Sarah's Blog

SMALL TOWN VS. BIG CITY #ROMBKLOVE21 DAY 30

Just like every romance reader I know, I have my favorite tropes. They’re like red velvet cupcakes, I can’t say no. My top three tropes are: Fake Relationship/Engagement/Marriage, Enemies to Lovers, and Art Heist.

And then, depending on my mood, I’ll pick a book that’s either a big city or a small town setting. I’m partial to small town romances in the summer for reading on vacation. And then right before the holidays, I like big city romances for reading while I’m on planes, trains and in cars.

If I can find a romance that combines my favorite tropes with the setting that I’m feeling in the mood. That’s my sweet spot. It’s the cupcake I can’t resist.

So here are a few of my suggestions for Big City Lovin’ vs. Small Town Romance that are like my favorite cupcakes. (I can’t say no.) These are all romances with my favorite tropes, but some feature big city loving and others are small town romances. Both are good. Both are deeply satisfying. It just depends on my mood.

What are your favorite trope/big city vs. small town romances.

And then could someone please pass the cupcakes, I’m ready to discover new romance…

SMALL TOWN ROMANCE

FAVORITE TROPE: FAKE LOVE

LIKE LOVERS DO by Tracey Livesay I have a particular fondness for romance novels that include a nod to a supportive circle of friends every heroine needs. Tracey Livesay does it so well – the dialogue instantly brings me into the group and makes me a member. Like Lovers Do is Book 2 in her Girls Trip Series. You may feel otherwise, but I don’t mind reading books out of order. Dr. Nicole Allen is small town girl who counts on the support of her close circle of friends. And when she gets into trouble her “friend” Dr. Benjamin Reed Van Mont is right there for her with a deal – if she’ll agree to pretend to be his lover for one week, he’ll pull some strings to help her out of her jam. And then it all gets real fast. Delicious beach reading ensues…

FAVORITE TROPE: ENEMIES TO LOVERS

WEDDING DATE DISASTER by Avery Flynn Romance novels set at weddings are my catnip. And if I know the author is going to bring on some snarky dialogue, I’m all in. I can always count on Avery Flynn to make me laugh, but she’s in her element when she brings together a hero and heroine who can’t stand the sight of each other. In this case, Will Holt is the evil twin brother of the heroine’s best friend. Let the banter begin!

FAVORITE TROPE: ART HEIST

LOVE UNLOCKED by Libby Waterford Romance novels set at weddings are my catnip. And if I know the author is going to bring on some snarky dialogue, I’m all in. I can always count on Avery Flynn to make me laugh, but she’s in her element when she brings together a hero and heroine who can’t stand the sight of each other. In this case, Will Holt is the evil twin brother of the heroine’s best friend. Let the banter begin!

BIG CITY ROMANCIN’

FAVORITE TROPE: FAKE LOVE

ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED by Farah Heron I fell in love with Farah Heron’s writing with her debut The Chai Factor. She remains a one-click author for me. Accidentally Engaged hit me with a double-whammy – not only is it a fake relationship trope – it is painted with shades of Great British Bake Off with a couples baking competition a featured part of the plot. Yummy!

FAVORITE TROPE: ENEMIES TO LOVERS

THE EX-TALK by Rachel Lynn Solomon I worked my way through college at a National Public Radio station. And then again I worked in the newsroom of a behemoth news radio station in Los Angeles. Let me begin by saying Rachel Lynn Solomon gets everything right about the setting and the personalities you will meet on air. Come for the perfect world-building, stay for the snappy dialogue, and then you’ll be unable to stop turning the pages. Even after I turned out the lights and tried to fall asleep, I was still dreaming about Studio C at Pacific Public Radio.

FAVORITE TROPE: ART HEIST

BLANK SPACES by Cass Lennox The story takes place in Toronto. There are four books in the series, but you can start with any one of them. I had an instant connection with Vaughn. And he and Jonah are complete opposites. Throw in an art heist and I’m all in. I’m def going back to read the rest of the series.

PS. SMALL TOWN ROMANCE IN THE BIG CITY

Sometimes I like to have my cake and eat it too. And that’s why I’m including these two bonus books — big city settings with small town feels.

When I was living in Los Angeles, I worked at Paramount Pictures and my apartment was in the Fairfax District. I never had to get on a freeway and on the weekends, I put my car in the garage and walked to LACMA, Whole Foods and the Farmers Market. I knew everyone who worked at all of my favorite haunts. It was like living in a small town in the big city. Maybe it was just because I grew up in a small town, but I loved having a small corner of a big city that I could call my own. These books give me the same feels.

