India to stick around and help make her brother's image look good. The only problem is India will have to work with her brother's best friend Travis who also happens to be her sister's ex husband and her first love. 

As someone who used to watch soap operas on and off from age 11 or 12 up until a few years ago you can tell how much Synithia is a fan. I gave up on soaps because I got tired of the lack of diversity and I ran out of couples to root for. And ironically dove further into romance books to give me what I needed. But I was always more invested in individual couples vs family dynamics. If you watched soaps for the complicated family drama than you'll love this one.

This one is set in The South and Grant Robidoux was giving me Black JR while this book was giving me Dallas vibes remake vibes(the original was before my time but I did see some of it in reruns). Between Grant's constant meddling in his children's love lives and his mistress' presence, Byron getting engaged to strengthen his image for the election, Elaina's drinking problem and trouble at their family's tobacco company, and Travis' complicated relationship with his parents; there's no lack of drama.

It's not uncommon at all for couples to get together after being related through marriage or even sharing half siblings. That type of set up isn't really something I've read in books so I was curious to see how she'd tackle it.

This was actually a very slow burn second chance romance. India and Travis tip-toed around each other for much of the book fighting the pull to be together because they didn't want to hurt her sister Elaina. At first I wasn't rooting for them to be together. It was clear Elaina hadn't emotionally moved on from the marriage even though she and Travis constantly stated they never loved each other. And there still seemed to be a bit of spark between them. It also didn't help that they were married for five years. I felt more could've been explored with why they stayed together for so long. 

But then closer towards the end of the story after an out of town getaway they finally clicked for me. I felt the chemistry while they bonded doing fun activities and started to believe in their love and friendship.

I did listen to some of this via audiobook so I could listen on work breaks and the narration was killing me softly. Those "Southern" accents especially for the men weren't it! She would do this deep raspy gravely voice. 

All in all this kept me entertained with the constant moving pieces and was a fairly quick read.

Wake: The Hidden History of Women Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall Illustrated by Hugo Martinez

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! One of my 2021 goals is to incorporate more non fiction into my reading. And that's not always easy. I'm not a big memoir person. The Meaning of Mariah Carey was an exception. And I still haven't read Becoming. But the title and cover alone had me itching to find out what this was about.

Dr. Rebecca Hall is a scholar, activist, and educator. Wake is her journey while earning her PHD where she sought to discover more about the forgotten women during slavery who played a key part in revolts. Despite historians believing that Black women were no threat she understands that Black women have always been resilient force to be reckoned with. Scouring old court records, newspaper articles, slave ship logs, insurance policies and other correspondence she sets out to uncover the stories of these women.

I particularly enjoyed the chapter about her trip to England. As she notes the British always try to ignore away their colonial past even though the products of colonialism are still evident everywhere. As a Black person from the US she is treated better than her Black British counterparts. However when she approaches Lloyd's of London she is met with resistant when attempting to access their records as the company tries to hide their ties as an insurer during slavery. The same Lloyd's of London that finally decided after last summer's protests to now seek out an archivist to examine it's artefacts for links to the slave trade. As Britain continues to pretend racism no longer exists there we need to continue to bring attention to the facts.

The lack of written history where these women are referred to as woman #1 or #2 often means piecing together what we know about their origins and making our own inferences. Although the past is painful it's important to keep these stories alive and give these people the respect and reverence they deserve but were never afforded. This graphic novel format makes it easier to consume this history in a way just seeing the written words on the page alone would not. The art style is as raw as the history it explores and engaging throughout. 

I received an arc from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review. 

Interview with Joya Goffney

 Welcome Back, Booklovers! You know I love doing these author interviews and with so many great books by Black authors releasing over the next few months I'm happy to put some new books on your radar. So today I'd like to introduce you to Joya Goffney who has a book Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry debuting on May 4. 

In your own words what is Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry about?

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry is about a compulsive list maker who’s so afraid of change that she writes lists of her fears, rather than facing them. Once her list journal goes missing, and an anonymous blackmailer forces her to face those fears, she and Carter—the last known person to have her journal—journey through everything she’s been avoiding for the past couple of months, everything she’s been lying about. Along the way, they grow together as a couple and as individuals. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry is about facing change and forcing change and growth. It’s about letting yourself ugly cry through the bad stuff but getting right back up to fight. It’s about love and boundaries and trust.

