Book Mama Blog

About the Author:

Before turning to fiction, Kate worked in law, higher education, public relations and major gift fundraising. She has an English degree from McGill University and a Law degree from the University of Toronto.

She is a working mother, a community volunteer, a voracious reader and a pretty decent cook. On good days, she thinks she might have it all. On bad days, she wants a nap. Kate lives with her family in Toronto.

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NAL is giving one lucky winner a print copy of

The Hole in the Middle by Kate Hilton

US Only

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

What Was Mine - Review & Giveaway

Review by Marlene Engel

Every parent’s worst nightmare is having one’s child abducted. What would you do if you were at the store, turned your attention from your child in the shopping cart for moments, only to find that the child was taken during that time?

In an impulsive decision, Lucy spies a child left unattended in a shopping cart and snatches the child when no one is looking. She renames the four month old baby Mia and raises her as her own for twenty one years. Telling people that she adopted the baby and even hires a nanny from China to help care for her. Taken place in the 1990s, the story alternates between several people who were affected by the incident. It’s told from the current day with flashbacks to the time of the abduction and years proceeding it.

For the most part, Lucy justifies her decision to take Marilyn’s baby. She feels that she is a good mother, who did a great job raising Mia. At times she thinks back to her actions and how it must have impacted the birth mother. For Marilyn, her life is in shambles. She tries her best to pick herself up and move on. In time their lives cross and what happens from there will change both of their lives forever.

Talk about giving you chills. This book literally had me on the edge of my seat with each page I read. If you’re looking for an impossible to put down thriller, you won’t want to miss this book. You will be thinking about it long after you turned the last page!

Purchase the book at:

About the Author:

Helen grew up in King of Prussia, PA, the first of eight children. She wrote her first novel at age 8, in a school composition notebook, a domestic tale about a family of birds. After graduating from Cornell University, she took up another kind of fiction–advertising. She spent over 20 fun-filled years at ad agencies in San Francisco and New York, working as a writer and creative director on global brands like Clairol, Nikon, Volvo and Absolut.

Helen received an MFA in fiction from The New School and is an avid speaker on 21st century storytelling. She lives with her husband in New York and Salisbury, CT.

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Gallery Books is giving one lucky winner a print copy of

What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross

US only

Friday, January 1, 2016

The Center of the World - Review & Giveaway

Review by Marlene Engel

What would you do if you received a letter stating that the life you knew was all a lie? For fifteen year old Sofia, who was born in Mexico and adopted at a young age by her mother Kate, it happened after the passing of her stepfather, Martin.

Martin was also adopted and learned the truth of his birth parents only when his mother was on her death bed. Knowing the pain it caused him, he vowed that as long as he was alive, he would keep the secret that Kate was hiding. But instead chose to write a letter outlining the events of her past, that were unknown to most, and give it to his attorney to deliver upon his passing. A past that included her real birthplace of Guatemala and the extreme measures Kate took to give this child the life she deserved and Kate the child she desperately desired.

Upon learning the truth, Sofia’s trust in Kate is broken. Kate knows that she must bring Sofia to the place she was born, the place where violence ran high, the place where Kate found love in such devastation. Until Sofia learns the truth of her past, she won’t be able to understand the sacrifice and impossible decisions Kate made in smuggling her into the country. But is it too late to undo the damage and move forward? And will Kate be forced to return Sofia to her place of birth now that her secret has been revealed?

In a moving and heart-wrenching book about love, heroism and the measures one will go to for the sake of a child, the author gives us a first-hand perspective of a war-torn country and the lives effected. I found myself emotionally involved in the story, crying one minute and rooting for the characters another. This was my first novel by Jacqueline Sheehan, but certainly won’t be the last.

Purchase the book at:

About the Author:

Jacqueline Sheehan, Ph.D., is a fiction writer and essayist. She is also a psychologist. She is a New Englander through and through, but spent twenty years living in the western states of Oregon, California, and New Mexico doing a variety of things, including house painting, freelance photography, newspaper writing, clerking in a health food store, and directing a traveling troupe of high school puppeteers.

Jacqueline teaches workshops at Grub Street in Boston and Writers in Progress in Florence, Massachusetts.