FROM LITTLE TOKYO WITH LOVE by Sarah Kuhn Yes. I admit I am an adult who reads YA now and again. I was steered toward Sarah Kuhn’s writing in a bookstore and I’ve enjoyed everything she’s written. I love the feeling of falling in love for the first time. When life seemed so much simpler and the love interests were awkward and sweet. And Little Tokyo has a special place in my heart.

FLIRTING WITH FOREVER by Cara Bastone The author is a recent discovery for me, and I’m completely smitten. Not only can you always expect a dog on the cover, the heroine of this particular romance is thirty-seven, and I am always on the search for more romance heroines over 35. Ahem. This romance has a New York City setting, but the hero is a man who takes the subway back to ‘his neighborhood.’ That’s what I’m talking about. So much fun.

03.23.21 NEW BOOK RELEASE

A ROMANTIC COMEDY

SARAH VANCE-TOMPKINS

"Being a modern-day fairy godmother isn't all 'bibbidi bobbidi boo,'" the legendary Lilliana Willowbrook says. "It's hard work, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We don't handle cash, jewelry, real estate or revenge.”

AVIANA WILLOWBROOK had no idea that her mother is a living legend until the day the tattered old copy of "The Fairy Godmother's Rulebook" arrived in the mail on her twenty-first birthday. Estranged from her mom, and living in Beverly Hills with her father, her stepmother and two super-achieving stepsisters, Aviana is unhappy and directionless.

Hotel heir NASH NOLAN isn’t content to use his family’s fortune, instead he’s used his computer knowledge to create a successful travel app. He’s not the kind of guy to wear his heart on his sleeve, Nash is immediately attracted to Aviana’s confidence and kindness.

But everything changes when novice fairy godmother Aviana is tasked with sparking a romance between Nash and her wicked stepsister. Will she use her powers to help Nash and her stepsister find their destiny, or will she use her pixie dust to find her own happily ever after?

Pre-release available now.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Kobo

BN:

Apple

YA SCAVENGER HUNT - FALL 2020

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt!

This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! On this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! Due to the Corona Virus, this season we are offering E-Book or Audiobook downloads as grand prizes. Or you can choose to have physical books shipped at a later date.

Play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be on until Sunday October 4th!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are THREE contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the PURPLE TEAM--but there is also a red team, and a blue team for a chance to win a whole different set of books! To find out all the authors who are participating click here.

We are also now featuring a bonus prize. A group of select authors who have participated in the hunt many times are giving away a $50 Amazon gift card. The list of those authors will be included on the YASH ENTRY page.

Couple Silhouette Romance_Chick Lit Book Cover-2.png

To celebrate the release of my first full-length YA fairy godmother’s tale, I’m giving away five ebook copies of I PUT A SPELL ON YOU when it releases in MARCH 2021. To enter sign up for my newsletter here.

If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the purple team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by OCTOBER 4, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

Today, I am hosting DEBBIE MANBER KUPFER on my website for the YA Scavenger Hunt!

Debbie grew up in the UK in the East London suburb of Barking. She has lived in Israel, New York and North Carolina and somehow ended up in St. Louis, where she works as a writer, editor, and freelance puzzle constructor of word puzzles and logic problems. She lives with her family including two very opinionated felines. She believes that with enough tea and dark chocolate you can achieve anything!

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Miri receives a silver cat charm from her omama, Celia, on the night before Celia dies she has no idea that the charm holds a secret, a powerful magic that saved her omama’s life and is about to make Miri’s a whole lot more interesting.

Join Miri on a mysterious and supernatural journey with her new friends, members of an underground St. Louis society known as the Partnership for Animagi, Werewolves, and Shapeshifters, better known as P.A.W.S.

BUY THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW ON AMAZON!

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT FROM DEBBIE MANBER KUPFER:

Debbie created bonus material exclusively for you. It is a P.A.W.S. Sudoku puzzle. Here's the link.

Find out more about this author by checking out DEBBIE MANBER KUPFER’s website.

Don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win books by me, Debbie Manber Kupfer, and more on the Purple Team! I’ll be giving away an ebook copy of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 24. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the purple team and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

CONTINUE THE HUNT

To keep going on your quest, you need to check out the next author! Go visit JESSICA FLEK at her website.

Have fun and thank you for being a part of YA Scavenger Hunt FALL 2020!