 

What is an ugly cry for the people who don’t know?

Everyone has ugly cried at least once in their life. It is a cry that is quite literally ugly. A cry of frustration, desperation, fury, or despair that takes over your entire face—so much so that you can’t control the pulling of your lips outward and the drool that spills out of your mouth and the snot pouring from your nostrils or the sounds scratching up your throat. It’s crying so hard you can’t breathe. It’s crying so hard that you don’t care how unattractive you look.

When was the last time you ugly cried?

It’s been a long while—and that’s not to say that I haven’t needed to ugly cry, but I just haven’t let myself break down like that in a long time. I tend to save my ugliest cries for the shower, and usually it’s stress that makes me buckle. I always call it something else though—find some other unfortunate reason to cry about—but it’s nothing but stress.

Quinn is finding her stride as a Black girl in a very white environment and learning to stand up and speak out against microaggressions. Why was it important to include that in this story?

 

I studied (Black) social psychology pretty heavily when I was in college. There’s a model of Nigrescence developed by William E. Cross Jr that suggests Black people go through five stages in development of their Black identity. Of course, it’s only a theory—I am not suggesting in any way that this model applies to all Black people. However, I personally refer to this model a lot when writing new characters—I ask myself, which stage is this character in, currently, and where will they eventually end up?

At the start of the book, Quinn had recently stopped talking to her best friend Destany, because of some unknown reason. After reading the book, and after reading over the stages of Nigrescence, it is quite obvious that Quinn was in the ‘encounter’ stage. Chase’s party was like a wake-up call for her. Previous to the party, the racist things her friends would say kind of flew over her head.

 

It was important for me to include this aspect of the book, because I feel like it took me so long to finally ‘encounter’ my race, to finally wake up—because, yes, I would notice racist things, but back then it was like they somehow didn’t apply to me. It was literally like I was asleep. I feel like if I had been able to read a book like this earlier on, maybe my eyes would have opened a little sooner. When I was in high school, there weren’t books with Black girls on the cover. So I’m beyond honored to be a part of the current wave—to be able to supply some of the books I wish I could have read as a teenager.

 

I really love the lists that are present throughout the book. Do you have a bucket list or list of things to do before a certain age?

 

I actually don’t—not currently. In high school, I would write a single list per year of things I wanted to accomplish. Sometimes the lists would have these big, important items, like get my first kiss, but a lot of the times the items were stupid little dares—like go a whole day without speaking. Why? I have no idea!

 

Currently, I’m just living my life. Not really challenging myself, because life feels pretty challenging as it is, but maybe I should pick it back up? Maybe I should make a current to-do list of challenges/fears/dreams and start making a change for the better.

 

What was it like growing up in a small town in East Texas?

 

My experience growing up in New Waverly, I’m sure, was different than other kids there. I was particularly sheltered. I had never left Texas until I was in my early twenties. I’ve never been on a plane, either. And being from a small town, I grew up surrounded by the same faces for eighteen years. I had no idea that I didn’t know how to make friends until I went to university in Austin—completely alone. When I got there, my dad dropped me at my dorm, and then it was just me. I didn’t know where to go for food. I only ate tiny bags of chips for a couple of days, holed up in my dorm, until I got too hungry to bear it. I blame small town life for my social anxiety.

 

But it wasn’t all bad. I found my people in New Waverly. My best friends—people who are more than just friends—my family. I love being from the country—love the culture. Trail rides, country eating, beautiful scenery, and traffic is a dream out there. As much as it may have affected me socially, coming from a small town has shaped my art and the things my eyes are drawn to.

 

What authors inspire you?

 

Angie Thomas for her relatable characters and the humor she sprinkles throughout her stories—her very serious, topical stories. Nicola Yoon for her beautiful language and her amazing pacing, and just the experience she creates with her books. Kristina Forest for her beautiful Black couples and the adventures they go on—the joy, the swoony love. Kristina’s debut was the first book I’d read with a Black couple. She was my hero. She still is!

 

What inspired you to start writing?

 

Back in junior high and high school, I wrote romance stories about myself falling in love with boys who were too hot to be real. During college, though, I stopped writing for fun. Writing was a chore. Essays were due every week. I’d stopped reading for fun too. But right around my senior year, I remembered ohmygod books. In high school, I would read books and fall into the story without any critiques. Authors knew what they were doing. Who was I to think otherwise? After college, I actually tried to figure out why certain books were amazing, and why others were not so much. And when I had no idea what career I wanted to pursue after graduation, I convinced myself that maybe I could write?

