Book Review: Shadow Flight by Christine Feehan

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9 May 2020

The long-awaited story of Taviano Ferraro and Nicoletta Gomez has finally landed! Shadow Flight was released this week with much anticipation.

Book Blurb-

Nicoletta Gomez was a terrified teenager when Taviano Ferraro and his brother saved her life. Ever since, she’s been trying to rise above what was done to her, molding herself into a survivor under the protective eyes of the Ferraro family. All the while, she’s been falling hopelessly in love with the man who knows her darkest secrets…

With one look, Taviano knew that Nicoletta was his, just as he felt their shadows connect. But no matter how much he wanted to claim her, he knew she needed time to become her own woman. But when Nicoletta once again finds herself in the sights of dangerous men, a split second decision has Taviano breaking all of the Ferraro family’s rules to keep her safe. And as far as he’s concerned, the reward is more than worth the risk.

For those of you who are new to the Shadow Rider series, the premise is simple and intriguing- Assassins travel using shadows to deliver justice the system couldn’t stop. It’s paranormal-light with action and romance.

There’s something about Feehan’s ability to deliver satisfying stories that hit all the right notes that have made her such a success. She’s one of those authors that are an auto-buy for us and we’ve never been let down.

Shadow Flight also furthers the storyline for the Ferraro family itself, giving insight to some of the characters readers have been wondering about. It delivers sky-high action!

Book review by- Sheila English

Holly’s Book Review: Hope’s Highest Mountain (Hearts of Montana #1)

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Sheila English

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8 May 2020

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Hope’s Highest Mountain by Misty M. Beller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely LOVE this story! I devoured it. Right from the start, I was hooked. The story follows a woman who needs to take some vaccines to a small town in Montana. Her father promised the small-town doctor he’d get them there to prevent smallpox. However, along the way there some was trouble. But not all hope is lost since a handsome stranger comes to save the day. With lots of prayer and hope, Ingrid’s life is about to be changed forever. This is a great Historical Christian Fiction story. I loved it! I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

View all my reviews – By Holly Irish

Book Summary:
On her way to deliver vaccines to a mining town in the Montana Territory, Ingrid Chastain never anticipated a terrible accident would leave her alone and badly injured in the wilderness. When rescue comes in the form of a mysterious mountain man, she’s hesitant to trust him, but the journey ahead will change their lives more than they could have known.

An Interview With Author Suzanne Woods Fisher

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Jocie McKade

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8 May 2020

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Today, Reader’s Entertainment Magazine welcomes bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Welcome, Suzanne, tell us a bit about yourself. Where you’re from, where you live? Do you have one of those day-jobs?

Thanks for having me today! I live in northern California with my verrrrrryyyy big family, and two yellow labs who are breeders for Guide Dogs for the Blind, a non-profit in San Rafael, Ca. When I’m not writing or walking dogs with friends, I play tennis. Quite a lot.

How long have you been writing?

Writing has been a lifelong love, though I truly don’t think it’s a natural talent for me, not like some. For me, it’s a craft I continue to hone. While I was raising my four children, I was a freelance writer for many magazines—that’s where I developed interview and research skills. After my children left for college, I couldn’t ignore a deep-down nudge to try my hand at writing a WWII novel. For four months, I wrote in my laundry room. And wrote. And wrote. I told no one. Not my husband, not my sister, not my kids. And when I finally finished the first draft (which was pretty awful), I announced my big achievement at a family dinner. My youngest son said, “So that’s why there’s no food in this house!” Sigh.

But that WWII love story started my journey into writing books. And 35 books later…I’m still writing in my laundry room.

Briefly describe your writing day.

Up early. Really, really early. Coffee. Bible study. Then I hit my laundry room. I don’t emerge until I reach my daily word count.

Tell us about your latest release?

Print So excited about this book! On a Coastal Breeze is the second in the Three Sisters Island series, about the Grayson family who have moved to a bankrupt island off the coast of Maine…hoping for a fresh start.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

No one is safe. All are grit for the oyster.

Would you share one detail from your current release with readers that they might not find in the book?

I wrote this story during an extremely difficult period in my life (my sister died, suddenly and unexpectedly). I wasn’t even sure the novel would be any good! And in fact, there were more revisions needed than any other novel I’d written. I kept feeling as if something was lacking…and then it dawned on me. I needed to take one scene to a much “sexier” level…which was not typical of me! I’m a grandmother, for goodness sake. But my editor agreed, and after the scene was re-written, she gave it her Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. And would you believe, I think it might be my best book.

