I very much enjoyed the three other novels that I read and reviewed by Julia Kelly. They were The Whispers of War; The Light Over London; and The Last Garden in England. Each of these had war as a backdrop for good historical fiction.
Now, Julia Kelly has turned her pen to the post WWII period with this book that has nostalgia, drama, some interesting characters and lots of details. As can be seen from the title, this book is about debs, specifically a group of young women who were among the very last to be presented to royalty in 1958. Such presentations and the seasons that followed were the aspiration of many upper class families.
Here the author follows three different young women; Lily, Leana and Katherine. Each copes with their season in a different way; all of their lives intersect in a kaleidoscope of lunches, suppers, dances, balls, shopping trips, country weekends and more. Those who would like to vicariously sample the dresses, menus and venues will have much to enjoy here.
Each of these young women is looking to find their life’s direction. Follow them on their journey. You will witness friendship, love, conflict and some secrets!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
I am delighted to be taking part in this blog tour. Thank you Justine Sha, the author and the publisher. Below you will find an excerpt an author q and a, and more for what looks like a delightful read!
Chapter 1
My white dress trails me as we make our way across the small clearing to where the others are waiting. The heavy fabric rustles against the ground, a few leaves catching in the hem, but I ignore them, concentrating instead on what’s ahead. All eyes are on me.
“Are you sure?” my cousin Mia asks at my elbow. My partner in crime.
I glance her way. I’m nervous, but I don’t want to be, and the simmering excitement in her expression reassures me. This is the right choice.
“Hundred percent,” I say.
She smiles and squeezes my hand. “You’ll rock this, I know it.” She lets go and steps away to assume her position with a wink. “See you on the other side.”
Then it begins.
I take off at a sprint. The paintball arena is at least a football field in size and strewn with steel drums, crates, and sandbags. A few larger structures in the middle resemble a small-scale Old West town complete with porches and a saloon sign. The guys Mia and I’ve been teamed up with run that way, while she and I head for the trees along the sides. The large pines tower stoically above the fray, and I choose one of the largest trunks for my first cover.
“Did everyone else go the other way?” I call out to Mia but get no response. Wasn’t she behind me?
I peer around the trunk only to catch the whisp of her braid beneath her helmet as she dives for shelter by a tree trunk twenty yards in front of me.
“Don’t be a baby, Porter,” I chastise myself, before following her. It’s a thirty-minute game of most-hits-win, so she’s got the right idea: it’s go time.
As fast as my skirts allow, I jog in the direction of the rapid pops and ka-splats of active battle, paintball gun at the ready. The staff told me I’d be at a disadvantage playing in my wedding dress, and they had a good point. But then again, I didn’t come here expecting to leave in virginal white.
I barely get my finger on the trigger before two shots in succession hit me squarely in the chest, and a green stain blooms before me. It hurts less than I anticipated, but I still freeze too long and another round easily finds my shoulder. Blue paint drips off the white lace of my sleeve.
Oh yeah? That’s how it’s going to be?
Something akin to glee bubbles up my chest and I let out a loud cackle. All righty, then. Shouldering my gun, I aim at the culprit—some kid a full foot shorter than me— and one, two, three splotches of paint hit his belly.
“Yeah!” I shout, as he hightails off. Adrenaline pumps through my arms.
“Dani, over here!” Mia runs sideways behind me from the cover of a fake building to a stack of boxes. “I’ll shield you.”
Yeah right. She already looks like she’s wrestled with a rainbow.
I consider darting the opposite way, to a smattering of hay bales, but Mia sounds increasingly desperate. I hike up my skirts and do my best to make myself small before jumping to safety next to her.
Back up against the boxes, I peek around the corner. “Two of them,” I say, still breathing hard. “On my mark.” I count down with my fingers and, on three, we spring out, guns leveled at opponents who don’t see us coming. I’m a vengeful angel, gliding through the sky—at least that’s what I picture until my toe catches the hem of my dress and I stumble forward into a mouthful of dirty straw.
“Take that!” Mia shouts from a distance, accompanied by a fresh round of shots volleying through the air.
“What the fuck?” a deep voice yells out.
Another voice: “We’re on the same fucking team.”
I lift my face off the ground. Mia is backing up toward me, pursued by our imagined foe who’s indeed wearing the same beat-up Timberlands I spotted on our teammates earlier.
It’s fair to say they’re about as excited to be paired with us as my taste buds are about the straw. I spit out the horse fodder and push myself up.
“We should have never teamed up with them,” the first guy complains. “That one wants to get hit, and this one…” He gestures at Mia.
She exhales as if he’s punched her.
“What?” I say, moving to stand between him and my cousin. “This one, what?”
“Dude, come on,” the second guy says. “Let’s just play.”