 

Despite the craziness of the past year what has been the most exciting part of debuting so far?

 

The most exciting part was in the very beginning, before any of this was real. The response back from my agent, Brianne Johnson, asking for the first fifty pages of my manuscript—oh my God, I cried. Then the next morning, she asked for a full, and I screamed (and cried). Then she requested The Call, and I cried again. I cried a lot in the beginning. A lot. And it was amazing, because it was like, out of nowhere, everything was starting to look up. I wasn’t just a finance assistant at a car dealership. Someone out there thought my writing was good enough to sell.

 

Have you picked up any new hobbies during the pandemic?

 

Yoga! Right around the start of the pandemic, March 2020, I lost my day job. It’s crazy, because all I had wanted was to quit anyway. But wow. Being home all day, having that much time without any structure made those two months one of the hardest periods I’ve ever had to get through. Taking up yoga was the best thing I could have done. When I felt anxious and panicked and out of control, yoga made me feel strong and present.

 

If you could travel any place in the world to research for a new book, where would you travel?

 

Hmmm. Anywhere would be great, seeing as how the only places I’ve been (outside of Texas) are New Mexico and Colorado. But if I had to choose… Washington. I have always wanted to go to Washington—the beautiful trees and the rain and the cold seems like an awesome setting for a warm love story.

 

Are there any new books you’re working on that you can tell us about?

 

Yes! My second book recently got approved! The only thing I can tell you about it, at this point, is that it is a very, very personal story—even more so than Ugly Cry—based on an experience I had early in my current relationship. Dare I say, a condition that I had, and that I was able to cure, thankfully. There’s swoony, steamy love. There’s adventure. And I personally think this one is really, really funny! But you’ll just have to see for yourself!

You can follow Joya Goffney on Twitter at joya_goffney and be sure to pre-order her book!

Where the Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I was in for some romance before jumping in to epic fantasy and with this one releasing May 11 it was the perfect time. First I would like to thank Sarah Dass for sending me a copy for review. She knew it meant a lot to me as a reviewer of Trinidadian descent to get my hands on a copy of Where the Rhythm Takes You . I'm giving you a disclaimer that due to connections I felt to the story my review is a little biased. 

Reyna is a 17 yr old girl living in Tobago working at her family's resort still grapping with the loss of her mother two years later. She still has feelings for her first boyfriend, Aiden who moved to the US and became a Grammy winning musician. As the front man of DJ Bacchanal he mixes island sounds with EDM that has taken the music scene by storm. So she's shocked when he's back on the island with his band in tow and a new girl at his side who also happens to be her half sister's sister-in-law. Aiden being back brings up a lot of memories she tried her hardest to suppress. Her hopes to avoid them are shattered when her father nominates her as their tour guide for the duration of their stay.

Reading this book transported back to my vacation a couple of years ago in Tobago where we did some of the activities the group does in this book like the beachside horseback riding and boat ride the the Nylon Pool. And I loved how she showcased all the beauty the island had to offer not just from the tourist activity side but from the music, food, and history. 

Reyna does come across older than 17 but it in some ways made me think of my mother who had to act much older than her age at 17 because she was living in Trinidad trying to make a living on her own. Reyna's mother put a lot of pressure on her towards the end of her life to take over the hotel and keep her legacy alive. So Reyna has had to grow up fast and has thrown herself into day to day operations while trying to halt any changes around her. This depiction of grief was very well done. And there were flashbacks inserted throughout the story that added the right amounts of tension. Everyone close to her thinks she should be off hanging with friends pursuing her dream of being an artist but she's scared to move forward so she gives up what she loves. 

YA doesn't have the best reputation for including parents in stories and I liked that even though she and her father didn't have the best relationship he was a constant in her life and truly championing for her happiness even though she didn't always see it that way.

I've never read Persuasion so I can't speak to how similar it is to that story. However if you love angsty summer romances and stunning tropical locales I suggest picking this one up. If you're a Trinbagonian whether on the island or abroad you're going to feel an extra connection to this story. The rhythm of the islands leap off the page giving this second chance romance a unique flair. And lovers of music should check out the Soca playlist at the end which was another fun addition. 

Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! There was a lot of early buzz about this one last year since it's got picked up for a Netflix movie. I saw the cover for this and thought it was a cozy mystery. I received an arc from Berkley in exchange for an honest review. 

I came into this story thinking it was some kind of mystery but really there's no mystery to solve. We already know the killer and her name is Meddlin Chan who works as a photographer for her family's wedding business. Meddy's mother is desperate to find her the perfect man so she signs her up for a dating site with a fake profile pretending to be her. Meddy agrees to go on the date but after her date tries to attack her she ends up killing him in self defense. Rather than drive to the hospital or police station she panics and drives home. Her mother and aunties immediately go into protection mode to help her hide the body and wacky hijinks ensure from there.

Meddy and her aunties have a major wedding to attend the next day on a private island at an exclusive new resort. This resort happens to be partially owned by Meddy's college sweetheart Nathan who she's been pining about since dumping him for ridiculous reasons.

While Dial A For Aunties started off as a fun satire it quickly became an insane fever dream full of random clichés and plot points. There was no clear sense of direction with the author seemingly undecided if she wanted to write a satire or rom-com and not achieving either. Halfway through the story I could no longer suspend belief at the ridiculousness of it all. The endearing aunties became caricatures, Meddlin became more dimwitted by the minute, the author randomly revealed some side characters were lesbian in a jokey way that felt haphazardly thrown in. The best satire has some believability in it and a sense of direction. this was just one over the top plot point after another.

I can see how it would work better in movie form vs book form but even then it's going to feel like an older Bollywood film minus the singing and dancing. I wasn't looking to take this book seriously at all but it asked way too much of me.  I couldn't even laugh at the jokes because they were all so dated. 

The strongest points of this story were the cultural aspects and the second chance romance. If Jesse Sutanto writes a cute Indo-Chinese romance in the future I'll check it out. When it was grounded in reality the novel worked. But between this story and The Obessesion her throw everything and anything at the wall and hope it sticks type writing might not be for me.

Interview with Camryn Garrett

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm back with another interview and this time it's with Camryn Garrett who has her second novel, Off the Record releasing May 18th. If you haven't already I encourage you to pre-order it.

You’ve contributed to The Huffington Post, Time Magazine and other large publications. How did you get into writing?

I always liked writing, even when I was little. I used to write stories in notebooks. I entered school contests, which I think gave me the confidence to enter the talent search for TIME for Kids. I was selected as a Kid Reporter, which allowed me awesome experiences like attending a press junket and early screening of Frozen, interviewing people like Warren Buffett and Kristen Bell, and getting the chance to talk to lots of authors about their process. That experience specifically set me on the path to taking myself seriously as a writer.

                                    At what age did you sign your first publishing contract?

I think I was eighteen when I actually signed the contract for my first book.

You’re also a film student who is graduating soon. Why did you decide to get into film?

I think I’ve always been interested in film; I love the way it brings us together and leaves lasting   memories. There are some stories I think are better told in film and some better told in a book. 

                        What advice do you have for someone balancing school and writing?

I would say to prioritize, which doesn’t exactly sound great, but I think you have to know yourself and your professors and figure out what is most important in a specific moment. Sometimes I miss class or assignments because I know it won’t impact my grade and I need to attend an event or work on a revision. Sometimes I push off writing to tend to school. It’s a weird balancing act, but I think it’s individual to every person.

How do you select the names of your characters? 

Ah, you’re the first person who has asked me this! I love names. Like, I think reading and learning  about names could be considered a hobby of mine. Picking names for characters is a super important part of the process for me.

I’m not exactly sure how I came to Simone from Full Disclosure, but I knew it felt like a very Black name to me, if that makes sense? And it just perfectly fit her. It feels confident and brassy and musical, like she is, and then there’s the Nina Simone connection. Her last name is Garcia-Hampton; I had a friend whose last name was Garcia when I was younger, and I picked Hampton because of Fred Hampton.

Josie in Off the Record was named after a journalist named Josie Duffy Rice. I wanted something that felt sort of girly and feminine, if that makes sense, but also kind of hip in a retro way. I don’t know if this makes any sense, but she’s shy, and I could really see a shy girl being named Josie. I love names! 

Where did you get the idea from for Off the Record?