Who has been the most difficult character for you to write? (Any of your books)

I like writing about remarkable women who are overlooked. Mary Coffin Starbuck from Nantucket, for example, who brought Quakerism to the island. She was a woman ahead of her times, likened to the Judge Deborah in the Old Testament. Respected by all, sought for her wisdom. Even in very Puritanical New England!

Yet there was little of Mary Coffin Starbuck’s personality left on paper—a trading accounts book, and a portion of a letter to a granddaughter. In the bowels of the Nantucket Historical Association, wearing white gloves, I poured through the four-hundred-year-old accounts book…and learned as much as I could about Mary. She was literate (her husband was not). She had beautiful handwriting. She had business with everyone on the island—sailors, fishermen, Native Americans. She was smart. She was shrewd. She was fair.

And from those gleanings, I created a 3-D woman. I hope I represented her well.

If you could be one of your characters for a day which character would it be? Why?

Easy. Mary Coffin Starbuck. She was a 17^th century Rockstar! And she lived in one of my favorite places on earth—Nantucket Island.

What’s next?

On a Coastal Breeze releases on May 5^th. Maddie Grayson takes center stage in this story. Life is finally coming together for Maddie. On the very day she opens her counseling practice, she spots a billowing skydiver. Parachuting in is Ricky O’ Shea—the one person on earth Maddie hoped she’d never see again. But Rick’s the new pastor for the island’s only church and he’s not about to leave. That’s when sparks start to fly.

All writers are readers. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I read and read and read. When I find an author whom I enjoy, I tend to read all of their books until I start to notice their signature style. That’s when I feel as if I know them.

As for specific influences, throughout my teen years, I read all the books written by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Catherine Marshall, and Madeleine L’Engle.

If you could have dinner with any writer living or dead, who would it be and why?

Madeleine L’Engle. She’s such an outside the box thinker. She’s best known for A Wrinkle in Time, but her non-fiction writing is outstanding. So authentic.

If you could ask your favorite author a question what would it be?

I’d like to ask Catherine Marshall about how her very active and fulfilling prayer life affected her writing.

Do you have a secret talent readers would be surprised by?

Well…tennis is my favorite hobby, and I play it competively. I’m pretty good. Not great, but pretty good.

Your favorite go to drink or food when the world goes crazy!

Chips and guacamole. Must. Stay. Away.

What is the one question you never get ask at interviews, but wish you did? Ask and answer it.

Here it is…

If you weren’t able to write…what would you do?

Oh NO!!! I hate the thought of that. What a TERRIBLE question! But…if I had to give up writing…I’d open a bookstore/coffee house. At least I’d be around books.

Thanks for hosting me! Stay well!

Thank you so much for joining us today!!

About Suzanne:
Award winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected. With more than one million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the bestselling author of more than 30 works, ranging from novels to non-fiction books to children’s books. She lives in northern California.

Holly’s Book Review: Judgment Road

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Sheila English

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7 May 2020

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Judgment Road by Christine Feehan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Holy Moly it took me 2 years to finish this book! Why? It’s dark, very dark, it deals with some tough issues, like PTSD, human trafficking, abuse, and all the effects that go with it. I started this book because the author is one of my favorites. Her stories always make me feel something, whether it’s love, hatred, angry, warm and fuzzy, I always end up feeling something. This book was tough, my emotions were all over the place and I had to takes breaks between reading it. My mind wouldn’t let me “go there” with some of the abuse scenes. Overall, this story is amazing, it’s dark, gritty, but also full of hope, love, and understanding. Plus it takes place in one of my favorite areas of the World! If you’re wanting a book that you’ll get lost in, grab this one. You’ll be in for a ride! Happy reading my friends!

View all my reviews – Reviews by Holly Irish

Book Summary:
An outlaw motorcycle club sets up shop next door to Sea Haven in the dangerously sexy new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

As the enforcer of the Torpedo Ink motorcycle club, Reaper lives for riding and fighting. He’s a stone-cold killer who turns his wrath on those who deserve it. Feelings are a weakness he can’t afford–until a gorgeous bartender gets under his skin…

Near Sea Haven, the small town of Caspar has given Anya Rafferty a new lease on life. And she’s desperate to hold on to her job at the biker bar, even if the scariest member of the club seems to have it out for her. But Reaper’s imposing presence and smoldering looks just ratchet up the heat.