BONUS CONTENT

KISSES ON A PAPER AIRPLANE

Sarah Vance-Tompkins

DELETED SCENE

NOTTING HILL

LONDON, ENGLAND

"Do you remember your first kiss?"

Hannah’s question stopped Julia dead in her tracks. “My first kiss? No.” Hells no. Deflecting the question with a flip of her wrist, she fell flat on her face.

It wasn’t her best friend’s question. Julia’s kitten heel was stuck in one of the rough cobblestones in the middle of the street. She stumbled forward as her foot came completely out of her shoe. Hannah quickly snatched up her shoe from the rough road, and with a firm hand beneath Julia’s elbow, helped her reach the sidewalk before the light changed and traffic surged all around them.

Hopping like a flamingo on the corner, Julia held onto Hannah’s arm for balance as she slipped her foot back into her perfect pink slipper. “I can’t remember.”

She turned her head in the direction of traffic, watching a double-decker bus speed past, so she could ignore the fact that Hannah was pressing her lips tightly together in silent judgement.

Why couldn’t Julia remember her first kiss? On more than one occasion she’d tried to remember. And once again she scoured the darkest cobweb-filled corners of her brain.

Nope. No memories. Nothing stood out.

Her first kiss had already happened quite a few years ago.

Obviously.

She had very little to go on about the date place or time, but she was certain it had to have taken place while she was at boarding school. Winter Formal? After field hockey practice?

Tarquin? Aiden? Arabella?

She’d crushed on them all. And it could’ve been any of them, but when she closed her eyes, she didn’t remember a particular face. No one had ever straight up asked Julia about her first kiss. She didn’t know it was something she should remember.

The truth was she’d been kissed many times. And none of the kisses had made her heart flutter the way Hannah thought a first kiss should. The last thing she wanted to admit to anyone, most especially her best friend. If she had known there was going to be a quiz about her kissing history later in life, if she had known she would’ve written some stuff down in her journal.

Her journals were filled with lists. Songs. Poems. Quotes. Things she wanted to do. Things she needed to do. Things she thought about doing, but knew she never would. Things she had done that she regretted.

"Do you remember how it made you feel?" Hannah prompted.

“Feel?” Not only was she supposed to remember the person, time and place of her first kiss, she supposed to have feelings about it too?

Julia had purposefully kept her journals free of her feelings. She was happy to keep her journals free of any talk of feelings for the rest of her life. Emotions were messy. They couldn’t be controlled. They just popped up like a jack in the box. At least not her emotions. They were not something Julia could anticipate. And they tended to make life messy. Julia didn’t like messy. She liked everything in her world to be neat and orderly.

###

YA Scavenger Hunt Spring 2020

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt!

This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! On this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! Due to the Corona Virus, this season we are offering E-Book or Audiobook downloads only as grand prizes.

Play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are FOUR contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the PURPLE TEAM--but there is also a red team, a gold team, and a blue team for a chance to win a whole different set of books!

If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the purple team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by APRIL 5, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

Today, I am hosting J.C. WELKER on my website for the YA Scavenger Hunt!

Her debut novel THE WISHING HEART won the YARWA Rosemary Award, Athena Award, and was a finalist for Best First Book. She continues to work towards giving aMultiple award winning author J.C. WELKER has been, among other things, a fashion designer, a graphic designer, a filmmaker, and occasionally a kickboxer (seriously). Her debut novel THE WISHING HEART won the YARWA Rosemary Award, Athena Award, and was a finalist for Best First Book. She continues to work towards giving a voice to diverse stories, while facing magic and monsters along the way.while facing magic and monsters along the way.

ABOUT THE BOOK

With a book in her bag and a switchblade in her pocket, Rebel's been thieving her way through life while hoping for a cure to fix her ailing heart.

But when the bejeweled vase she just tried to hawk turns out to be a jinni's vessel, Rebel gets lost to her world and dragged within another. Now every magical being in the city wants the vase for himself.

Thrust into a game of cat and mouse in a world she never knew existed, Rebel must use her uncanny skills to find a way to free Anjeline, the Wishmaker. But wishes have consequences. And contracts. Anjeline's freedom could unravel a love like Rebel has never known, or it could come at the cost of Rebel's heart...

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT FOR YOU FROM J.C. WELKER:

THE WISHING HEART - INSPIRATION BOARD

Find out more by checking out J.C. WELKER’s website. And find more information and how to buy THE WISHING HEART here!

Don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win books by me, J.C. Welker, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 21. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the purple team and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

CONTINUE THE HUNT

To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author! Go visit Melanie Gilbert here.