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Publication Day and Blog tour for Effie Olsen’s Summer Special 

379 pages Berkley publisher April 30,2024 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

These childhood best friends swore they’d never speak again. But a surprise summer reunion changes everything when it gives them the chance to turn up the heat.
 
Effie Olsen thought she’d never live on the tiny Maine island where she grew up, but she’s returning from sixteen years as a professional chef in far-flung countries for one summer and one summer only. Her hometown boasts one of the best restaurants in the US, and lucky for her, Brown Butter needs a sous chef. Effie’s eager for a chance at redemption after her last job went up in flames, but reluctant to set down roots in a place that reminds her of the ghosts of her past.

Until, that is, she runs into Ernie Callahan, her onetime best friend who now works in the very same restaurant. Early morning swims and late-night games of truth or dare with Ernie remind her of what she’s been missing while traveling the world. He knows her better than anyone, and it doesn’t hurt that his smile lights her up brighter than the lighthouses dotting the craggy coastline.

But their restaurant has a secret that’s bursting at the seams, and if Effie doesn’t keep it, her job will vanish into the foggy Maine air. As summer draws to a close, her dream job and the perfect guy are both within reach. Her salty seaside hometown might be the key to Effie’s sweet ending…if she can learn to let her heart lead the way in time.

MY THOUGHTS

Absolutely delightful foodie summer romance set on an island off the coast of Maine. So realistically descriptive, I could hear the water crashing against the rocks, see the seaweed as the low tide lapped, hear the gulls cawing looking for breakfast and see the lobster boats out with their traps set as they watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean.

Though I don’t live in Maine I have had the privilege of visiting the beautiful and charming state multiple times in summer and fall. I’m ready to return.


Effie left the tiny Maine island and her best friend Ernie sixteen years ago, right after high school, thinking never to live there again. She had high aspirations for herself, become a professional chef and travel to foreign countries. She accomplishes both but her latest restaurant job doesn’t work out so well and she’s home again on the island after all this time, just for the summer she tells herself.

Ernie, he’s a lifer, he still lives on the island and is satisfied to not have the travel bug. Island life has treated him well. Effie knows it’s inevitable on the small island she’ll eventually run into Ernie. You can’t plan these things, it’ll just happen. Will it be awkward after all this time?

Working at an island restaurant, Brown Butter, Effie is satisfied and it’s a popular spot for the locals and tourists alike. Behind the scenes there are things going on and Effie feels she must speak up. Once she speaks up how will her job security hold up though? I loved how so much of the book took place in the restaurant and got a real feel of the professional restaurant scene from the servers to the line prep to the dishwashers. The desserts sounded amazing and the dinners divine.


This was a slow burn romance that had Effie and Ernie reuniting in a surprising way, talking things out and taking it slow with their romance. Will Effie’s mind be changed about staying just for the summer or will she be trotting off on her next adventure when the leaves start to change? Such a fun summertime beach read I’ll be on the lookout for more by the author.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rochelle Bilow is a romance writer, food writer, and writer writer. She is a graduate of The French Culinary Institute and has worked as a baker, a line cook, and the social media manager for Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines. Her articles about home cooking, restaurants, food news and trends, spirits, groceries, and products have been published in a variety of national publications, including: Eating Well, Food & Wine, Serious Eats, The Kitchn, and The Spruce Eats.

Rochelle’s first book, a romantic farming memoir titled The Call of the Farm, was published by The Experiment in 2014.

Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year, her second book—and fiction debut—was published by Berkley Romance in February 2023. It is available wherever books are sold.

Rochelle’s second romcom, Effie Olsen’s Summer Special, will be published in April 2024, and is available for preorder now!

rochellebilowwriting@gmail.com

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Have a marvelous day. Thanks for stopping in.

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A Troubling Tail (A Bookmobile Cat Mystery Book 11) by Laurie Cass

367 pages August 01,2023 publication date Berkley publisher

Grab A Copy Here

About The Book

When the owner of a local candy store is murdered, librarian Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, prepare to find the sweet spot to solve a crime.

The charming town of Chilson, Michigan, is beautiful in the spring, and the bookmobile is delivering great reads far and wide on one of the first warm days of the year. But a chill sweeps through when they discover that one of their favorite patrons, the owner of Henika’s Candy Emporium, has been found murdered. Although Minnie can’t understand who could have had a motive to murder such a kind man, she decides that the sticky problem isn’t hers to solve.

However, when rumors start flying around town and the police have no leads, Minnie decides to throw her investigative hat into the ring. The more Minnie investigates, the less certain she is that the victim’s past is as wholesome as his reputation. But Minnie has plenty of experience unearthing inconvenient truths, and she and Eddie won’t rest until they determine how the victim met his bitter end.