Anya’s touch is everything Reaper doesn’t want–and it brands him to the bone. But when her secrets catch up to her, Reaper will have to choose between Anya and his club–his heart and his soul.

Barnes & Noble’s National Children’s Short Story Contest

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Jocie McKade

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7 May 2020

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barnes-and-noble-national-storytime-contest-signup Young Writers, Barnes & Nobles wants to see your stories!

Attention all young storytellers and promising wordsmiths! Barnes & Noble is calling on children ages 6-12 to share their original short stories for a chance to be published in a book!

We believe in the power of stories to inspire and bring joy! That’s why we’re launching a Children’s Short Story Contest to give young writers a chance to become published authors. Fifteen select entrants will be published in a book sold exclusively at Barnes & Noble this holiday season, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. In addition, our fifteen winners and fifteen runners-up will get a signed book from bestselling author Gail Carson Levine.

Follow this link for details and entry.

SNEAK PEEK: On a Coastal Breeze by Suzanne Woods Fisher

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Jocie McKade

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7 May 2020

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On a Coastal Breeze by Suzanne Woods Fisher

DROP BY TOMORROW FOR OUR INTERVIEW WITH SUZANNE!

Can an Arch Nemesis from the Past Destroy a Promising Future?
“Fisher delivers a refreshing story about reconnecting with family and discovering one’s purpose in life.” —Publishers Weekly, on A Summer’s Tide Ada, Mich.—

In 2019, Suzanne Woods Fisher veered away from her roots of writing Amish fiction to introduce readers to a new lineup of characters in her contemporary romance series, Three Sisters Island. In book two, On a Coastal Breeze, Fisher invites readers back to the Island where family, forgiveness, and love await.

Maddie Grayson’s life is just taking off. As a newly licensed marriage and family therapist, she’s eager to start her practice on Three Sisters Island. She feels like she’s finally found her sweet spot and is ready to make a difference in the community. But her stable life is soon shaken when an arch nemesis from the past parachutes into town. Literally.

Ricky O’Shea is the one man Maddie hoped she would never see again. But with him being the newly appointed minister to the small island, their paths cross frequently. Is Maddie willing to forgive Rick and move on? Or are some wounds just too painful to forget?

With over 1.1 million copies sold, Fisher has charmed readers with her heartwarming stories filled with wit and a bit of whimsy. On a Coastal Breeze will continue to delight fans as they travel back to the small island off the coast of Maine.

ABOUT SUZANNE:
Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than thirty books, including On a Summer Tide, as well as the Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop’s Family, The Deacon’s Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, among other novels. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Facebook @SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor and Twitter @suzannewfisher.

Holly’s Book Review: When Silence Sings

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Sheila English

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6 May 2020

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When Silence Sings by Sarah Loudin Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting story. I wasn’t expecting the story-line to go the way it did. This story is a bit of a wild west family feud. It pits the Harpe family against the McLeans. The feuding goes way back and no one has thought to strop it tile Colman. I love Colman, he’s the sort of character you can’t help but love. He’s awkward, funny, caring, and sometimes charming. He’s also a preacher from the Harpe family who goes into the McLean territory to “bring the word of God to them”. Ivy is very interesting and I love her gently strength. She is not from either family but thought to be a decedent from “Moon people”. This story is not all that it seems. The twist and turns it took kept me reading it till the early hours of the morning. If you are looking for great fiction with a wild west supernatural twist then this is a book for you! Happy reading my friends!

View all my reviews – By Holly Irish

Book Summary:
After the rival McLean clan guns down his cousin, Colman Harpe chooses peace over seeking revenge with his family. But when he hears God tell him to preach to the McLeans, a failed attempt to run away leaves him sick and suffering in their territory. He soon learns that appearances can be deceiving, and the face of evil doesn’t look like he expected

Sheltering In With CC Dragon

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Jocie McKade

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6 May 2020

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Sheltering In With CC Dragon

Introverts were made for this! Honestly, I only mind that people are sick, stores aren’t stocked, and people aren’t living normal lives…but for me, the only thing that changed is things are closed and the grocery store isn’t property stocked. I work from home it’s really no different. Write, do laundry, cook, clean, and more writing—promote books, I always forget that.

I miss getting my nails done! Seriously, I type a lot and it’s rough on my nails. They split and break…it’s awful…but if that’s the worst thing, I know I’m lucky.