I honestly am not really sure. My memory is horrible; I wrote the first draft in 2019, when MeToo was all over the news, and I knew I wanted to write something that reflected my own time as a teen reporter. I combined MeToo with the concept of Almost Famous, one of my favorite movies, and decided to do whatever I wanted in the first draft. That’s how the book came to be!

Were you able to incorporate some of your own experiences into the story?

I was! During the scene where Josie first finds out that she won the contest, I used the actual email I got from TIME for Kids when I won their talent search. Josie also goes to several press events in the story, and I based them on my own experiences. When I got to go to the Frozen events, I was at a very fancy hotel in Manhattan and they fed us in the dining room, which happens to Josie. They also gave us free stuff (I still have an art book and Kristoff doll somewhere), which I replicated in the book. 

Josie’s anxiety before and during interviews was definitely based on my own experiences. I have anxiety, and though it’s not as intense as Josie’s, it would really flare up whenever I had an interview. There wasn’t really anything that helped except just doing it.

How has your experience publishing your second book differed from your first?

I’m sadly publishing this second one during a pandemic, so I don’t get to do in person events. I really, really miss those. When my first book came out, I was flying to different places every weekend and meeting teachers and booksellers and teenagers and it was so, so rewarding, you know? Like, even when I felt down on myself for whatever reason, I met people who were so kind and exciting and got to go to new places. I think it’s a little harder to have those connections over Zoom, especially when we’re a little tired of that.

My first book also came out about two months after my dad had passed. I think I was running on fumes, honestly. I think I’ll be in a better place emotionally this time. 

Have you Googled yourself recently?

I Google myself a lot, usually to get to my website to change information, ha. So I know what links will come up and everything. I’m still blown away that I have a Wikipedia page.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing? 

I’d probably be in college still, but I wouldn’t have been able to afford the private school I go to now. I think I would’ve gone to a state school upstate! Maybe I would’ve studied English. I’m not sure what I’d do as an actual job in that timeline, but I don’t know what I’ll do after college in general, so!

Do you have any hobbies you’re trying to explore right now?

No, sadly. I took up embroidering in January because I was bored, but I haven’t gone back to it, since I don’t think I enjoyed it that much. I think I definitely need a hobby. Right now, I read and make lists of names.

Are there any books you’re excited about that are releasing later this year?

A ton! Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli, Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry ​by Joya Goffney, Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar, Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan, Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson, and Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler! I’m also, as always, extremely excited for Jasmine Guillory’s next book!

Are you able to talk about your next project?

I don’t think I can say specifics, but it’s another YA and it’s a romance and it’s really close to my heart!

You can follow Camryn Garrett on Twitter @dancingofpens and Instagram @camryngwrites

The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers!  I'm back with another book review. And this one was an audiobook I was given a chance to listen to in advance courtesy of Dreamscape Media. I'd seen the cover around but I really didn't know what this book was about. And then upon doing a Google search I found out that there's a Spotify playlist to accompany the book. 

Indie rock artist Antonia "Toni B" Bennett gets a chance to fill in as the guitarist in a hot new girl band signed to a major label when there's problems with their main guitarist. This might finally be her ticket out of PA to chase her dreams. Sebastian Quick aka Seb is managing The Lilly's and tired of playing babysitter to the train wreck that is Candy. Things are further complicated when the girl that got away is back in his life. 

At first I wasn't really sure what to make of this book. It's labelled a romance and there is a romance in it that's like a second chance friends to lovers type. But for a chunk of the book it didn't feel like a priority. So it took me longer to get behind them and root for them to be together. Plus much of their relationship relied on flashbacks to their childhood. 

It felt like not much happened in this story. Toni has a complicated relationship dynamic with her parents that was interesting but not enough to sustain this story. It was an easy listen but overall it wasn't a particularly memorable one. 

Interview with Author Kathy Douglass

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! You've heard me mention Harlequin before if you've been following this blog for awhile as I've read quite a few of their books recently. I'm happy to bring you an interview with a Harlequin writer who gives a little insight to the process for my writing readers and gushes about small town romance and second chance love.

Do you remember the first Harlequin novel you ever read?

No. It was quite a while ago. My sister had a bunch of them and I just read one after the other. I remember some of the plot lines and character names, though. I just wish I could remember the titles. I would love to reread some of them. I keep hoping that I’ll stumble upon a few of them, but so far no luck. 

