Harlequin Archives - Dear Mr. Hemingway, LLC

The Bitter And Sweet of Cherry Season

January 8, 2021June 14, 2020 by Kelly Fredericks

By Molly Fader

Harlequin Trade Publishing~2020 Summer Reads Blog Tour~Women’s Fiction & Romance

June 15, 2020

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

I feel like so many of the books I have read lately have me thinking of you, especially your younger days. Today I am talking about a book that took place in one of your old stomping grounds. The story I just read was set in a cozy farmhouse surrounded by a cherry orchard in Michigan. You remember Michigan, right? You may not have been picking cherries, but you definitely enjoyed some high-quality outdoor time there. In Molly Fader’s latest book, The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season (and may I add her 50th book), the gorgeous state of Michigan is part of the spectacular backdrop of this heart warming family drama. Fader’s book stars three generations of women…Peg, Hope and Tink. Each one of these gals won me over with their courage, strength and willingness to start again. When Hope and her daughter Tink surprise Aunt Peg in the middle of the night on her doorstep, family secrets are slowly revealed, the taste of of new life is sampled and love is just a barn door away. There is nothing like cherry season to bring a family together. This homey and sweet tale was the perfect lazy afternoon treat!

Until next time my friend! Happy Reading!

Your Biggest Fan,

Kelly

P.S. Check out the synopsis of The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season:

” Everything Hope knows about the Orchard House is from her late-mother’s stories. So when she arrives at the Northern Michigan family estate late one night with a terrible secret and her ten-year-old daughter in tow, she’s not sure if she’ll be welcomed or turned away with a shotgun by the aunt she has never met.Hope’s aunt, Peg, has lived in the Orchard House all her life, though the property has seen better days. She agrees to take Hope in if, in exchange, Hope helps with the cherry harvest—not exactly Hope’s specialty, but she’s out of options. As Hope works the orchard alongside her aunt, daughter, and a kind man she finds increasingly difficult to ignore, a new life begins to blossom. But the mistakes of the past are never far behind, and soon the women will find themselves fighting harder than ever for their family roots and for each other.”

Click on the book pic below to purchase.

Check out Molly Fader’s Website for more feel good books.

Books About Bookshops About Books About Bookshops

January 8, 2021January 17, 2020 by Kelly Fredericks

The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin (Harlequin)

January 17, 2020

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

Wander the streets of Paris and you will never return home the same. La Ville Lumiere (The City of Lights) is what she is called. Paris sucks you in with the taste of your first cafe au lait. A city where art and intellect are the norm and glamour and romance is the marinade of choice. Imagine being cozied upon an old weathered leather couch feeling the draft of a door opening and closing. Mini clusters of people stand in line with coats half-zipped juggling their mittens and handbags while balancing new books in their empty hands. Outside the air is crisp, the wine is just a sip away and La Tour Eiffel in glowing in the background. I bet this sounds all too familiar Mr. H. At the end of the day, what could be better than being seduced by shelves of Parisian books while nibbling on a buttery croissant reading the works of famous writers?????? Nothing. There…I said it. This actually sounds perfect. If this is something that delights you, then look no further. Rebecca Raisin’s new book, The Little Bookshop on the Seine, will whisk you away to the streets of Paris in the blink of an eye. And Guess what…..no passport needed. Here we go.

“Paris was a haven for lost souls. A place for reinvention. The type of city that would keep your secrets like the most loyal friend.”

Sarah Smith, owner of a little bookshop in the small town of Ashford, CT is looking for a change. When her bookshop rent increases and book sales struggle to cover the growing costs, Sarah falls into a rut. It doesn’t help matters that the love of her life, Ridge, is traveling on assignment for the next year. In comes Sarah’s French friend, Sophia. Coincidentally, Sophia contacts Sarah around this time with a proposition. Grappling with her own personal life, Sophia proposes that she and Sarah switch jobs. Sophia will run Sarah’s small town bookshop in Ashford, while Sarah runs Sophia’s bookshop in Paris. This seems like the perfect opportunity for Sarah to rediscover herself while exploring a new city.

When Sarah arrives in Paris, it is briskly brought to light that this bookshop swap was not the even trade she was expecting. With unreliable staff and an unimaginable workload, Sarah finds living in a foreign city harder than she imagined. As the weeks go by, Sarah tries to immerse herself into the magical culture. Managing the Paris bookshop, yearning for her hometown friends and longing for her beau Ridge, all take the allure away from her French experience. As the Christmas season approaches, Sarah is more unsure than ever of her future.