The one wonderful thing about this is I’m sort of a stocker…not a prepper with a bunker or anything weird. I like have extras of what I use. Well, this year had my stocker senses tingling early on. I’m not psychic (but I do have a para cozy mystery series about a psychic so maybe something rubbed off??)

My younger nephew got a nasty virus…then his whole school was closed down for 3 days because so many people were sick, they cleaned the school. This was early Feb…pre-corona hitting here. I live 8 hours away from my sister, her kids, and my mom moved down there too…so I feel pretty helpless when stuff happens. It’s not fun…

But Amazon Prime let’s me send stuff there for just as free shipping as I send it to my house 😀 So I send my mom stuff from time to time. I found funny masks online for the boys and I got my mom an N95 mask (not depressing, it’s a pretty floral pattern). Mom is over 65 and she babysits A LOT so I wanted her to have some protection from all these kid germs…remember that nasty virus that closed the school? Eek.

I had NO idea what was coming…but a few weeks later, we started hearing about China…My sister, a nurse, still thinks I’m silly but soon I’ll be a genius!

Nah, I’m a writer, and before I was an accountant. I have no great medical knowledge. But I do understand supply and demand…and how stupid people can be. I got on Amazon and order some extra TP and other essentials, went to the grocery store, and made sure my car is full…little things. Then again, Amazon…I sent my mom kitty litter, cleaning stuff, paper towels, TP, and kitty treats…(please note, there was no crazy hoarding of the TP. I ordered myself an extra package and sent my mom 2 large packages of the amazon brand—which is extra for 5 people: mom, sis, BIL, 2 nephews and with the boys being home from school, average usage is up).

My mom usually buys the fancy quilted brand so I sent her a bonus one package of that and told her to put the amazon brand on a shelf in the garage…if she hits that shelf, she’ll know it’s getting rough and they need to hit Costco and hunt more down.

Hand sanitizer…the one thing I didn’t send ahead was that. Partly because I’d accidentally overbought. I have a ton of small bottles for swag! But I also bought a 4 pack back in January when I thought I was running low. I wasn’t, the other 4 pack of 32 oz bottles somehow got shelved in the other closet…oops!

Rather–Whew, fam is covered!

I boxed up a bunch (plus some of the small promo ones for them to have) and took it to the UPS store. Now, I’m not stupid… NO WAY am I putting that it’s hand sanitizer inside. It’d never make it out of the state. I put promotional items… It was technically true, my swag bottles were in there.

The box arrived and so far my fam has been safe and supplied. I did warn mom to get double the food and make use of the senior hours if they needed stuff. My sister has been helping and they’re good.

Now the masks are a funny story too…my mother called up annoyed. She had her sewing machine out. Why?? My sister is a nurse and MUST wear a mask to work starting the next Monday (PS: they were informed on a Saturday). And even WORSE? They must PROVIDE their own masks…work will not provide it??????? What the @*&#(**#?

Now I told you way above (wow I’m rambling, sorry) that I got my mom an N95. I did send a set of about 20 of the funny face masks for the kids but they fit adults too. No reason my mom needs to sew a mask. My sister felt those were ‘unprofessional’. Sigh…I told my mom to give my sister the N95 mask. I’d send my mom the N95 mask I’d bought for myself (just in case…it was the same one I got mom) to her. My sister and mom are way more high risk than I am…one being a nurse the other being over 65.

So that’s what they did. I have a pic of my sister wearing that mask.

And YES>>>I lied to UPS again. I told them it was fabric swatches. N95 masks are like gold. My mom’s getting it, not a thief. I don’t have a ton. I had a couple fabric masks left. I got some for me and gave some out. My sugar skull mask is my fav!

The next day, my sister sends a pic of the doc she works for in one of the kids FUNNY FACE masks. And she’s wearing one too. What the? Isn’t that UNProfessional? She said the n95 was too hot/hard to breathe in for all day in the office. And other people really needed them so she put the n95 home in a safe place and shared the boys masks (she kept a few back for the kids and her hubby).

People thought the funny masks were cute…I’m all for sharing what we have but she made such a fuss about them being for kids. I think we all need a good laugh right now and it makes things less depressing with the masks are a little fun. anyway…sorry this is rambling on. Bottom line, people loved those masks and they were comfortable enough for a doc’s office.