“Well she’s not exactly agile, is she?” guy number one sneers.
“Ha, that’s funny.” I bob my head a few times and train my gun on him. “What do you think, Mia?”
She appears at my side. “I think someone’s about to get pummeled.”
His eyebrows jerk behind his protective goggles, but that’s all he manages before we shoot.
And shoot again.
Who needs a team? The sight of them running away is totally worth losing for.
Q: Love at First Spite is your debut novel. Tell us about your journey to get here.
A: I started writing full-length fiction twelve years ago when my kids were little as an escape from the eating/sleeping/changing diapers rut. Initially, it was just a fun experiment, but my perception of my writing as merely a hobby really transformed when I got into PitchWars in 2017. It was a sort of recognition that I had something worth cultivating, and it also introduced that most crucial aspect of a writer’s life – the writing community. I learned so much from that – about the writing and editing process, about querying, about persistence, and about the importance of not going at it alone. I didn’t sign with my agent (Kimberley Cameron of Kimberley Cameron & Associates) through PitchWars though, but from a cold query about six months later.
At that point I was writing exclusively women’s fiction. We went on sub with the book that Kimberley signed me on in 2018 and then with another one in 2019, and for a long time nothing happened. We had lots of rejections – polite and complimentary ones, yes, but still rejections. I think this is something authors don’t often talk about, but it happens to most of us. You have to develop a thick skin and always write the next thing.
So, 2020 arrived, I had two books on long-term sub, I had written yet another WF manuscript, and was considering my next project. With Covid shutting everything down with no end in sight, I needed a change, so I decided to try my hand at writing something more light-hearted. Said and done – with the cheerleading of my writing group (also closest friends) spurring me on, Love at First Spite was born. Turns out some flirty banter and revenge shenanigans were exactly what my writerly quarantine year needed!
As luck would have it, I actually ended up signing my two WF books with a smaller press at the end of 2020, and shortly after that, Graydon House acquired Love at First Spite and set a publication date that would make it my debut. And here we are!
Q: What inspired this story?
A: I keep a running list of ideas for stories that I add to whenever I see or hear something that strikes me as interesting, or when I read about a topic that seems off-beat or unusual. Often, a title relating to the topic will come to me first, so I’ll jot down that and a brief line about it. In this case, I had read an article about spite houses around the world probably a year or so prior, found the lengths some people go to for revenge fascinating, and consequently made a note of it on my list. The exact words were “The Spite House – building a building to get revenge.” That was it – no genre, no characters, nothing. When I decided I wanted to write a romcom, this title stood out to me in my list as I could easily picture the pettiness required for such a build being ripe for comedic situations. It’s over-the-top right away as far as revenge goes, which seemed like a good place to start.
Q: What research did you do for this book?
A: I’m neither an interior designer nor an architect like my two main characters, so I obviously had to do some research into what day-to-day life might look like in those fields. I also researched zoning laws for the city where the story takes place, fence regulations, construction terms, house building processes, common neighbor disputes (there are some pretty colorful ones on the internet), video surveillance systems, and how to tuft figures out of wool. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few things, but that’s at least a general overview of my search history during that period of writing.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Currently, I’m wrapping up a second romcom that I can’t currently talk about, while also finishing copy edits for my first women’s fiction title, These Numbered Days, which will be out some time in spring/summer 2022. And brainstorming my next project, of course. Always brainstorming!
Anna E. Collins is a Seattle-area author who writes stories about the lives and loves of women. Once upon a time she was a teacher, and she has a master’s degree in educational psychology. LOVE AT FIRST SPITE is her first novel.
Book Summary: In this delightful, breezy romcom, interior designer Dani decides to get revenge on her cheating ex the only way she knows how: by building a spite house next door. They say living well is the best revenge. But sometimes, spreading the misery seems a whole lot more satisfying. That’s interior designer Dani Porter’s justification for buying the vacant lot next to her ex-fiancé’s house…the house they were supposed to live in together, before he cheated on her with their realtor. Dani plans to build a vacation rental that will a) mess with his view and his peace of mind and b) prove that Dani is not someone to be stepped on. Welcome to project Spite House.
That plan quickly becomes complicated when Dani is forced to team up with Wyatt Montego, the handsome, haughty architect at her firm, and the only person available to draw up blueprints. Wyatt is terse and stern, the kind of man who eats his sandwich with a knife and fork. But as they spend time together on- and off-site, Dani glimpses something deeper beneath that hard veneer, something surprising, vulnerable, and real. And the closer she gets to her goal, the more she wonders if winning revenge could mean losing something infinitely sweeter
This series introduces the youngest children to many well-known adults and tells their life stories in a simple manner. The illustrations always add to the flavor of the text. The ones included here are very bold and appealing. Each book includes some additional information at the end of the story.