A book about books and bookshops is a book lover’s dream. I absolutely adored Rebercca’s Raisin’s new book. Moving to Paris to reevaluate your life always makes for a good story. Throw in working at a Parisian bookstore, and I am in heaven. Sarah was such a lovely character to spend time with. Her Ashford friends and Paris co-workers all added charm to her cozy tale. I absolutely loved her and Ridge. Her longing to be with him seeped through the pages. Though their relationship wasn’t the main source of entertainment, it does offer a few quick doses of heart pounding romance. And for the record….. Ridge is quite desirable. The Little Bookshop on the Seine is the perfect literary treat for book lovers. If you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of your own life, snuggle up under a blanket by the fire and enjoy this heartwarming story. It will no doubt bring a smile to your face.

Write to you next week Mr. H.

Your Biggest Fan,

Kelly

P.S. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for inviting me on this blog tour for Romance and Women’s fiction. Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Check out the links below to Purchase The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin.

Harlequin

Indiebound

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

Target

Walmart

Google

iBooks

Kobo

Honor codes, Secret Societies & Traditions.…Oh My!

January 8, 2021January 6, 2020 by Kelly Fredericks

Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison (Harlequin)

Harlequin Trade Publishing Blog Tour: Mystery & Suspense

January 6, 2020

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

What does a prestigious all-girls boarding school with a dead student hanging from the front gates make you think of??? My first thought would be that the cast from Gossip Girl invaded Rory Gilmore’s Chilton High School (not a boarding school, but same idea) and something BIG “goes down”. Well, if you think that makes an interesting combo, you must check out J.T. Ellison’s new book, Good Girls Lie. Pull down the shades for a darker backdrop and add a dollop of creepy. A very juicy treat is on the menu. Suspense and thrill-seekers will gobble this story up. Let’s go to High School where scandal is the norm, lying is a past time and secrets can actually kill.

Ash Carr is about to start her sophomore year of high school at The Goode School, an all girl boarding school for the elite in Marchburg Virginia. Ash, originally from England, was recently orphaned. With her extraordinary smarts and extenuating circumstances, the Dean accepts Ash into the exclusive school for the Ivy bound student. Ash is immediately propelled into a world filled with backstabbing mean girls and secret societies with hazing at its finest. Shortly after her arrival, a well known student is found dead. The mysterious death ruffles the feathers of just about everyone at the school. Piecing together evidence of this death is not as easy as it appears. Secrets are abundant and lying comes easily to those with money to blow, attention to seek and the Ivy League at stake. With the school’s tarnished past resurfacing and skeletons from Ash’s closet making a surprise appearance, solving this case gets tricky. Will the Dean be able to get to the bottom of this tragedy while protecting the reputation of the school?

Even with a death lingering in the background, the students press on with their rigorous academics. Secret societies do their part bullying and brainwashing the next in line for their illustrious underground club, but at what expense? Anyone who attends Goode learns quickly that alliances and friendships have no roots and waver with the blink of an eye. Because the story is told from the point of view of both Ash and the Dean of the school, readers get a taste (not always very reliable) of what is going on from all angles. Ellison’s characters all play a role in this pulse pounding and provocative read. Suicide or murder??? Everyone was a suspect in my opinion. There was no shortage of peculiar behaviors and flawed personalities. “The Truth” was always questionable and at the end of the day, it was every man for himself.

Ellison’s description of The Goode School was spot on. Dark wooden staircases lined with dusty carpet, creaky doors, and a gothic flare added to the allure of this tale. Twists and turns with every flip of the page made this read suspenseful to the very end. Throw in a surprise ending that will leave your mouth wide open, and you’ve got yourself a solid read. Enjoy this my dear readers. It is a good one!

Until next time Mr. H.

Your Biggest Fan,

Kelly

P.S. Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for inviting Dear Mr. Hemingway on their Mystery & Suspense Blog Tour with Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison. It has been an absolute pleasure!

Below are some links to purchase Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison

Harlequin

Indiebound

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

Target

Google

iBooks

Kobo

TRIGGER WARNINGS

*Though the storyline follows high school students, the content in this book contains strong adult content.

*Suicide

*Murder

*Mental Health

*Sexual exploration

*Sexual content

*Hazing/bullying

*Drugs and alcohol

*Pregnancy

*abuse

Which Way Should I Swipe?