What made you decide to write small town romance?

Although I read all types of romances, small town romances are my favorites. I love the feel of the town and the sense of community there. I also like running into familiar characters in book after book and catching up with their lives. Since they’re my favorite to read, I decided to try writing them. It is my hope that readers will enjoy my books as much as I enjoy books by my favorite authors.

Will you ever write a romance in your hometown of Chicago?

I don’t know. I have read books set in Chicago and enjoyed them quite a bit. It’s fun to see my hometown in books, especially when I recognize some of the places. But when you use a real city and real locations, there is always the risk of getting it wrong, or a business changing or moving after the book has been published. That risk doesn’t exist when you create a fictional town. The author is in control of everything.

Additionally, I think my readers have certain expectations. They know when they pick up a Kathy Douglass book, they will be getting a sweet, small town romance. But still…  I never say never.

What’s the process like writing for Harlequin Special Edition and what are some of the guidelines you have to stick to? 

The book starts with the proposal which is basically a synopsis of the story. Once the proposal is accepted, I write the book and submit it to my editor. Once he reads it, he makes suggestions for revisions which I make. After the book is accepted, it goes to copy edits and is formatted. I get one more look at author approvals, where I reread the book and make any changes I want. My editor reviews them and the book is off to be printed.

Around this time, I complete an art fact sheet which gives the art department a general idea of what my characters look like and a few scenes in the book. I link in a pinterest board that I create which has images of the models I have chosen and some clothes I think they might wear. I frequently include pictures of settings. Although I spend a lot of time on these, I never cease to be amazed that the art team is able to translate my words and a few pictures into a beautiful cover.  My covers are so gorgeous. Each one is more beautiful than the other. I have a few favorites, but I honestly love each and every one of them.

Harlequin has guidelines authors follow in order to live up to the promise of the Special Edition line. Readers have certain expectations of what they will read when they pick up a Special Edition book. For instance, each book needs to be 60,000 words long (give or take a couple hundred). In addition to the hero and heroine, the books also show the main character’s community. You meet their friends and family. The characters also live a regular life as opposed to the glamorous life in other Harlequin lines.

Here is a link to the submission guidelines Harlequin prints. https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit/29564/harlequin-special-edition-60-000-words

How many books do you write a year on average?

I write about three books a year.

Out of all of the books you’ve written which character closely resembles you?

This is such a hard question. I think there are bits of me in many of my characters. For instance, Roz Martin, the heroine in THE SINGLE MOM’S SECOND CHANCE, was a devoted mother and willing to do anything for her kids. As a mother, I feel the same way about my kids.

I like to think that I have a good sense of humor like Lex Devlin or that I am as sweet as Joni Danielson, two of my favorite people in town and the hero and heroine in A BABY BETWEEN FRIENDS. Although I think I’m as funny as Lex, I don’t think I’m quite as sweet as Joni. 

What are your favorite romance tropes?

I love enemies to lovers. There is already so much tension and emotion between the characters. Every feeling is enhanced by the anger they feel for the other person.  A habit that the heroine would find endearing in another man bugs her to no end in the hero. A characteristic the hero would tolerate in another woman is intolerable in the heroine. All because of the animosity between them. Every reaction and emotion is heightened.

I love the moment when they realize that their hatred has diminished and even changed. The shock they feel when they realize that they don’t hate the other person after all. And horror of horrors, they might actually love the other person. I know the moment is coming, but it gets me every time.

I also like second chance romance because I like believing that if you don’t get it right the first time, all is not lost. Maybe love will work out the second time around. 

I also like friends to lovers because sometimes the person you’re looking for has been right there all the time, languishing in the friend zone.

 

What is your upcoming book Redemption on Rivers Ranch about?

REDEMPTION ON RIVERS RANCH is a friends to lovers romance. Carson Rivers and Gabriella Tucker were summertime best friends. From the time she was a little girl until she was fifteen, Gabriella would spend the summer visiting her great aunt and uncle on their ranch. She and Carson had become instant friends and spent every moment of those summers together.

Fast-forward fifteen years. Gabriella’s divorced with two young children and Carson has had a few difficulties of his own. 

If you’ve read THE RANCHER’S RETURN, you’ve already met Carson. He’d been engaged to Raven Reynolds, the heroine in that book, before Donovan Cordero, Raven’s one true love, returned after a long absence. It didn’t take long before Carson was cast aside and Raven and Donovan reunited.