Connect with the author at:

Kensington Books is giving one lucky winner a print copy of

The Center of the World by Jacqueline Sheehan

US only

Thursday, December 24, 2015

All the Rage - Review

Review by Darcie Czajkowski

Romy Grey was raped. A tragic, scaring event that was made worse because of who the perpetrator was.

The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner.

No one believes Romy. That’s her father’s fault. A drunk who mouthed off to the sheriff’s wife.

Romy has no credibility. Why would anyone believe the girl from the wrong side of the tracks?

One year later, Romy is still the outcast. Shamed by all. Friend to none. Except for Leon, the boy who works with her at the diner. But under the weight of shame and embarrassment, Romy has trouble letting him in. It’s hard for her to believe he wants her, despite the fact that when she says, “stop,” he does. Does he see the real her, though? Would he still care if he knew what happened to her?

Further complications arise when Romy’s former friend, Penny Young, disappears after a party, and Romy was there but can’t remember a thing. She’s questioned countless times about the night but has no answers. Is Kellan Turner responsible? Did he rape and kill her? And if he did, will anyone believe it?

Brilliantly written, Courtney Summers tackles an incredibly difficult topic. As a victim of sexual abuse as a child and rape as an adult, this book hit close to home. It was tough to read, largely because Summers nails it with her descriptions of how girls feel when they are violated. Girls and women are afraid to come forward, as they fear that they, like Romy, won’t be believed. They fear that nothing can be done. They fear that they will be blamed, or that they will be told that that they brought it on themselves. Society still has a long way to go in protecting girls and women from these types of offenses. But when authors like Summers are brave enough to raise the issue, let the world know and talk about the injustices that surround it, she is standing up for everyone who has been in Romy Grey’s shoes. Myself included.

Purchase the book at:

About the Author:

Courtney Summers was born in Belleville, Ontario in 1986 and currently resides in a small town not far from there. At age 14, she dropped out of high school to pursue her education independently and spent those years figuring out what she wanted to do with her life. At 18, she knew she was meant to write.

To date, she has authored five novels. Her first novel, Cracked Up to Be, was published when she was 22 and went on to win the 2009 CYBIL award in YA fiction. Since then, she’s published four more books–2011 YALSA Top 10 Quick Pick and White Pine Honour book, Some Girls Are, 2012 YALSA Quick Pick, Fall for Anything, and 2013 YALSA Top 10 Quick Pick and White Pine Honour book This is Not a Test and All the Rage as well as an e-novella, Please Remain Calm (a sequel to This is Not a Test).

When she is not writing, Courtney loves playing video games, watching horror movies and obsessing over the zombie apocalypse. Her favorite color is green and she’s a total feminist.

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Wednesday, December 23, 2015

1000 Blog Members Giveaway

1000 Blog Members Giveaway!

We’re getting closer to 1000 blog members, but still have a little way to go. Once we get to 1000 we’ll be having a HUGE giveaway that will be open internationally! Included will be:

Grand Prize: Kindle Paperwhite or a $120 Amazon gift card

2^nd Prize: Kindle or an $80 Amazon gift card

3^rd Prize: $25 Amazon gift card

I will also be making all giveaways international once we hit 1000 members!!!

There will be no Rafflecopter with this giveaway. I will use a random draw with all of the blog members to choose the winners. If you’re not a Book Mama Blog Book Buddy, what are you waiting for? All you have to do is go to the right-hand side of the blog page and under BOOK BUDDIES click on the blue tab that says “Join This Site.” Feel free to share this post. The sooner we get to 1000 members, the sooner we get to give away these amazing prizes!

Thank you to all for supporting this blog and allowing my passion for books to be shared with the world.

Marlene xoxo

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Dashing Through the Snow - Review & Giveaway

Review by Marlene Engel

Ashley’s Christmas wish is pretty simple, she just wants to spend Christmas with her mother in Seattle. But things aren’t looking too good. At the airport ticket counter, she’s informed that there are no more flights available and the man standing behind her isn’t making things any better.

Dashiell is a former Army officer also needing a flight to Seattle. After both are denied tickets, they meet up again at the car rental office where, as luck has it, there is only one car available. Reluctant to give up hope to spend the holidays with her mom, Ashley agrees to share the car ride with him.