January 8, 2021January 3, 2020 by Kelly Fredericks

Husband Material by Emily Belden (Harlequin)

January 3, 2020

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

Welcome to 2020! A New year with brand new books! What is not to love? What I choose to read depends on my mood. Sometimes I crave something with twists and turns and utter suspense. While other times, I have a hankering for historical fiction or a fabulous memoir. Most recently though, I have been enjoying cuddling up in bed with a warm and fuzzy read. Something that doesn’t rattle me right before I start to count my sheep. Husband Material by Emily Belden was the perfect comfort read at the end of a long day. Let me give you the scoop.

Charlotte Rosen is a 29-year-old widow of five years. She lives in an apartment with her roommate, works as a social media analyst, and is in the process of developing the latest and greatest dating app. After work one day, Charlotte arrives home to a surprise package containing an urn of her late husband’s ashes. Not only does Charlotte now have to revisit a host of emotions, she has to interact with her “lovely” (not really) mother-in-law. In addition to her new found drama, Charlotte runs into Brian, her late husband’s best friend. As they reconnect, feelings between the two of them become complicated. Just when she thinks the ice underneath her can’t get any thinner, a truth bomb drops about her late husband’s past that has her questioning their entire marriage. Will she be able to come to terms with the past while rebuilding her future?

Husband Material is a heartwarming tale. I loved how Belden tied in Charlotte’s love for mathematical data and algorithms into her personal and professional life. I am more than happy to report that Charlotte is a lovable protagonist that is easy to root for. The characters around her make up the perfect cast for this delightful story. Charlotte’s struggle to let go of the past in order to move forward with her future is something that most people can relate to in some shape or form. For a book that revolves around death and loss, Belden did an excellent job at keeping her story light and uplifting with a dab of humor and romance. Happy Reading Friends!

Talk soon Mr. H.

Your Biggest Fan,

Kelly

P.S. Today’s post is part of Harlequin Trade Publishing Blog Tour: Romance and Women’s Fiction Winter 2020. Thank you to Harlequin for for inviting Dear Mr. Hemingway on this tour.

If you would like to read this book, check out some of the buying options below!

Harlequin: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781525805981_husband-material.html

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Husband-Material-Emily-Belden/dp/1525805983

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/husband-material-emily-belden/1129908343?ean=9781525805981#/

Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781525805981

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/husband-material-12

Google Books: https://books.google.com/books/about/Husband_Material.html?id=0sR6DwAAQBAJ

The Best Books of 2019!!!

January 8, 2021December 31, 2019 by Kelly Fredericks

December 31, 2019

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

Can you believe that today is the last day of 2019? The last day of this DECADE???? This year has turned out some tremendous reads. Today I am sharing my top nine reads of 2019. Whether I was excited, crying, horrified, or genuinely scared, these nine books delivered the feels!!!! My reading motto is and always will be READ WHAT YOU LOVE~LOVE WHAT YOU READ! If you follow this way of thinking…your reading life will be stellar! So without further ado…My top nine of 2019 (in no particular order)!

1. The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo (Doubleday)~This is the ultimate family drama/saga. It stole my heart ❤️❤️❤️!!

2. The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware (Gallery Books)~Smart homes, technology and keyholes officially terrify me 😱.

3. The Testaments by Margaret Attwood (Doubleday)~This book was absolutely BRILLIANT! Click here for my blog post!

4. The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves (St. Martin’s Press)~I ran out of tissues reading this love story. My heart melted…….is a good way!!! Click here to read my blog post.

5. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (Celadon Books)~This book absolutely lived up to the hype. Clever, sharp and impossible to put down.

6. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (Doubleday)~ Whitehead does a fantastic job depicting the south in the early 1960s while getting his point across without overly graphic descriptions of the unimaginable.

7. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (Penguin Press)~ A poetic, thought provoking and stunning read.

8. Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison (Harlequin)~ An elite all girl boarding school, a murder and a couple of mean girls……..this was great!

9. If You Want To Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais (G. P. Putnam’s Sons)~. This South African story tugged at my heart strings. A truly beautiful story! Click here to read my blog post.

Well Mr. H…………..That is a wrap! Cheers to another decade of reading!!!!

Your Biggest Fan,

Kelly

P.S. Did you know that the most read book in the world is The Bible and according to PBS “The Great American Read”, Harper Lee’s To Kill a MockingBird is America’s most loved novel.

Giddy-Up…Get Your Holiday Romance On!