Carson was such a good guy that I always felt a bit guilty about the way I treated him in that book. I wanted him to have a happily ever after which he finds with Gabriella. Here is the official blurb.

The return of his childhood friend leads to the fresh start he never expected

Horse rancher Carson Rivers has his own emotional demons. There’s no place in his life for a divorced single mom pulling at his heartstrings. But when Gabriella Tucker and her adorable children move next door—the place of her favorite childhood memories—Carson’s tempted to help the heart-guarded beauty make more adult memories. Maybe Gabriella and her kids are the healing balm he’s been yearning for…

Have you ever visited a ranch and done some horseback riding?

I haven’t visited an actual ranch, but I have been horseback riding a time or two. They weren’t long rides, though. 

Have you picked up any new hobbies during quarantine?

Does sitting and staring into space count? No, I haven’t picked up a new hobby. I have tried to make space for an old hobby. I grew up playing the piano and enjoy it quite a bit. I try to find time to play every day. It doesn’t always happen, but when it does, my day is so much happier. 

Are there any upcoming projects you can mention?

I have another book coming out on October 26, 2021. It is entitled A KISS AT THE MISTLETOE RODEO. Harlequin Special Edition publishes multi-author continuities that are very popular. This book is part of the Montana Mavericks series. One of my previous books, THE MAVERICK’S BABY ARRANGEMENT, was also part of the Montana Mavericks. The heroine in A KISS AT THE MISTLETOE RODEO, is actually the sister of the heroine in THE MAVERICK’S BABY ARRANGEMENT. So even though the books aren’t part of my Sweet Briar Sweethearts series, there is still that family connection that I enjoy writing.

Pursuit of the Truth by K.D. Richards

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! It's been a minute since I read a romantic suspense and with a cover like this I couldn't resist. You know when you see a cover and just know you'll like the book?

                   

This book has the fast-paced suspense I needed and once I got into the story it was hard to put down. There's been a series of strange things that have happened to Nadia Shelton the past few days and she isn't sure what to make of it. When she's pushed into ongoing traffic in the streets of NYC she's sure someone is out for her life. But who could be out for blood? The hotel heiress is lucky to have a top notch security team that takes her safety seriously. West Investigations is run by two brothers and The Shelton Hotel is one of their longest running clients. Ryan West is has been crushing on Nadia for over a year and he's offering round the clock service free of extra charge to make sure she's safe. 

There was constant action in this story. Car chases, arson, kidnapping, break ins, etc made sure there was never a quiet moment and reminded you of the looming threat. They worked well together as a team and K. D. Richards knows how to write action scenes which is where some suspense writers struggle. She didn't lean too heavy on the romance side and let the plot go to the wayside which I appreciate. 

The one thing I'll say fell flat for me was the sex scenes. Ryan and Nadia had great chemistry throughout so I expected them to be smoldering. Especially since this is Harlequin. But instead they felt very technical. And that was a let down. But it was not enough for me to write off this book.

Even though Nadia is in trouble she can handle her own. I liked the glimpses of her at her workplace as a very hands on CEO of a boutique hotel change. Now Ryan was a little like a TV investigator in that he was insanely good at his job and fast too. He completely fit the description of an action hero. 

This romance debut got me interested in the rest of the series and I look forward to reading Shawn's story next. Even though this is a part of a series all books can be read as standalones. And luckily the next two take place during Christmas time so that should be a treat.

Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge

 

Welcome Back, booklovers! This book was one of the releases I had my eye on all year so I was very happy to get a copy of the audiobook courtesy of Libro FM. If you're interested you can get it here. 

Libertie is written in a very lyrically style that immediately sucks you into the story. I loved her voice and thought the narrator did a great job capturing it. Despite it's Reconstruction era setting it's not very graphic in violence against Black people so if that usually deters you from picking up books set within that time period it's not a problem here.

This story starts with Libertie as a young girl living with her mother who is one of the few Black women physicians.  Her mother has big dreams of her following in her footsteps and teaches her from a young age to care for people. It was quite fascinating listening to the tales of her mother adding formally enslaved people within their community. One thing this book touched on was the ramifications slavery had on the mental state of those people. How they could be free but their mind is still enslaved. 