There’s no doubt that Dash is handsome, but he seems to be the complete opposite of Ashley. Where she is outgoing and friendly, he is serious and tends to lack people skills. But the more time they spend, the more he finds Ashley chipping away at his well-constructed wall. There’s just something about her that intrigues him. But, as they embark on their road trip, they have no idea of the adventure that awaits them.

When it comes to fun Christmas books, Debbie Macomber never disappoints. So, grab a mug of hot cocoa and a cozy blanket and curl up with this fun, feel-good story with a cast of characters you won’t soon forget.

Purchase the book at:

Amazon * Barnes&Noble

About the Author:

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 750 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Eight of these novels hit the number one spot.

Macomber owns two businesses in Port Orchard, WA, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series. These include the Victorian Rose Tea Room, featured in the Cedar Cove series, and A Good Yarn Shop, introduced in her popular Blossom Street novels. They are located on the Village Square campus, which also serves as Debbie’s corporate headquarters.

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Ballantine Books is giving one lucky reader a print copy of

Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber

US only

Monday, December 21, 2015

The Admissions - Review & Giveaway

Review by Darcie Czajkowski

Is there such a thing as having it all? It seems like there is for the Hawthorne family. The leader of the clan, Gabe Hawthorne, is a partner at a management consulting firm. His wife, Nora, is a prominent real estate agent in a well-to-do region of San Francisco. Their children are thriving as well: the eldest, Angela, has a stellar GPA and an accomplished list of extra-curricular activities; the middle child, Cecily, is the star of her Irish dance class; and the youngest, Maya, is a happy, well-adjusted seven-year-old.

But beneath the patina of idealistic suburban life are secrets, lies, and a family struggling to keep up with fast-paced, do-more mentality of modern society. Will the Hawthorne family fall apart at its seams, or will they all bind together when dreams are crushed, long-buried secrets come to light, and acts of desperation threaten careers?

Meg Mitchell Moore in The Admissions offers up several questions for reflection: Is more always better? Is the rat race worth it? Is there only one route to success? Is it acceptable to live by our own definition of success or should we abide by society’s rubric?

The Admissions tackles age-old issues with a fresh, contemporary perspective. It’s humorous, lively, and on-point in sharing sentiments that we all face in modern America. To be better. To amass more money. To attend the best colleges. To raise the brightest, happiest, most well-rounded children. To be the most successful at our jobs. These things, in and of themselves, are not unworthy goals, but when our lives become consumed by comparative living and working ourselves to the bone, the payout becomes less sweet. We lose sight of the things that matters most, the aspects of life that we hold closest to our hearts. In the end, it’s not the material things that matter, or the diplomas we’ve mounted on the walls that keep us warm at night. When we are gray-haired and wizened, it’s those who are sitting next to us, those who have enriched our lives along the way, and the experiences we’ve shared with family and friends. Those are the memories that will confirm that we’ve lived a life that will leave behind a legacy that we can be proud of.

Mitchell’s novel is a highly enjoyable read, one that will stick with you long after you’ve read its final page.

Purchase the book at:

About the Author:

Meg Mitchell Moore began writing as soon as she figured out how the cursive 'T' and 'F' were different and hasn’t stopped since. Her debut novel, The Arrivals, was published in 2011 by Reagan Arthur Books, then an imprint of Little, Brown. Her second novel, So Far Away, was published in 2012 and was named one of the year’s best adult novels for young adults by Booklist. Her third novel, The Admissions, is due out in August 2015 from Doubleday. Before turning to fiction Meg worked as a freelance journalist for a variety of business and consumer magazines, where she often managed to pitch stories involving dogs. Before that she worked on the staff of a family of technology magazines. (Despite all of her time there, she is still trying to figure out what a server is.) Meg received a B.A. from Providence College and a master’s degree in English Literature from New York University. The daughter of a naval officer, Meg moved around every few years as a child, including a move her senior year of high school, which she is totally and completely over. Totally and completely: no scars. In 2012 Meg, her husband, their three children and a beloved border collie moved from Massachusetts to northern California. Despite California’s many charms (including the settings that inspired much of The Admissions), they lasted exactly one year and returned to the beautiful coastal town of Newburyport, Massachusetts, where they now live. The characters in The Admissions have many juicy secrets, but Meg’s own secrets are not so newsworthy. (Or are they?)

Connect with the author at:

Doubleday is giving one lucky winner a print copy of

The Admissions by Meg Mitchell Moore

Open internationally