January 8, 2021December 4, 2019 by Kelly Fredericks

Cowboy Christmas Redemption by Maisey Yates

Harlequin’s Holiday Blog Tour

December 4, 2019

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

December has arrived and the Holiday season is in full swing. Here in Maine, the ground is covered in snow, the fireplace is roaring and cozy reading is officially the name of the game. I am a sucker for curling up on my couch under a blanket and devouring romance books. Who doesn’t want to end their day (or start it) reading a story filled with an all-consuming passion, earth-shattering desire, and smoking hot chemistry between characters? Throw in a happily ever after, and life is pretty darn good! Because of this, Dear Mr. Hemingway is proud to be a part of Harlequin’s Holiday Blog Tour. Romance books in all of their glory with a holiday twist are something I can get behind. I am so excited to tell you about the first book I chose.

Gold Valley, Oregon is the place to be this December. Cowboy Christmas Redemption by Maisey Yates is the latest book in her Gold Valley Series. Here is the scoop. Caleb Dalton (AKA …sexy cowboy) is in love with single mom, Ellie Bell. There is of course one major roadblock standing in the way of this romance. Ellie is the widow of Caleb’s best friend (I am serious). However, when Caleb finds out that Ellie is finally in the market for love again, he decides to put his guilt aside and try to make all of Ellie’s Christmas wishes come true. Will Ellie and Caleb fall in love? Will they both have a Christmas to remember? I think you need to read this to find out.

What I love about Yates’ new book is that it is the ultimate feel-good holiday romance. Though the plot may be simple, her details are scrumptious. I kid you not, the steam between Caleb and Ellie is seeping from the pages of this book. Their appetite for one another is ravenous when they are in close quarters (you can totally feel the heat). Let me be clear though. This is not a fifty shades of whips and chains kind of romance. This is standing in the snow with rugged hands on your face while fingertips are tangled in your hair while deeply kissing you kind of romance (ok…sometimes hands are grabbing other things too, but I’ll let Maisey Yates tell you that part). Putting all the sweltering heat aside, Yates’ book is really just a good old fashioned love story. Small town holiday charm, characters that are easy to root for, and a Christmas wish come true is all we really need.

Cowboy Christmas Redemption is not the first in Yates’ Gold Valley Series. There are actually quite a few books and novellas that precede this book. With that said, this is the first book I have read in the series. Rest assured, it reads very well as a stand-alone novel. Of course, be prepared to want to backtrack when you are done. Now that I have a taste of Gold Valley, I am really looking forward to visiting again. Readers…..let loose and have some fun with this book. Feel hope, feel weak at the knees, feel sexy, and most of all……….feel love! I hope you enjoy this romantic holiday treat.

Happy Holidays Mr. H.

Your Biggest Fan,

Kelly

P.S. Thank you to Harlequin for having me on their Harlequin’s Holiday Blog Tour and for the gifted digital copy of Cowboy Christmas Redemption by Maisey Yates. It is always a pleasure!

Click here to purchase Cowboy Christmas Redemption by Maisey Yates

I Love You A Bushel & A Peck

January 8, 2021October 22, 2019 by Kelly Fredericks

Meant To Be Yours

By Susan Mallery

October 22, 2019

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

There is nothing better than kicking back with a good old fashion romance book. A story filled with magical first kisses, romantic tension, and a happy ending is my kind of escape. Susan Mallery, #1 New York Times best-selling author has written countless (and I mean countless) romance novels. Her latest, Meant To Be Yours hits shelves today. It is the fifth book in her Happily Inc. series. If you are looking for a story that will put a smile on your face, then start filling that dusty bathtub with some suds. Put down your thrillers, memoirs, and courtroom dramas for just a moment. Relax in the warm bubbles while your mind drifts to a town named Happily, Inc. I hope you enjoy your stay.

Renee is a wedding coordinator who specializes in “theme” weddings in the town of Happily, Inc. One would think that someone who plans the biggest day of someone else’s life would be gaga over getting married. One would be wrong. Renee’s past makes her weary of ever settling down. When her mother arrives in town for visit, things start to get interesting. In comes Jasper, Happily, Inc.’s resident novelist (love that there is an author in the actual story). Jasper is struggling with writing his next mystery book. Writing about a love interest for his lead character in his book is not coming naturally. He doesn’t have much to draw from his own love life since returning from his military assignment. His PTSD makes him feel less than whole. Taking on a relationship just doesn’t seem to be in the cards for him. However, when Jasper runs into Renee at the local bar, they hit it off. While neither of them are looking for a relationship, “friends with benefits” seems to be the perfect solution. Though their time together is piping hot, it also becomes complicated. Can they each battle their pasts in order for a brighter future together?????