The discussions of colorism were also well done. Libertie's mother is a light skinned close to white woman and that afforded her the opportunity to move through spaces most Black people could not. It also caused the white women to be more trusting to her. When Libertie's mother opens a clinic originally for the freed people it slowly becomes a space for white women to seek care. Libertie and her mother end up at odds over this as the patients often recoil in her presence and her mother lets them treat her terribly instead of standing up for her. This complicated mother-daughter relationship takes place throughout the book with Libertie often vying for her mother's attentions in ways that don't just pertain to following in her footsteps.

Once she comes of age, Libertie is poised to attend medical school but while away realizes the dream isn't exactly for her.  Falling in love with a man named Emmanuel who is interning for her mother she decides to quickly marry. He sells her promises of a dream life in Haiti where they can create their own nation. This section touched upon the same anti-Haitianism that we still see present to this day. During this time Libertie must come to understand what it turly means to be a free woman.

This book was so addicting that at times I didn't want to stop listening. And it was surprisingly very easy to follow along while doing household tasks which is something I sometimes struggle with when it comes to audiobooks. I was cooking in the kitchen but fully engaged to this at the same time. This one is a very character driven story that is sure to keep you enthralled.

Sun of a Beach by Mia Sosa

 

Welcome Back Booklovers! I was lucky enough to get an early listen courtesy of Audible for this new original available to Audible listeners on 4/8. 

I don't want to give too much away since it's a fairly short novella that I listened to in under an hour. I really enjoyed the narration. This story revolves around two rival coworkers who have to work together on a photoshoot shoot for the inaugural digital issue of the magazine they work for. What better backdrop for working out their secret attraction than than the Caribbean? But the Bahamas isn't just all play. Donovan and Naomi have some challenges ahead of them to pull off this shoot.

I liked Naomi's chapters more than Donovan's though I got used to the narration for his chapters by the end. Valetina Ortiz really brought her to life. She even gave an extra kick to the steamy sex scene.  They work for the same magazine company and get assigned to manage a photoshoot in the Bahamas for the magazine's digital edition. This was great for a quick and steamy listen. I need a longer version now in print!

A Taste of Desire by Chloe Blake

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I have big reading goals for April so hopefully a lot of reviews will be posted this month. I've just been in  a big romance reading mood this past month. And I've been taking the time to go through backlist Black romance and let my mood decided what I want to read. This one was on Hoopla and the cover was pretty so I had to read. And if you don't have access to Hoopla through your library you can get the ebook online.

This story takes place in Brazil in a less tourist heavy area. And this humid and lush setting is perfect for a sexy romance. Lawyer Nicole works for a real estate firm that deals with selling high stakes international property. She's hoping this sale will help her get the big promotion she's craving that will put her one step closer to building a family of her own. She really wants to adopt but her job being one consisting of heavy travel is preventing her from being approved.

Destin is vintner still recovering from the tragic fire that took his wife's life and he cannot let go of hope that he can rebuild the property. Unfortunately his father is in debt and believes the only way he can get out is to sell the land to the highest bidder. He also is fighting his father for the rights to produce the wine he created under the family business label.

Destin doesn't plan on making Nicole's job easy as he sabotages her attempts to sell the property during viewings. This hit all the rights notes of a destination romance. Beautiful location, whirlwind romance, scenes where they explored the town. I like that Nicole was a different kind of character than I usually read. She had a job she truly enjoyed and a unique taste palette with a knack for being able to detect the notes in wine. Destin was a caring man who truly loved the town he lives in and has a great group of friends. He showed a lot of vulnerability when it came to his family which I appreciated.

The one downside of this book for me is that it didn't describe how the heroine or even hero looked well and I like to be able to have a clear picture of what my book characters look like. They were coming across as colorless people most of the time. Which was something my romance reading aunt mentioned to me about her reads from a few years ago not having enough description of what people looked like. Destin sure wasn't giving me the man on the cover with constant references to his icy blue eyes and raking his hands through his hair. And unlike Nicole who was described as brown his skin tone was never mentioned. I was wondering if he was written with a white guy in mind and race changed at the last minute or if he was supposed to be biracial. Since he was from a French family who had owned wineries for generations it added to the confusion. 

This was a quick and easy read and Chloe Blake wrote the romance very believable. Their chemistry was hot without feeling too forced. I felt like I was reading the story version of a movie.