This time, the biography is of one of the most intriguing artists of the modern era. Children will learn that young Pablo’s very first word was pencil and that he was interested in art from a very early age. Kids learn about the reason for Pablo’s Blue Period, his creation of new artistic styles, and his struggles. The story is well told.
I highly recommend this entry in the excellent series. It tells the story of a boy who grew up to be an artist on his own terms.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This story about a little bear who loves to play the flute has a simple story line and beautiful, sweet illustrations. I especially loved the one of Little Bear playing the flute while sitting on the potty. Many animals are featured in the story and little ones will enjoy recognizing and naming them.
Over the course of a day, Little Bear’s music disturbs some and enchants others. Through it all, she continues to play and bring critters together.
This is a simple story for a young listener. They will see that some will appreciate an effort while others need time to come around.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
I always enjoy the cozy case samplers. Each one features information about forthcoming books along with generous excerpts. This volume is no exception.
Inside are books by Ellie Alexander, Dianne Kelly, Korina Moss, Gigi Pandian, and Paige Shelton. There is also the first co authorship of a Molly Murphy mystery which is written by Rhys Bowen and her daughter.
I especially look forward to reading Under Lock and Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian. It just looks like such fun. It feature Tempest Raj who fears that she was the intended victim of a crime. There is mention of Indian food too! I do note too that several other of these titles feature either food or baked goods, while Paige Shelton’s protagonist is a bookseller.
Cozy lovers get your copy of this free collection at your favorite e book seller. You can then plan your next reads.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Dannie is the kind of young woman, who for reasons that become clear, sets her goals and works hard to achieve them. She has the life that she seems to want as the story opens. Dannie has just interviewed for the job of her dreams and (not a spoiler because it happens early in the novel), her compatible boyfriend David is about to propose to her in an iconic Manhattan setting. All seems perfect but…if that were the case, this would just be a short story.
Instead, Dannie has a strange experience. She is transported to the future and the man she is with is not David, but Aaron. This dream seems so real and it has a great impact on Dannie; so great an impact that she talks to a therapist about it.
Meanwhile, Dannie continues in her life. Readers spend time with her and her friend Bella who is a more spontaneous, artistic type. What will happen to Dannie? To Bella? To Aaron? Does Dannie belong with David? Should she be with Aaron even though that would be complicated (no spoiler so not saying why)?
This novel has gotten mixed reviews. Still, I liked it well enough. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
The Bookstore at the Beach is the second title that I have read by Ms. Novak, following her earlier novel, One Perfect Summer. As was true of that book, this is a long (448 pages) story that is filled with plot and character.
Readers follow and get to know the lives, struggles and joys of three generations of women from one family. The oldest is Mary. She runs a bookstore in a small town and leads a fairly insular life. Mary is not a risk taker. Why? What happened to her in the past that formed her attitudes and character? No spoilers so you have to read the book to find out.
Next up is Autumn, Mary’s daughter. She has come with her two children to spend time with Mary over the summer. Readers learn early on that Autumn’s husband has been missing for nineteen months, most likely related to his travel in Ukraine. Should Autumn hold on to hope that he will come back or…should she again become involved with her high school crush who lives in the town where Autumn is summering?
Finally there is Taylor, Autumn’s daughter. She was feeling numb and engaged in sexual activity without using birth control. Is she pregnant? If yes, how will this define her life? There is also a strong plot line about Taylor’s friendship with Sierra as Taylor wonders if she is in love with her.
The author holds onto all of the many plot strands without losing any of them. She tells a story that has some depth and that held my interest.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
Recipes from Emily’s Table Alongside the Poems That Inspire Them
by Arlyn Osborne
#TheEmilyDickinsonCookbook #NetGalley Pub Date 11 Jan 2022
Many of us think of Emily Dickinson as the author of beautiful and, at times, enigmatic poems. I have rarely thought about her domestic life or her cooking skills but, of course, given her times and world, it makes sense that Emily spent time in the kitchen.
This beautiful book opens up Dickinson’s world to the modern reader. Here is a collection of (updated) recipes that give a sense of what Emily cooked and baked.
Following an interesting introduction, the book is divided into six chapters. These include Breakfasts and Brunches; Tea Time at the Dickinsons; From the Stockpot; Poetic Suppers; Emily’s Best Breads; and Cakes, Pies, and Other Sweet Things. A sample recipe from each section includes Baked Berry Pecan French Toast, Cherry Scones, Mushroom Pot pie, Little Dinner Rolls and Federal Cake. Each recipe begins with an interesting fact about this most interesting poet. There are also poems to read.
Interspersed with the recipes are many photos. The food looks very appealing.
This book would make an excellent gift for a Dickinson lover, including yourself!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this lovely book. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 