In the midst of all this shopping and shipping, I’ve been writing book 2 of the Southern Belle Cozy Mystery Series. It’s about a young woman who moves back to help her Gran who is aging…Belle’s parents ran off and left her with Gran so now it’s Belle’s turn to take care of family…and solve a murder or two. Flirt with a hot sheriff or country music guitarist…that’s due to my editor soon. eek. Back to writing…

Book 1 is up for pre-order and comes out June 2^nd…

From the wrong side of the tracks, Belle

always tried to do right…back home again she’s still smack in the middle of a mess…

Ah, sweet home Tennessee, with the Music City, Dollywood and Murder…

Annabelle ‘Belle’ Baxter returns home to her small southern town after studying catering and hotel management, to help her Gran, the only real family she has. Determined to make their preserves shop a success, Belle expands the menu and boosts business—until the pompous sheriff drops dead, poisoned, after trying one of her signature smoothies.

People looking down on Belle is nothing new, but this time they’re quick to point a finger as well. Now it’s not just her high school rival or the perfect church ladies—the bumbling deputies want to pin it on her too, leaving her no choice but to find the murderer herself. If the preserves shop goes under, she and her gran are ruined.

But it’s scary how many suspects her poking around turns up—the sheriff’s jealous deputy, his pissed-off wife, the girlfriend he was about to dump his wife for, or even the handsome new deputy, Gus Haywood, whose city ways riled the stuffy sheriff. Belle can’t let this handsome stranger distract her, not when she has to clear her name and protect the town she loves, despite its people.

Well, maybe he can distract her a little…

Publisher: https://www.totallybound.com/book/the-mint-julep-murder

Kindle: https://amazon.com/Mint-Julep-Murder-Southern-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B086WHNDLK

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-mint-julep-murder-1

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mint-julep-murder-cc-dragon/1136850343

My random links:

Amazon: https://amazon.com/CC-Dragon/e/B00USM8LDI

Website: www.authorccdragon.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ccdragonauthor

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/752998138081518/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorccdragon

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/authorccdragon/

Stephanie Meyers Releasing New Book

By

Jocie McKade

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5 May 2020

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Bestselling author Stephanie Meyers, (Twilight Saga) announces new release scheduled for August – MIDNIGHT SUN in a letter on her website…………

Dear friends and readers,

First of all, I hope that you and your families are all safe, healthy, and in a good place. That’s the main thing.

Second, I’m happy to announce that Midnight Sun is finally (very close to) ready! And will be in bookstores on August 4th. I hope this announcement doesn’t seem ill-timed; I really considered delaying the release until the world was back to normal. However, 1) who knows when that will be? And 2) you guys have waited long enough. Much longer than long enough, actually.

I don’t know how everyone else is coping, but right now books are my main solace and happiest escape. Personally, I would be nothing but delighted if one of my favorite authors announced something new for me to read. (No pressure, Laini Taylor.) So, I hope this announcement gave you some pleasure and something fun to look forward to.

Working on a book for more than thirteen years is a strange experience. I’m not the same person I was then. My children have all grown up. My back got weird. The world is a different place. I can only imagine all the things that have changed for you. But completing Midnight Sun has brought back to me those early days of Twilight when I first met many of you. We had a lot of fun, didn’t we? Throwing proms and hanging out in hotel rooms and reading on the beach (while getting the most epic sunburns of our lives). We made hilarious t-shirts and fabulous websites. We found kindred spirits that are still in our lives now. I hope going back to the beginning of Bella’s and Edward’s story reminds you of all that fun, too.

Stay tuned this summer—we have lots more fun things planned. Music (of course), contests, information on the book tour, and more will be posted on this page. I hope to see all of you soon! It’s been too long.

Stephenie

An Interview With Author Bethany Turner

By

Jocie McKade

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5 May 2020

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Welcome to Reader’s Entertainment, Bethany!

In 2017, you wrote your debut novel, The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck, which was followed by your second book, Wooing Cadie McCaffrey, in 2019. Can you provide readers with a brief description of your newest tale, Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish?
Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish explores the world of culinary entertainment. These characters are not just chefs—they’re celebrity chefs. Hadley and Max are both brilliant, innovative, and successful—but on a personal level, they could not be more different. While Hadley and Max are together on-screen for the first time, filming a cooking competition, Max reaches his breaking point and has a very public meltdown. When Hadley next sees him, months later, he seems to be a kinder, gentler Max Cavanagh. The question is, has he really changed? Or is he just trying to get in her good graces because he needs her help to revive his career?

Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish focuses on the lives of two celebrity chefs. How did you come up with this fun plot?
I loved the idea of combining food and romance, but my absolute favorite stories to write tend to have an overlap into the entertainment world—Sarah Hollenbeck was a bestselling author, Cadie McCaffrey worked at a sports television network. So, I really started getting excited about this story when I decided to put Hadley Beckett on TV. There is something we uniquely love about celebrity chefs, I think. They aren’t actors, per se, so we’re pretty likely to believe that who they are on TV is who they really are in life. We feel like we know them—and I think all of us who love cooking shows have our favorite chefs. And we just love watching them cook! I think food entertainment is a fascinating world to explore.

Did it require special research to write about the culinary world?
Turner_Hadley Becketts Next Dish_final.indd Oh my goodness, yes. I’d already watched a lot of cooking shows throughout my life, so I already knew a lot there. I zeroed in on a few shows that became the strongest inspiration for my fictional chefs. But honestly, most of the research was necessary because I don’t cook! Not much anyway, and definitely not well! The idea was so fun at first, because I was really only thinking about writing about the chefs as people and as celebrities. Pretty quickly it dawned on me that at some point, these chefs were going to have to cook. And I couldn’t write about them cooking unless I did a lot of research and studied a lot of recipes. So, I did my best. I’m just so grateful for amazing editors who made comments like, “Why is he preheating the oven to cook a risotto?”

The main characters, Maxwell Cavanaugh and Hadley Beckett, are polar opposites. Did you find it difficult to create a world where these two could actually get along and in the end thrive in both their professional and personal lives?
It was difficult, yes. I knew that there was room for both of them at the top of the food entertainment ranks even though they are such opposites—just think of Gordon Ramsay and Pioneer Woman as an example of how possible that is—but how was I ever going to bring them together? In the end, I knew it all had to be about clearing away the layers of persona and reputation—good and bad—and shaking it all out until all that remained were two people united in their love of cooking. And not just as a skill and a career, but as a sanctuary that has saved them both countless times throughout their lives. Once the public personas cleared away, I knew Max and Hadley would be able to connect over mutual brokenness and a shared passion.

In addition to romance and humor, you also sprinkle your novels with plenty of pop culture references. How did you become so enamored with pop culture?
I grew up in a family that watched television and movies together, listened to every type of music, and on one specific occasion, performed the entire Original Broadway Cast album of Camelot using my stuffed animals. For us, pop culture was something that brought us together. Sadly, I don’t think that tends to be the case as often in families today—probably because every member of the family can watch whatever they want on their own device, with their headphones on. But growing up with a family that huddled around the TV together definitely left its mark on me.

You are not afraid to tackle some sensitive topics in your writing. How have humor and empathy helped you connect with your readers?
The thing is, life is funny. Sometimes it’s ironic funny, sometimes it’s ha-ha funny, sometimes it’s just plain weird funny. But it’s never boring. And more often than not, the real, very serious issues we deal with throughout our lives aren’t happening in a very melodramatic way with perfectly shed tears and neatly tied bows to wrap it all up at the end. We ugly-cry. We lash out when we shouldn’t. We laugh in the saddest of moments, because the laughter is our best defense—and often therapeutic, to boot! By dealing with some very real, very sensitive topics while keeping all of that in mind, I think my readers and I have been able to break through some defenses and barriers together. And, just like laughing with a friend in the saddest, sometimes most seemingly inappropriate moments, it has seemed to create some connection that I treasure.

What are you working on next?
I don’t officially know what’s next just yet, but I’m currently enjoying revisiting some old fictional friends of mine. I have a couple manuscripts from years ago that haven’t yet seen the light of day yet— and maybe they never will!—and I’ve really been enjoying pulling them out and seeing how I can make them stronger.

How can readers connect with you?
My absolute favorite connection point is within my reader group on Facebook. It’s called “The Book Club Closest to My House” (named in honor of Sarah’s book club in The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck) and it is for anyone who has read and connected with at least one of my stories. (It’s not a spoiler-free environment—so we talk about everything!) I can also be found on Facebook and Instagram as @seebethanywrite. And, of course, I hope everyone will stop by my website at seebethanywrite.com. There you can learn a little bit more about me and sign up for my newsletter—among other things! I also love connecting with readers through email. My email address is bethany@seebethanywrite.com.

For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.