Meant To Be Yours was the perfect lazy morning read. In a town where everyone knows everyone, Happily, Inc. was reminiscent of Stars Hollow from the Gilmore Girls and BlueBell from Heart of Dixie. Let’s face it, small towns always have the best drama and romances. Mallery’s characters each have their own unique storylines that make all of their relationships with one another entertaining. It was the banter and steamy bedroom scenes between Renee and Jasper that kept the pages turning for me. Details of Renee’s crazy themed weddings and Jasper’s novel writing process were most certainly delightful. Animal lovers will adore how Mallery incorporated her love of animals in this story. From rescued pets, to an animal preservation to a woman who can interpret what animals are thinking, our fury friends most definitely have a supporting role in this romance. Most importantly though, it was the hope and anticipation of a happily ever after that left me feeling giddy. Though I haven’t read any other books in Mallery’s Happily, Inc. series, I can honestly say that this worked fine for me as a stand alone book. I am eager to start from the beginning to learn more about the cozy town of Happily, Inc. and all of its lovely occupants. I hope you enjoy this comforting romance!!! Happy reading and happy soaking!

Write to you soon Mr. H.

Your Biggest Fan,

Kelly

P.S. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for inviting me on this Blog Tour: Romance & Women’s Fiction ~Fall/Winter 2020. Be sure to check out Susan Mallery’s website and all of her wonderful books.

Click here to purchase Meant To Be Yours by Susan Mallery

A Chickadee & A Raven Perched In A Tree

January 8, 2021October 11, 2019 by Kelly Fredericks

The Widow Of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox

October 11, 2019

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

October is here and it’s time to shift reading gears. Witches, haunted castles, and dark stormy nights are my jam. I am not talking gore with a side of blood and guts. Just good old fashioned spooky that brings out a few goosebumps. Let’s face it, there is something ghostly about autumn on the rocky coast of Maine. I should know, I live here. Icy blue ocean waves and trees covered in autumn leaves are to be expected. It is the smell of the salty sea air mixed with wood burning in the distance that gives way to its allure. A beautiful and mysterious woman, a castle nestled in the hills and nights covered in blankets of fog make the perfect backdrop for a spooky tale. I just finished Hester Fox’s new book, The Widow of Pale Harbor, and guess what??????? It is reminiscent of all the above. This book met all of my October reading needs. Here we go!!!!

The Widow of Pale Harbor is set in 1846, in the fictional town of Pale Harbor, Maine. Sophronia Carver (love her name) is a widow of four years. She lives at Castle Carver with her maid, a server and a groundskeeper. She spends her days running her late husband’s magazine and wandering her property. Here is her dilema. The people of Pale Harbor despise Sophronia. They believe her to be a witch who murdered her own husband. Things start to get interesting when Gabriel Stone moves into town (swooooon) to become the new Transcendentalist minister. As a romance blooms between Sophronia and Gabrielle, cryptic notes and dead things referencing Edgar Allan Poe’s creepiest stories start popping up. Who is responsible for all of these unfathomable happenings? Is Sophronia the witch that everyone claims her to be? Can Gabrielle save her from the people of Pale Harbor and this mysterious hell?

The Widow of Pale Harbor is filled with mystery, romance and a gothic flare (Hello Robert Smith from The Cure…AKA my favorite band ever!). By cleverly blending some of Edgar Allan Poe’s stories/poems (The Raven, The Devil in the Belfry, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, etc.) into this mystery, Fox’s story is a literary gem. Plan on exploring Poe’s work during and after this book if you need a refresher (I sure did). What I love about her book is that it is not overly gruesome. Dead bodies, a dark romance and picturesque settings fuel this suspenseful read. The atmosphere is a satisfying blend of dark and gloomy with a touch of suspense. Though this story will not likely give you nightmares, it will leave you with an eerie feeling and a thirst for more haunted tales. Fans of Daphne Maurier’s Rebecca will gobble this book up. Happy Reading and Happy Fall!

Until next time Mr. H.

Your Biggest Fan,

Kelly

P.S. Fox’s Castle Carver is based on the real Castle Tucker in beautiful Wiscasset, Maine. Click here to check it out.

Click here to Purchase The Widow Of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox

By Molly Fader

Click on the book pic below to purchase.

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