My Thoughts

I was so excited to see a new book in one of my favorite cozy mystery series, this is number 11 in the Bookmobile Cat series. If you love cozies, bookmobiles, libraries and cats this one is perfect for you.


A kindly older gentleman, owner of a candy shop in Chilson, Michigan is murdered. The police don’t seem to be solving it quickly enough so Bookmobile driver and librarian Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, are once again on the case of another murder.


Giving his meow of approval or disapproval Eddie isn’t just the cutest library cat for children to cuddle he’s there in the middle of it all. The series is consistently interesting with its twists and turns and red herrings thrown in.


I was easily pulled into the story and could visualize it well. The characters are easy to follow and likable. Minnie and her fiancée don’t seem to be in a hurry to plan their wedding but I’m hoping we’ll see that in the next book.

Pub Date 01 Aug 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Laurie Cass grew up in Michigan and graduated from college in the 80’s with a (mostly unused) degree in geology. She turned to writing in the late nineties. After a number of years in management, she felt the need to move on and took a job with fewer responsibilities. A month later, she was dead bored and began to consider writing as a way to wake up her brain. She started reading a lot of books on writing and happened across a particular sentence: “What’s it going to be, reasons or results?”

The phrase practically stuck her in the eye. She printed it out, framed it, and put it next to her computer. “Reasons or results?” At the end of her life, was she going to have a pile of reasons for not having done anything? Or was she going to sit down and write a book? Once she started looking at it that way, the decision was easy. A short 13 years later, her first book was published.

Currently, Laurie and her husband share their house with two cats, the inestimable Eddie and the adorably cute Sinii. When Laurie isn’t writing, she’s working at her day job, reading, attempting to keep the flowerbeds free of weeds, or doing some variety of skiing. She also writes the PTA Mysteries under the name Laura Alden.

Have you read this author yet? What are your favorite types of cozy mysteries to read?

Have a peaceful day and thanks for stopping in today.

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Release Day Post-Blog Tour for With Love, From Cold World by Alicia Thompson

WITH LOVE, FROM COLD WORLD by Alicia Thompson is out today and I cannot wait to introduce you to this book. I absolutely love this cover as well!

394 pages Berkley publisher August 1,2023 publish date

About The Book

She has a to-do list a mile long and falling for her coworker isn’t on it—yet somehow he’s become her top priority in this romantic comedy from the national bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers.

Lauren Fox is the bookkeeper for Cold World, a tourist destination that’s always a winter wonderland despite being located in humid Orlando, Florida. Sure, it’s ranked way below any of the trademarked amusement parks and maybe foot traffic could be better. But it’s a fun place to work, even if “fun” isn’t exactly Lauren’s middle name. 

Her coworker Asa Williamson, on the other hand, is all about finding ways to enliven his days at Cold World—whether that means organizing the Secret Santa or teasing Lauren. When the owner asks Lauren and Asa to propose something (anything, really) to raise more revenue, their rivalry heats up as they compete to come up with the best idea. But the situation is more dire than they thought, and it might take these polar opposites working together to save the day. If Asa thought Lauren didn’t know how to enjoy herself, he’s surprised by how much he enjoys spending time together. And if Lauren thought Asa wasn’t serious about anything, she’s surprised by how seriously he seems to take her. 

As Lauren and Asa work to save their beloved wintery spot, they realize the real attraction might be the heat generating between them.

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

When you discover a new to you author with a book you absolutely love and can’t put down.
First off, that cover. Gorgeous and so eye catching. It says cold and hot at the same time.


I knew this would be a love story but without having read the author yet, I thought it would be your typical romance. It was so much more. I haven’t read a romance this emotional in a while.


I just loved the concept of “Cold World” an indoor fun world bringing the outdoors inside. Cold World has all the cold fun you could want with an indoor skating rink, falling snow, a magical snow globe, frigidly cold temperatures and more. I thought it was a pretty neat concept and it’s set in Florida as well.


The romance is hot and steamy. A friends to lover’s romance. Coworkers that have worked together a long time begin to see each other in a new light.
The book felt very realistic, each of the leads has insecurities they need to work through and with the other person they receive emotional support.


One of the leads is bisexual and has been estranged from his family for most of his adult life since his forced coming out.
There is an unexpected family reunion with our hero and his family.
There is a strong sense of transparency with our main characters they put themselves out there and open up to each other leaving themselves vulnerable if the other wanted to take advantage of them.


They each have an important back story which helps to explain why they have the insecurities they do. There are some trigger warnings that the author makes a note of. I really loved how even while going through so many personal things the author portrays a united front with our two main characters and the support, they give each other. Definitely an author on my radar that I’ll be reading more of in the future.

Pub Date: 01 Aug 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Author

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